Rishi Sunak tonight finally acted to help the self-employed suffering financially because of the coronavirus.
The support he is offering could prove a lifeline to millions over the next few months.
The Chancellor has claimed this is one of the most generous packages in the world.
Few will question the scale of the support. What is in doubt is the ability to deliver it.
Many self-employed workers will also be alarmed to learn the scheme is unlikely to be up and running before the beginning of June.
Mr Sunak says the delay will allow time for workers to complete their tax returns and to create the systems needed to process grants.
In the meantime, he says, anyone facing hardship can apply for Universal Credit.
While we understand the Government is facing an unprecedented challenge, the
Chancellor risked sounding complacent.
The Department of Work and Pensions is already struggling to cope with the massive surge in applications for UC and first payments take five weeks to arrive.
The Chancellor has shown he is willing to think big. Now he needs to show he can fulfil the promises he has made.
Poverty shame
The Government should hang its head in shame at the latest child poverty figures.
The number of kids living in destitution rose by a further 100,000 last year to 4.2 million.
In the vast majority of cases this is not the fault of parents and almost three quarters of children in poverty live in working households.
The fault lies with a government that in 10 years has cut welfare payments by £36billion.
And the situation is likely to get worse as the benefits cap and two-child limit begin to bite.
The Tories should act now by adopting our demand for an immediate child benefit raise.
National heroes
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Millions of people tonight showed their love to our brilliant NHS staff.
The Clap for Carers made clear the whole country is behind them at this time of crisis.
