A Cumbrian Conservative MP has acknowledged some self-employed people will miss out on essential Government support during the coronavirus pandemic.

While praising the Government for the speed and scale of the support made available, Workington MP Mark Jenkinson admitted "some will not be satisfied".

Mark Jenkinson – who has worked as a sole-trader and has also owned a number of small companies in the past – said: "The scale of the response from the Government is unprecedented, to do what they've done in the timescale they did is phenomenal.

"Not everyone will be satisfied, especially those who have recently become self-employed."

Under the package of Government support, self-employed workers with trading profits of up to £50,000 can claim 80 per cent of their average monthly profits, up to a total of 2,500 a month.

The scheme will be available “no later” than June and will only be open to those who have a tax return for 2019 – on which the level of support will be based.

The measures – which cover 95 per cent of self-employed workers – have received a cautious welcome in Cumbria.

Concerns emerged shortly after the support package was announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak.

With many saying the needed to look closer at the detail, some argued June would prove to long to wait, while those who have recently gone self-employed called foul.

The Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed (IPSE) said the package was a “historic lifeline” but vowed to keep pushing the Government to extend the support to all freelancers facing dire financial straits due to the virus crisis.

Mr Jenkinson argued that there was still support for self-employed people who had slipped through the support net.

"There are a number of other measures for those who don't qualify for the scheme, they may qualify for Universal Credit, we've had half a million applicants in a matter of days,” he said.

"We also have various other measures to protect people from eviction, people can take 'mortgage holidays' and banks are offering help to those who are struggling.

"Anyone who is struggling financially should be able to access some support. For example a married couple with two children where the adults both find themselves out of work should be able to access up to £1,800 a month.

"These measures are there to protect families as much as we can."

He added he was proud of the West Cumbrian community's response to the crisis.

"The response locally and nationally has been fantastic, support groups have popped-up from nowhere and lots of people are wanting to offer their services.The county council is trying to map all of that help, which is fantastic.

"The vast majority of people are heeding the advice on social distancing and staying at home, there are some that are still doing things they shouldn't, but hopefully it won't come to the point where police have to use the new powers given to them."