Petition · past parliament
Silent key workers to be given a pass to receive same priorities as NHS staff
Rejected
20 signatures
What the petition asks
To award key workers who are not NHS staff the same benefits and recognition which NHS staff have recieved i.e priority to essential food shopping. A pass or badge to prove they are key workers.
NHS staff are doing an amazing job and are recognised as key workers, However there are many silent workers who equally do amazing jobs and just get on with it regardless of pandemic. Roles include meals on wheels delivery drivers , carers, teachers, domestic staff such as cleaners who are required to work in schools where key workers children attend. Community workers bin/recycling team who ensure our streets are clean, bus and train drivers who ensure key workers get to work to provide aid.
Why it was rejected
It asked for something that is not the responsibility of the UK Government or Parliament.
Giving priority of other benefits to certain people is a matter for individual retailers and other businesses, not the Government or Parliament.
A number of retailers have announced plans to open early for various types of keyworkers. You should contact your local supermarket to find out if they have put such arrangements in place.
You can find out more about coronavirus and how you can protect yourself and others here:
www.gov.uk/coronavirus
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
The Government has also created an online service to help you out what you can do if you’re struggling because of coronavirus: https://www.gov.uk/find-coronavirus-support
You can read NHS tips to help if you are worried about coronavirus here: https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/coronavirus-covid-19-anxiety-tips
You can read impartial analysis of the Government response to coronavirus and policy developments here: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/coronavirus/
You may also be interested to know that because of the large number of petitions that have been started in relation to coronavirus, the Petitions Committee has been questioning the Government about its response to the coronavirus outbreak.
Find out more and watch the Committee put questions suggested by petitioners to Government Ministers and the Deputy Chief Medical Officer: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee/news/145767/committee-question-deputy-chief-medical-officer-and-ministers-on-coronavirus-response/
Read letters asking further questions of Government Ministers: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee/publications/3/correspondence/
A number of retailers have announced plans to open early for various types of keyworkers. You should contact your local supermarket to find out if they have put such arrangements in place.
You can find out more about coronavirus and how you can protect yourself and others here:
www.gov.uk/coronavirus
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
The Government has also created an online service to help you out what you can do if you’re struggling because of coronavirus: https://www.gov.uk/find-coronavirus-support
You can read NHS tips to help if you are worried about coronavirus here: https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/coronavirus-covid-19-anxiety-tips
You can read impartial analysis of the Government response to coronavirus and policy developments here: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/coronavirus/
You may also be interested to know that because of the large number of petitions that have been started in relation to coronavirus, the Petitions Committee has been questioning the Government about its response to the coronavirus outbreak.
Find out more and watch the Committee put questions suggested by petitioners to Government Ministers and the Deputy Chief Medical Officer: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee/news/145767/committee-question-deputy-chief-medical-officer-and-ministers-on-coronavirus-response/
Read letters asking further questions of Government Ministers: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee/publications/3/correspondence/
Timeline
| 25 Mar 2020 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 1 May 2020 | Rejected by the Petitions Committee |
Key facts
Signatures
20
Status
Rejected
Rejected
1 May 2020
Follow this petition
Sign in to get an email when the government responds, a debate is scheduled or held, or the petition closes.
Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.