The Chancellor has today announced extensions to both the furlough scheme and support for the self employed. The Furlough scheme will now support jobs and businesses through to March 2021, while support for the self employed will be increased from 55% to cover 80% of former income. Further details of the extended support are available here.
Dr Ben Spencer MP welcomed the announcement, adding:
"I am delighted that the Chancellor has announced this further support for jobs and businesses. One of the most common challenges local businesses raise with me is the challenge of uncertainty and the inability to plan for the future. Knowing they will now receive Government support until March will hugely help.
However, we cannot afford to continue this support indefinitely. We must ensure we break the cycle of lockdowns to end the health, social, and economic cost that covid restrictions also bring. I will continue calling on Government to develop a new plan to deal with covid, so we can all plan for the future rather than hoping and waiting for solutions to emerge".
Dr Spencer recently published an article calling for a plan B to the Government's covid response. He has also published a letter to constituents regarding the latest Tier 4 national restrictions.
Details of the support available for businesses, as well as other coronavirus information and advice is available here.
