Babak Belurs

Kamis, 05 November 2020

Sunak to extend furlough scheme to end of March - BBC News

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has confirmed that he will extend the furlough scheme across the UK until the end of March.

Mr Sunak said the scheme will pay up to 80% of a person's wage up to £2,500 a month. He told the Commons that the government will review the policy in January.

The chancellor said his intention was "to give businesses security through the winter".

"The security we are providing will protect millions of jobs," he added.

He said the scheme would apply throughout the UK, saying the country had "a Treasury for the whole of the United Kingdom".

As part of the revised scheme, anyone made redundant after 23 September can be rehired and put back on furlough.

More support

Mr Sunak also announced billions of pounds of other support for the economy, including more money for self-employed people.

Support through the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) will be increased, with the third grant covering November to January calculated at 80% of average trading profits, up to a maximum of £7,500.

At the same time, the chancellor raised guaranteed funding for the UK's devolved administrations by £2bn to £16bn.

Shadow chancellor Anneliese Dodds accused him of ignoring objections to the government's measures "until the last possible moment".

She pointed out that he had previously "ridiculed" a furlough extension as "a blunt instrument".

But Mr Sunak defended his rapid change of policy, saying: "It is not a weakness to be fast-moving in a crisis, but rather a strength."

Analysis box by Nick Eardley, political correspondent

This is a change of heart from ministers - and a really significant one. The chancellor and the prime minister did not want to be here.

The furlough scheme was due to end at the start of November. At the weekend, we found out it would last until 2 December. Now it's staying until the end of March.

The government will argue it is necessary because of a changing health picture. They are clearly worried about the economic outlook.

But political opponents have been calling for this for some time and they believe the chancellor has waited too long.

The Treasury has said anyone who was made redundant after 23 September - when the furlough replacement was announced - can be brought back on to the scheme.

But the government will face accusations it should have done this sooner.

Lockdown row

The latest announcement follows several days of wrangling over the scope and duration of the furlough scheme. It was due to end on 31 October, but was then extended to cover the new four-week lockdown in England.

That announcement at the weekend sparked a row with Scotland and Wales, which argued that it was unfair for the full support package to be available only when England is in lockdown.

Harriet Henry, manager of The Tea Room in Knutsford

They said the scheme should be on offer if they went into their own full national lockdowns later on.

Mr Sunak's statement comes after the Bank of England said it was pumping an extra £150bn into the economy.

The Bank warned the resurgence of Covid-19 would lead to a slower, bumpier recovery.

Fraud worries

More than £50bn has been spent on the furlough scheme since it was introduced in March.

It was originally intended to end in May, but Mr Sunak said at the outset that it would be extended "if necessary".

About 9.6 million people have benefited at one time or another, with a steep take-up in the first few months.

However, some have questioned whether all the money has been wisely spent.

HM Revenue and Customs, which administers the furlough scheme, has suggested that up to 10% of the money delivered by the scheme to mid-August - some £3.5bn - may have been paid out in fraud or error.

It is also unclear whether it has genuinely safeguarded viable jobs or merely delayed the inevitable disappearance of unviable ones.

What is your experience of the furlough scheme? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.

Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways:

WhatsApp: +44 7756 165803
Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay
Please read our terms & conditions and privacy policy

If you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or comment or you can email us at HaveYourSay@bbc.co.uk. Please include your name, age and location with any submission.

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2020-11-05 13:20:00Z
52781169136690

Coronavirus: PM set to hold COVID-19 briefing later this afternoon - Sky News

Boris Johnson will hold a COVID-19 briefing later today after England entered lockdown for the second time.

The prime minister will be joined at 5pm in Downing Street by Sir Simon Stevens, the chief executive of NHS England.

No new measures are expected to be announced, but the pair will reflect on the new restrictions that came into play today and are set to last for four weeks.

Pubs, bars, restaurants and non-essential shops are now closed for a four-week period in a bid to control the spread of COVID-19.

People have also been told to stay at home except for when attending school, college, university or work, or going food shopping.

The prime minister's appearance will come hours after Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced the furlough scheme will be extended until March - with employees set to receive 80% of their current salary up to a maximum of £2,500.

On Wednesday, Sir Simon announced NHS England was being placed under the highest incident alert level - four - from today as hospitals are struggling to deal with an increasing number of COVID-19 patients needing intensive care.

Level four means NHS England will take over coordination of the health service's response to the pandemic, in collaboration with local commissioners.

The general public will not see any difference if they use the NHS, but it means the overarching NHS England body has had to take over to ensure all services are supported appropriately.

Earlier today, Justice Secretary Robert Buckland told Sky News' Kay Burley that England's coronavirus lockdown could be extended beyond 2 December, despite Mr Johnson being determined it will end then.

"We've got to follow the evidence," he said.

"If there isn't to be an extension of this we go back into the tier system anyway, so we'd leave on a regional or local basis.

"You can't rule anything out in this crisis and the prime minister has said that from day one."

Mr Johnson has said after the lockdown ends at the beginning of December, the plan is for England to return to the regional tier system guided by the rate of COVID-19 cases, hospital admissions and deaths in specific areas.

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2020-11-05 13:05:27Z
52781169061295

Sunak to extend furlough scheme to end of March - BBC News

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has confirmed that he will extend the furlough scheme across the UK until the end of March.

Mr Sunak said the scheme will pay up to 80% of a person's wage up to £2,500 a month. He told the Commons that the government will review the policy in January.

The chancellor said his intention was "to give businesses security through the winter".

"The security we are providing will protect millions of jobs," he added.

He said the scheme would apply throughout the UK, saying the country had "a Treasury for the whole of the United Kingdom".

As part of the revised scheme, anyone made redundant after 23 September can be rehired and put back on furlough.

More support

Mr Sunak also announced billions of pounds of other support for the economy, including more money for self-employed people.

At the same time, the chancellor raised guaranteed funding for the UK's devolved administrations by £2bn to £16bn.

Shadow chancellor Anneliese Dodds accused him of ignoring objections to the government's measures "until the last possible moment".

She pointed out that he had previously "ridiculed" a furlough extension as "a blunt instrument".

But Mr Sunak defended his rapid change of policy, saying: "It is not a weakness to be fast-moving in a crisis, but rather a strength."

This is a change of heart from ministers - and a really significant one. The chancellor and the prime minister did not want to be here.

The furlough scheme was due to end at the start of November. At the weekend, we found out it would last until 2 December. Now, it's staying until the end of March.

The government will argue it is necessary because of a changing health picture. They are clearly worried about the economic outlook.

But political opponents have been calling for this for some time and they believe the chancellor has waited too long.

The Treasury has said anyone who was made redundant after the 23 September - when the furlough replacement was announced - can be brought back onto the scheme.

But the government will face accusations it should have done this sooner.

Lockdown row

That announcement at the weekend sparked a row with Scotland and Wales, which argued that it was unfair for the full support package to be available only when England is in lockdown.

They said the scheme should be on offer if they went into their own full national lockdowns later on.

Mr Sunak's statement comes after the Bank of England said it was pumping an extra £150bn into the economy.

The Bank warned the resurgence of Covid-19 would lead to a slower, bumpier recovery.

Fraud worries

More than £50bn has been spent on the furlough scheme since it was introduced in March.

It was originally intended to end in May, but Mr Sunak said at the outset that it would be extended "if necessary".

About 9.6 million people have benefited at one time or another, with a steep take-up in the first few months.

However, some have questioned whether all the money has been wisely spent.

It is also unclear whether it has genuinely safeguarded viable jobs or merely delayed the inevitable disappearance of unviable ones.

What is your experience of the furlough scheme? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.

Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways:

WhatsApp: +44 7756 165803
Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay
Please read our terms & conditions and privacy policy

Let's block ads! (Why?)

Sunak to extend furlough scheme to end of March - BBC News

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has confirmed that he will extend the furlough scheme until the end of March.

Mr Sunak said the scheme will pay up to 80% of a person's wage up to £2,500 a month.

He told the Commons that the government will review the policy in January.

It follows several days of wrangling over the scope and duration of furlough. It was due to end on 31 October but has been extended to cover the new four-week lockdown in England.

That announcement at the weekend sparked a row with Scotland and Wales, which argued that it was unfair for the full support package to be available only when England is in lockdown.

They said the scheme - which currently guarantees 80% of wages up to £2,500 a month for people unable to work - should be on offer if they went into their own full national lockdowns later on.

The chancellor told the Commons his intention was "to give businesses security through the winter".

"The security we are providing will protect millions of jobs," he added.

Mr Sunak's statement comes after the Bank of England said it was pumping an extra £150bn into the economy.

The Bank warned the resurgence of Covid-19 would lead to a slower, bumpier recovery.

About £40bn has been spent on the furlough scheme since it was introduced in March.

It was originally intended to end in May, but Mr Sunak said at the outset that it would be extended "if necessary".

About 9.6 million people have benefited at one time or another, with a steep take-up in the first few months.

However, some have questioned whether all the money has been wisely spent.

It is also unclear whether it has genuinely safeguarded viable jobs or merely delayed the inevitable disappearance of unviable ones.

What is your experience of the furlough scheme? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.

Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways:

WhatsApp: +44 7756 165803
Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay
Please read our terms & conditions and privacy policy

Let's block ads! (Why?)

Police and firefighters 'attacked with fireworks' - BBC News

Police and fire crews have "come under attack" while responding to bonfire callouts in Merseyside.

Fireworks were thrown and officers were verbally abused during the incidents in Speke and Wirral on the eve of the second national lockdown.

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service said while no-one was injured this did not make it "acceptable".

Three people from Wirral have each been issued with a £10,000 fine for breaking coronavirus rules.

"Firefighters are not targets, they are human beings with families and loved ones waiting for them at home," the fire service said.

"Please treat them with the respect they deserve."

Firefighters came under attack from people throwing fireworks tonight in #Speke.
Firefighters are NOT targets. They are human beings with families & loved ones. They go out each day & night to keep YOU, the people of #Merseyside safe.
Treat them with the respect they deserve. pic.twitter.com/uVFQOpv4hN
— Mersey Fire (@MerseyFire) November 4, 2020

Fire crews were first targeted at a large bonfire on Western Avenue, Speke, at 19:00 GMT.

Firefighters were "greeted by a large number of people who immediately began verbally abusing them and throwing fireworks," the fire service said.

Both the police and fire service were later called to Meadow Crescent in Woodchurch, Wirral, at 20:50 where a large crowd of people had also gathered for a bonfire.

When crews arrived, a number of youths threw fireworks towards them, the police service said.

Ch Insp Gary O'Rourke, from Merseyside Police, said: "Not only did police and fire patrols come under attack on their arrival, which could've had catastrophic results.

"But there was a blatant disregard for Covid-19 restrictions, with hundreds of people in attendance drinking alcohol, mixing with other households and ignoring social distancing."

Two 36-year-old men and a 43-year-old woman from Wirral have each been given a £10,000 fine for breaching coronavirus legislation.

Why not follow BBC North West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram? You can also send story ideas to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk

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2020-11-05 11:19:00Z
52781162197843

Sunak expected to extend furlough scheme to March - BBC News

Chancellor Rishi Sunak is set to extend furlough until March, sources have told the BBC.

The full details will be unveiled in a statement in the Commons shortly.

It's not clear if it will be the full 80% currently available.

The move follows several days of wrangling over the scope and duration of the furlough scheme. It was due to end on 31 October, but has already been extended to cover the current four-week lockdown in England.

That announcement at the weekend sparked a row with Scotland and Wales, which argued that it was unfair for the full support package to be available only when England is in lockdown.

They said the scheme - which currently guarantees 80% of wages up to £2,500 a month for people unable to work - should be on offer if they went into their own full national lockdowns later on.

Mr Sunak's statement is due a few hours after the Bank of England said it was pumping an extra £150bn into the economy.