Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced a new Job Support Scheme to replace the furlough system which will see the government “directly support” the wages of people working at least a third of their normal hours.
Mr Sunak’s statement followed intense pressure from business leaders, MPs and unions to announce measures to protect millions of jobs in sectors hit by new coronavirus restrictions.
It came as Downing Street denied any rift between Boris Johnson and Mr Sunak after the prime minister chose not to attend the statement.
