Rishi Sunak’s announcement that furlough will be extended across the UK until March is welcome.
The 80 per cent wage subsidy scheme will save jobs and stop a massive increase in poverty.
But the Tories’ handling of the issue has been a shambles and thousands of workers have already paid the price.
It was shortsighted to believe furlough could end this year, which is what would have happened were it not for political pressure.
Creating uncertainty about the scheme’s longevity was cruel and led to premature layoffs. People lost their jobs due to politicians dithering instead of doing right thing straight away.
The UK Government also treated Scotland with disrespect.
When Tory ministers initially announced a one-month extension to furlough across the UK, it was clear this was linked to lockdown in England.
Scottish ministers asked if furlough would apply north of the border after December, but they struggled to get an answer.
UK ministers appeared to contradict each other and workers were left scratching their heads.
Sunak finally delivered good news yesterday but the announcement should have been made a lot sooner.
People across the UK deserve better than this out-of-touch and incompetent Tory Government.
Trump hypocrisy
WHEN Donald Trump pulled off an incredible election victory that few people saw coming in 2016, Democrats took it on the chin and moved on.
Hillary Clinton supporters were upset but they didn’t go down to their local polling centre and attempt to stop ballots being counted.
Four years on and that’s exactly what Trump supporters are trying to do.
We’ve seen Republicans trying to halt ballot counting in Pennsylvania because their hero is on the verge of losing both the state and the White House.
Yet in Arizona they are pleading for more votes to be counted in case Trump can somehow win.
It’s hypocrisy of the highest order.
For Trump supporters, winning is all that matters and they will trample all over American democracy to keep their man in charge.
Ubiquitous chips
Ross Burgess is delighted to be competing on MasterChef: The Professionals.
The Elgin man hoped to be a joiner when he left school but it didn’t happen.
He carved out a successful career as chef instead.
