Rishi Sunak must decide how to protect jobs now – or risk losing his superstar status

Propping up workers on less hours as a result of economic disruption rather than furloughing them is now on the agenda, writes James Moore

Rishi Sunak is reportedly considering new measures to support the economy (Getty)

It looks like we’re heading for the job retention scheme (JRS) 2.0 as part of a “massive package” to support jobs.

But whatever emerges from No 11 Downing Street will be a successor and absolutely not an extension, given that the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, has repeatedly ruled that out.

The problem he faces is that his job retention bonus payment for firms that keep furloughed staff on the payroll through the end of January looks woefully inadequate as a successor to the JRS, especially in the wake of the new restrictions announced to contain the second wave of Covid-19.