Rishi Sunak ‘to extend furlough scheme beyond end of lockdown’

Rishi Sunak is expected to announce an extension of the furlough scheme past the end of Britain’s lockdown.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak is expected to announce an extension of the UK’s furlough scheme past the end of Britain’s lockdown, which is slated to lift on 2 December. 

Faced with pressure to protect jobs, as well as the economy, as a second lockdown falls into place amid rising coronavirus numbers, Sunak is expected to announce on Thursday that Britain’s wage subsidy scheme, which allows companies to keep workers employed by paying them 80 percent of their wages, will continue, according to The Guardian. 

Citing sources, the newspaper reported that the chancellor was preparing to announce that the flagship scheme would continue to be made available for the parts affected by the highest level of coronavirus restrictions.

It is unclear how far past the end of the lockdown access to the furlough scheme will be extended to.

The chancellor’s Commons statement is expected to come hours after the Bank of England launched a new £150bn stimulus package.

It also comes after widespread pressure from to extend the furlough scheme at least until the spring, with both Carolyn Fairbairn, the Confederation of British Industry’s director general, and Frances O’Grady, the general secretary of the Trades Union Congress, calling for an extension to get the country through what is expected to be a tough winter.

This article will be updated as more information becomes available.