Sunak Reveals Massive Furlough U-Turn as New Lockdown Bites
Chancellor Rishi Sunak stunned MPs on Thursday afternoon with a major furlough announcement, just as England’s new lockdown rules came into force.
Furlough Overhaul Hits Entire UK
Sunak declared the revamped furlough scheme will now cover the whole of the UK, not just England. Employers will only have to stump up national insurance and pension contributions for staff unable to work, slashing their costs.
From Full Pay to Near Zero—Then Back Again
The original furlough scheme ended in October, by which time it had been chipped down to just 60 per cent of pay. But with fresh lockdowns and tiered restrictions hitting the economy, Sunak extended the scheme into December to cushion the blow.
