Rishi Sunak’s furlough U-turn leaves him groping for a coherent economic strategy
The IndependentThe furlough “cannot and should not go on forever” declared Rishi Sunak back in July. Though the Treasury insists today’s announcement that firms forced to close by new government health restrictions in the coming weeks and months will continue to receive funding to pay workers’ wages is not an extension of the furlough, it’s a distinction without a difference. Yet the reality is that, for the firms and workers affected, it bears far more resemblance to the furlough scheme than it does to the short-time working subsidy of the “Job Support Scheme” that the chancellor unveiled only a couple of weeks ago. The chancellor has essentially retreated from his position on 24 September, when he unveiled his “Winter Economy Plan”, that it was time to allow “unviable” jobs to be shed by firms. Recent months have seen a debate among economists about whether it’s preferable to try to keep people in their current jobs or to help them move to new ones.
History of this topic
Rishi Sunak ‘confident’ on jobs as ‘everyone is now back at work’ after furlough
The Independent
Sunak to extend rates relief and furlough
The Telegraph
Sunak should phase out furlough gradually and keep universal credit uplift, says IFS
The Independent
Furlough scheme extended to end of March at 80% pay, Rishi Sunak announces
The Independent
Rishi Sunak’s furlough 2.0 is an ominous sign that events are outside the government’s control
The Independent
Rishi Sunak is trying to keep up the balancing act but is pleasing nobody
The Independent
Rishi Sunak's 'flawed' job support scheme puts three million jobs at risk, Labour warns
The Independent
Rishi Sunak sounded empathetic, sincere and even competent – what a contrast to Boris Johnson
The Independent
Winter economy plan: UK braced for job losses as Rishi Sunak replaces furlough with less generous scheme
The Independent
Rishi Sunak’s Winter Economic Plan: What he said – and what he really meant
The Independent
Coronavirus: How can Rishi Sunak protect jobs when furlough scheme ends?
The Independent
Rishi Sunak must decide how to protect jobs now – or risk losing his superstar status
The Independent
Rishi's grants for furloughed employees won't save jobs, warn bosses
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