Anneliese Dodds MP, Labour’s Shadow Chancellor, responding to reports of planned changes to the furlough scheme, said:

“Labour called for the furlough scheme to be introduced and it’s been a lifeline for workers and businesses. Whilst the furlough scheme cannot continue indefinitely, that lifeline can’t simply be pulled away.

“These reports suggest government has failed to heed calls to link employment support to the removal of the lockdown in different sectors or to the introduction of the redeployment and retraining schemes we see operating in many other countries.

“Many businesses simply won’t be in a position to pay 40 per cent of wages if they are not allowed to open fully – and will be forced to lay off staff.

“This non-strategic approach from government will cost jobs and slow the recovery in critical sectors of our economy”.