The Government's coronavirus furlough scheme will reportedly be extended into the summer. 3.8 million people were relying on furlough by Christmas last year, but during the first lockdown the figure had peaked at 8.9 million. Mr Sunak remains under pressure to extend measures such as the furlough scheme, which is due to expire at the end of April, when he delivers his Budget on March 3. Senior government insiders told The Sun that furlough bailouts will continue into July at least. "But it is safe to say that Covid measures aren’t going to be turned off."

Source: Daily Mirror February 22, 2021 23:53 UTC