Anneliese Dodds MP, Labour’s Shadow Chancellor, responding to the governor of the Bank of England’s call for a rethink on the furlough scheme, said:

“Labour has been calling for the Chancellor to rethink his disastrous one-size-fits-all withdrawal of furlough support since May.

“Trade unions, businesses, think tanks, the Treasury Select Committee, and Tory backbenchers all agree. Now the governor of the Bank of England has said there needs to be a rethink.

“We have given the Chancellor an alternative plan. Labour’s Jobs Recovery Scheme would enable businesses in key sectors to bring back staff on reduced hours, with government backing wages for the rest of the working week.

“We’re facing a jobs disaster this winter if the Chancellor doesn’t change course. With just weeks till his furlough cliff edge, he must u-turn now.”