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Furlough Not Perfect but Prevented Mass Unemployment, Sunak Says
The furlough scheme supported 11.7 million jobs and cost £70 billion, limiting unemployment and inequality despite challenges and incomplete job preservation, Sunak told the inquiry.
- On Monday, Rishi Sunak told the UK Covid-19 Inquiry that not all jobs could be saved but the government `prevented mass unemployment` and that `speed was paramount` in its response.
- Medical advisers warned against early action, with the medical and scientific community cautioning officials not to `go too early`, while a key finding last month said February 2020 was a `lost month` for government response.
- The coronavirus job retention scheme ran from March 1 2020 to September 30 2021, furloughing around 11.7 million employee jobs at a cost of around £70 billion.
- The government faced pressure from the opposition party members, Trades Union Congress and devolved nations, but ministers argued extending support could prop up unviable firms, Sunak said.
- Module 9 of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry continues scrutinising the economic response as Sunak said there was `not a playbook` for the crisis and questioned if future officials will find it easier to balance choices.
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Not all jobs could be saved in Covid but ‘mass unemployment’ prevented – Sunak
Mr Sunak was the UK’s chancellor during the height of the pandemic.
·London, United Kingdom
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources45
Leaning Left3Leaning Right1Center34Last UpdatedBias Distribution89% Center
Bias Distribution
- 89% of the sources are Center
89% Center
C 89%
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