CORONAVIRUS

Furlough scheme is stopping people working, says Boris Johnson

Workers being kept in ‘suspended animation’
Boris Johnson said the jobs retention scheme, due to end in October, was stopping people from actually working and was not good for the economy
Boris Johnson said the jobs retention scheme, due to end in October, was stopping people from actually working and was not good for the economy
WILL OLIVER/EPA

Boris Johnson has issued a “very, very blunt” warning that the furlough scheme will end in October as he claimed that it was not healthy for the economy in the long term.

The prime minister said that the scheme was keeping people in “suspended animation” and stopping them from “actually working”.

Both Labour and business leaders have called for it to be extended, particularly for those sectors which are still under lockdown.

In an interview with the Evening Standard, Mr Johnson said: “I’ve got to be very, very blunt with you. We’ve spent £120 billion supporting people, it’s a huge commitment and we have put our arms around people. The best way forward for us now is to work together to beat the virus