The blanket ending of government furlough support from 1 October shows a ‘clumsy one-size-fits-all’ approach that doesn’t match the needs of workers across the West of England, says Metro Mayor Dan Norris.
“The pandemic has not ended,” says Dan Norris. “People are still getting ill with Covid-19. With winter approaching, a clear end is definitely not in sight.
“Different sectors of our West of England economy are affected in different ways. Many workers are facing uncertainty and worry about their future employment. Yet government Ministers insist on a clumsy ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach.
“The government hasn’t thought this through properly. It is easier to save an existing business facing Covid challenges than it is to get a brand new one up and running.
“Cutting all furlough support at one time may make for a simpler administrative life for those in government. But it is not what the West of England needs to strengthen our recovery from an extremely tough 18 months.”