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Furlough to be extended to September in Rishi Sunak's Budget; The Chancellor will set out his Budget plans on Wednesday and is expected to confirm that the job support scheme will continue into the autumn.

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Byline: By, Lizzy Buchan & Sonia Sharma

The furlough scheme is to be extended until the end of September -but it will become gradually less generous as lockdown rules are relaxed.

Rishi Sunak will confirm that the lifeline jobs support scheme will continue into the autumn when he sets out his Budget in the Commons on Wednesday.

Around 4.7 million people were furloughed at the end of January, where the Government pays 80% of an employee's wages.

But employers will be asked to start contributing 10% to the scheme in July, and 20% in August and September as the economy reopens after lockdown, reports The Mirror.

Boris Johnson's lockdown roadmap aims to lift all remaining restrictions on daily life from June 21 if the virus continues to be suppressed.

Mr Sunak will also announce a fourth self employed grant scheme from next month, allowing people to claim up to £7,500 or 80% of three months' average trading profits.

The Treasury said more than 600,000 people will be able to claim the cash grants, using tax returns from 2019/20.

Ahead of the Budget, the Chancellor said: "There's now light at the end of the tunnel with a roadmap for reopening, so it's only right that we continue to help business and individuals through the challenging months ahead -and beyond."

Mr Sunak will promise to use "fiscal firepower" to protect jobs when he sets out a three-point plan to support people through the crisis, to fix the public finances and to build the future economy.

He will vow to do "whatever it takes" to help the nation through this "moment of crisis".

Bridget Phillipson, Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, said the confirmation of the furlough extension should have been made months ago to give businesses and workers much-needed certainty.

She said: "Announcing it the night before shows the focus is on Rishi Sunak getting his moment in the sun rather than protecting jobs and livelihoods."

Hospitality bosses welcomed the move but expressed concern over asking pubs and restaurants...

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