Furlough scheme to be extended until April next year

Rishi Sunak has announced that the furlough scheme will be extended until the end of April next year.

The Chancellor added that Government-backed Covid-19 business loan schemes would continue until the end of March.

The decision means that Government will continue to pay up to 80% of the wages of workers who have been furloughed for an additional month.

Sunak said the move would provide "certainty for millions of jobs and businesses", as he announced the news today on Twitter.