The chancellor Rishi Sunak has increased support for workers and jobs hit by tougher COVID-19 restrictions following a barrage of protests from  businesses, particularly those in Tier 2 areas.

Many firms in Tier 2 areas such as London and Birmingham had said they would be better off if forced to close under Tier 3 measures. Mr Sunak said he was greatly increasing the generosity of the taxpayer contributions to wages in his job support scheme replacement, which replaces the furlough arrangements in 10 days' time.