The government is facing growing pressure to relaunch furlough and other emergency financial support schemes after imposing working from home orders in England because of the rapid spread of the Omicron variant of coronavirus.
Business leaders and unions warned that failure to provide assistance to companies and their workers in the hardest-hit sectors of the economy risked squandering progress made since the easing of pandemic restrictions earlier this autumn.
Some reacted with anger, accusing the prime minister of trying to “save his own skin” by announcing the curbs as a diversion from the week’s political scandals.
Ruby McGregor-Smith, president of the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “The government must once again stand shoulder to shoulder with business and provide a package of support to ensure that we get through a challenging winter without serious damage to our economic recovery.”
Warning that Treasury support and steps to fix the sick pay system were glaring omissions from the government announcement on tighter restrictions, union leaders said furlough would…
