Liberal Democrats in Swale are calling for an extension of the Government’s furlough scheme until at least the middle of next year amid “staggering job losses”.

The party said extending furlough would help to “stop this crisis getting even worse” and protect jobs for the future as it has emerged 7.2% of people in Sittingbourne and on Sheppey are now relying on Universal Credit.

It said that, despite Chancellor Rishi Sunak promising last month to do whatever it took to support households and businesses through the worst of the coronavirus outbreak, the Government had so far failed to agree a plan beyond the end of the furlough scheme on October 31.

The party, which has also warned that some of the worst hit are the country’s self-employed workers, three million of whom are not covered by support, is now urging the public to join its campaign to protect jobs.

Cllr Ben J Martin, Liberal Democrat group leader at Swale council, said: “With so many families in crisis, the Government should be doing everything in its power to protect jobs in Swale and right across the country.

“The fact that 5,210 people in Sittingbourne and Sheppey, and a further 3,155 people in Faversham and Mid Kent, are now relying on Universal Credit shows exactly why the Chancellor must extend the furlough scheme, at least until the middle of next year.

“Ministers need to act now to stop this crisis getting even worse and extend financial support for the millions of people currently excluded from the Government assistance.”

The furlough scheme, where employees on leave are paid 80% of their salaries, currently supports around 9.5 million people in the UK at a cost of £31.7bn to the Treasury.

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