Sunak shuts down Labour MP’s ‘factually wrong’ Macron praise ‘We’re spending £330BILLION!’

Chancellor Rishi Sunak was attacked for not “doing enough” to help people who have been laid off during the coronavirus outbreak. During the Treasury Select Committee on Wednesday Labour MP Liz Kendall said: “The truth is Chancellor other countries are doing it and giving more. Norway is giving the unemployed 80 percent of their average income over the last three years. Sweden is giving people who have been laid off 90 percent.”

She went on to say: “Macron did all of this at the same time and this Government is way behind.”

Speaking in the Committee meeting, Mr Sunak said: “Factually the numbers would not support that.

“What he announced was a loan scheme of €300billion.

“What we announced was a loan scheme of £330billion, which is obviously more than that.”

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“He is also only giving I think €1,000 grants to small businesses. Not 10,000 not 25,000.”

“In terms of the overall quantum, I think on a benchmark basis as we’ve done it, it looks like a very comprehensive package.”

Mr Sunak also said that measures for individuals and families would be outlined “as soon as they are developed and hopefully we can have broad support for them”.

Macron on Monday ordered strict restrictions on people’s movement to slow the spread of the coronavirus, and said the army would be drafted in to help move the sick to hospitals.

The Scottish First Minister urged the banking sector to act in a “responsible manner” helping limit the economic impact of the Covid-19 outbreak, to both individuals through mortgage relief and by supporting Scottish businesses.

As part of the Chancellor’s package of financial measures to shore up the economy against the coronavirus impact, Rishi Sunak said he wanted mortgage lenders to offer a three-month “holiday” period for those affected by coronavirus.

Ms Sturgeon welcomed the announcement of funding for businesses by Mr Sunak and reiterated that the Scottish Government will “pass every penny that comes to us for business support” on to help affected businesses in Scotland.

In a later press conference, Ms Sturgeon added: “This further package of measures will be worth £1.9 billion and that will involve every single penny of support going to Scotland from the Treasury announcement being passed onto businesses here.”