Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
We will not delay Brexit because of coronavirus
» Chancellor’s ‘no’ to extension » £5bn hyper-broadband pledge
THE Government will not delay Brexit to soften the impact of coronavirus on UK companies.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak said he was ready to take “targeted measures” in Wednesday’s Budget to help businesses get through the outbreak, which could see as many as a fifth of employees unable to work.
And he said the Government was ready to deliver, “whatever action is required” to deal with the crisis.
The Chancellor also revealed there would be a £5billion programme of hyper-fast broadband and a £1bn deal to boost 4G mobile phone signal.
But former Tory chancellor Philip Hammond said the spread of coronavirus has the potential to push the UK into recession and suggested it could pose a greater risk to the economy than a no-deal Brexit.
The ex-mp said the Government needs to address a “critical and structural weakness in supply chains”, exposed by the impact of the virus.
And ministers are reportedly preparing for the death toll from Covid-19 in the UK to reach as many as 100,000 people.
But Mr Sunak said delaying the end of the Brexit transition period was not an option.
He said: “I think the PM has been clear we don’t want to extend the transition period.
“I think people are fed up of having more delays and having people not doing what they say...”
Mr Sunak also refused to say whether his Budget would stick to the spending rules set out in the party’s manifesto before the election.
He’s expected to use his speech to unveil a £643million package to help rough sleepers, £100m a year to fight money laundering and a new neonatal pay and leave entitlement for parents of sick newborn babies. But Shadow Chancellor John Mcdonnell condemned the policies as “nowhere near the scale we need”. He said the Budget will not deliver for the NHS, as he warned the UK faces three emergencies – coronavirus, a “crisis” in public services and the “existential threat” of climate change.
The investment in Gigabit broadband – 40 times faster than standard superfast – will be in place by 2025.
We are ready to deliver whatever is required
RISHI SUNAK ON GOVT PLANS FOR VIRUS CRISIS