We’re doing what we can, but the responsibility for tackling this virus is personal as well as collective

Throughout this pandemic the Government has put the lives and livelihoods of our people first – whether through investing in our public services, additional support for our most vulnerable or protecting jobs and incomes through furlough.

It was with a heavy heart that the Prime Minister had to announce a further national lockdown. I share the frustration many will feel. They do not come without significant consequences and personal sacrifice.

Over the next four weeks I want people to know we in government will work tirelessly to get support to those who need it. As we protect lives, we are also doing all we can to protect jobs.

But in the face of the evidence and advice government scientific and medical advisers have provided, and the risk to NHS capacity, we have no choice but to put in place the measures the Prime Minister announced over the weekend to save lives and protect the NHS. As he said, we have to be humble in the face of nature.

This is a nationwide problem and there have been extraordinary efforts made by millions of people, especially many of those in the North who have experienced restrictions for some time. It’s right that Government has continued to provide support to those people and areas affected.

But the responsibility for tackling this virus is personal as well as collective – every one of us in the country will be feeling worried about the days and weeks ahead. That is why, however frustrating and difficult, I am asking everyone to follow the rules.

I want to reassure you this Government is on your side. We will continue to do everything we can to support people during these difficult times and we will get through this together as one United Kingdom.

And I know we will come through this crisis because there is a future worth fighting for. I’ve seen it in the businesses doing all they can to keep trading, in the people who’ve sadly lost their jobs but have found new work and haven’t let this moment break their spirit, the young Kickstarters signing up for our new job creation schemes. I see it every day in the messages of support, concern and even anger and sorrow that are sent to me.

That strength of feeling drives me to work longer and harder. I’ve always said I can’t protect every job or save every business – no Chancellor could – but it doesn’t mean I’m not going to do all I can. Over the past eight months of this crisis we have helped millions of people to continue to provide for their families as part of our Plan for Jobs to protect, support and create employment. We put in place a plan to protect people’s incomes and support jobs in every region and nation of the UK, with more than £200 billion of support since March. This week the IMF called our response to the pandemic one of the best examples of coordinated action globally.

The furlough scheme has been successful in protecting millions of jobs and, with the new nationwide restrictions, we will be extending the scheme so it remains open until December. This will give employers the ability to retain their staff, and employees the peace of mind they need that their job is important and valued. The Self-employment Income Support Scheme will be made more generous, in line with the furlough scheme, and payments will also be made more quickly. This will ensure the selfemployed are supported over winter.

In addition, we are extending mortgage payment holidays and plan to extend the deadline for applications to Covid loan schemes. Business premises forced to close in England are also to receive grants worth up to £3,000 per month under the Local Restrictions Support Grant. Local Authorities will given one-off funding of £1.1 billion to enable them to support businesses over the coming months.

There are no easy answers or perfect solutions. We have to deal with the reality of the moment, not as we would wish it to be, but as it is. The spread of the virus is accelerating faster than we hoped. We will meet this new challenge in the same spirit that has driven our responses from the start – whatever it takes.

I know we will come through this crisis because there is a future worth fighting for