Sunak announces new grants for businesses

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has said that businesses in retail, hospitality and leisure will receive new grants to help them keep afloat until spring.

The grants will be worth up to £9,000 per property, the Treasury says.

The help is in addition to business rates relief and the furlough scheme which has been extended until the end of April.

Separately, £594m will be made available to affected firms outside these sectors, Mr Sunak said.

In total, the package of measures is worth £4.6bn.

All non-essential shops, leisure and entertainment venues are now closed with pubs and restaurants allowed to offer takeaway food only.

In a video Sunak shared on social media he said:  “This will help businesses to get through the months ahead – and crucially it will help sustain jobs, so workers can be ready to return when they are able to reopen,”

England’s rules are due to be reviewed on 15 February while Scotland’s will be reviewed at the end of January.