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Boris Johnson says furlough scheme can't go on and on as he encourages Brits to get back to work

Jeremy Selwyn
Jeremy Selwyn

Boris Johnson served a “very, very blunt” warning today that the furlough scheme keeping 9.3 million people in “suspended animation” at home with the Government paying most of their wages must be wound down.

In an exclusive interview with the Evening Standard, the Prime Minister said it was time to be “absolutely frank” and say to Britons that staying at home is “not, in the long-term, healthy either for the economy or for you”.

His words will dismay business groups and unions pleading for a third extension of the scheme that is due to end in October, when it will have cost an estimated £60 billion, according to the Office for Budget Responsibility.

With just two days until pubs and restaurants reopen in the biggest unlocking of the national economy yet, Mr Johnson spelled out the vital importance of the next few weeks to Britain’s hopes of recovery.

In key comments he:

  • Issued a plea to revellers on Saturday onwards not to risk a return to lockdown by flouting the rules on social distancing, saying: “Do not undo the sacrifices you have made with reckless behaviour ... We do not want to see businesses have to close again.”

  • Accused China of “plainly an unacceptable breach” of Hong Kong’s freedoms, making clear that the row could damage Chinese tech firm Huawei’s involvement in the 5G network. Mr Johnson said: “I don’t want to see our critical national infrastructure at risk of being in any way controlled by potentially hostile state vendors. So we have to think very carefully about how to proceed now.”

  • The Prime Minister, an Oxford graduate, revealed that he does not think the statue of imperialist Cecil Rhodes at Oriel College at the university should be pulled down, saying it would be like “trying to bowdlerise or edit our history ... like some politician sneakily trying to change his Wikipedia entry”. He backed calls for more new statues of black heroes, and said: “I’m pro-heritage, I’m pro-history, and I’m in favour of people understanding our past with all its imperfections.”

  • He confirmed implicitly that the whole of London could go back into lockdown if coronavirus resurges in the capital, as it has done in Leicester: “I have got to be absolutely clear with people: the way to avoid that is to stay alert, control the virus, and save lives.”

  • The PM signalled more big investment announcements are on the way after his “build, build, build” speech mapping out £5 billion of investment on Tuesday. He vowed: “We will step it up, we will do what it takes.”

  • He hit back at his predecessor Theresa May’s condemnation of his choice for the new National Security Adviser, Brexit negotiator David Frost, as inexperienced and too political. Mr Johnson said: “I didn’t hear what she said but I have the highest admiration for David Frost, and he will do an outstanding job. And by the way, you know he is very distinguished diplomat who has served in many, many different capacities.”

  • Mr Johnson said he aims to promote more women to full Cabinet rank in his next ministerial reshuffle, which some reports have said could be held later this year.

The Prime Minister’s candid warning that the furlough cannot be extended comes after business groups and trade unions started lobbying for a third postponement of the cut-off date to the scheme that currently pays 80 per cent of the wages of those who cannot work.

In the Commons yesterday, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, citing job losses at Airbus and elsewhere, asked: “Will the Prime Minister start now by extending the furlough scheme for those parts of the economy still most at risk?”

The Prime Minister told us: “I’ve got to be very, very blunt with you. We’ve spent £120 billion supporting people, it’s a huge commitment and we have put our arms around people ... But I think people need to recognise that the particular restrictions that furlough places on you are not, in the long-term, healthy either for the economy or for you as an employee.”

His words will be a blow to theatres who fear it may be next year before a vaccine allows them to return to normal business. Mr Johnson continued: “You are keeping people in suspended animation ... I am being absolutely frank with you, we are pushing it out until October, but in the end you have got to get the economy moving.”

With police leaders voicing fears about crowd behaviour on Saturday when pubs and restaurants reopen, Mr Johnson warned: “The public need to stay alert and realise that the threat is not over. Follow the guidance and behave responsibly.”

Johnson favours statue of Muhammad Ali in London

Boxer Muhammad Ali is “the black figure that Boris Johnson would most like to honour with a statue in London”.
A “childhood hero” of Mr Johnson, he said: “I don’t know how we claim credit for him in London, but I’m sure he is a Londoner in some way.”
One of the greatest boxers of all time, Ali was a champion against racial discrimination and made headlines with his word play.
He died in 2016 aged 74.

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Celebrate — but don’t undo your sacrifices with reckless behaviour