Yahoo Sport 
Rishi Sunak to extend furlough scheme until end of September as he unveils Budget
The furlough scheme will be extended until the end of September, with employers asked to contribute to workers' salaries from July, Rishi Sunak is set to announce.
The Chancellor will use Wednesday's Budget to pledge to continue to help businesses and individuals through the "challenging months ahead - and beyond".
He is expected to say that the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, which has protected more than 11 million jobs since its inception, will remain in place until September 30.
But the Government's contribution will be tapered from July - with employers asked to pay in alongside the taxpayer for the cost of furloughed employees.
In July, employers will be expected to contribute 10 per cent, increasing to 20 per cent in August and September, as the economy reopens.
Employees will continue to receive 80 per cent of their salary for hours not worked until the scheme ends.
On Tuesday evening, the Queen carried out her traditional pre-Budget audience with Rishi Sunak, ahead of his statement on Wednesday.
Mr Sunak was pictured on the Treasury’s Twitter account at his desk as he spoke to the head of state on the telephone.
The Chancellor will also announce further support for self-employed workers, with more than 600,000 people - many of whom become self-employed in 2019/20 - now eligible for cash grants.
A fourth grant from the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) will be available to claim from April, worth 80 per cent of three months' average trading profits up to £7,500.
The Treasury said that hundreds of thousands more people will be eligible for the grants this time, as tax return data for 2019/20 is now available.
Mr Sunak faced criticism that newly self-employed people were unable to benefit from the scheme previously.
The Chancellor is expected to outline further details of the proposals on Wednesday, alongside plans for a fifth grant.
Ahead of the Budget, he said: "Our Covid support schemes have been a lifeline to millions, protecting jobs and incomes across the UK.
"There's now light at the end of the tunnel with a roadmap for reopening, so it's only right that we continue to help business and individuals through the challenging months ahead - and beyond."
The Chancellor will pledge to use "fiscal firepower" to protect jobs and livelihoods, vowing to do "whatever it takes" to help businesses and people through this "moment of crisis".
He is expected to set out a three-point economic plan focused on supporting people through the Covid-19 pandemic, fixing the public finances and building the future economy.
Mr Sunak will tell MPs: "First, we will continue doing whatever it takes to support the British people and businesses through this moment of crisis.
"Second, once we are on the way to recovery, we will need to begin fixing the public finances - and I want to be honest today about our plans to do that.
"And, third, in today's Budget we begin the work of building our future economy."
The Treasury said the Budget will build on the Government's plan for jobs and the £280 billion package of support during the coronavirus crisis.
Labour said the support measures could have been done "months ago", accusing the Chancellor of wanting to get his "moment in the sun" rather than protecting jobs.
Bridget Phillipson, shadow chief secretary to the Treasury, said: "These changes to support schemes could have been made months ago.
"Businesses and workers have been pleading with the Chancellor to give them certainty - but they have had to wait because he said it wouldn't be appropriate until the Budget.
"Announcing it the night before shows the focus is on Rishi Sunak getting his moment in the sun rather than protecting jobs and livelihoods.
"We need a Budget that secures Britain's recovery and rebuilds the economic foundations the Conservatives weakened before the crisis.
"That means a plan to support jobs and businesses, protect family finances and set Britain on the path to a better, more secure future."
But the CBI's chief economist Rain Newton-Smith said extending the scheme will keep "millions more in work and give businesses the chance to catch their breath as we carefully exit lockdown".
"The furlough scheme has been a stand-out success throughout the crisis. It's common-sense to keep the scheme going while business resilience remains fragile for some months yet," she said.
"As we make progress into the summer, it's right that businesses start contributing a little more as revenues start to recover. Meanwhile it's great to see more support for the newly self-employed, who have missed out over the last year."
Read More
Covid vaccine rollout to get £1.65bn boost as London cases plunge
