How bad are job losses going to be and what can the government do about it?

Debt forgiveness, extra support for the hardest-hit businesses and better-designed training and assistance for people out of work could all help limit the damage, writes Ben Chapman

(EPA)

The UK now faces its worst outlook for jobs in almost 30 years, according to one poll released on Tuesday.

There is no doubt that, after keeping people alive, keeping people in jobs has become the government’s key focus over the coming months.

According to some reports, the prime minister now sees coronavirus – perhaps controversially – as primarily an economic crisis rather than a public health one.