Has the government done enough to get the economy through the coronavirus emergency?

Only time will tell if Rishi Sunak’s funding plans have a chance at staving off a complete financial disaster, explains Ben Chu

Ministers have had their main shot at mitigating the bulk of the damage of this crisis (AFP)

On 11 March – a political and economic lifetime ago – the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, unveiled in his Budget speech a package of new subsidised loans, grants and tax relief designed to help UK firms affected by the coronavirus crisis.

“I expect the combination of these measures to protect the vast majority of businesses through the worst of the crisis,” he told a packed House of Commons.

There was also an extension of the scope of statutory sick pay for those advised to self-isolate and £5bn more for the NHS to cope with the outbreak.