Responding to the Chancellor’s decision to cancel the Autumn Budget, Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesperson Christine Jardine said:

If ever there was a time when we needed an Autumn budget to outline long term plans, this is it. Millions of people who are worried about their jobs, their future, and how we will transition into a green economy want to know if this Government has a plan, and what it is.

The Treasury’s short term plans are one thing, but people rightly want to know where they are heading. The Chancellor must give a clear answer to questions about where the furlough bridge is leading. At the moment, thousands of people and businesses are looking at a financial cliff edge. They need reassurance.

The Chancellor must give people certainty about the future and outline a comprehensive plan for the UK’s economic recovery. We need to see from Government plans to extend the furlough scheme, protect excluded groups, and launch new investment – especially in the green economy.