As Reeves scrabbles for Budget funds, is she missing a Covid furlough trick?

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has a dilemma on her hands as she looks to plug a multi-billion public finances gap, ideally without breaking manifesto pledges. Here's why in her shoes I might look to the Covid furlough scheme and insurers as part of a one-off swoop to claw back as much as "billions" without raising taxes or cutting spending. If you feel able, cast your mind back to 2020. The Covid-19 virus is spreading, a panicked country has gone into lockdown. With a chunk of the workforce out of action, and a crisis on its hands, the Conservative government brings in schemes in a bid to ...