Government extends furlough scheme until end of October, payments to remain at 80 per cent of salary

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has extended the government’s furlough scheme until the end of October, a longer extension than expected.

Until the end of July, the scheme will run in its current form, paying furloughed workers 80 per cent of their salary up to £2,500 a month, Sunak said.

From August, businesses will be able to bring furloughed staff back to work part-time. Furlough payments will remain at 80 per cent of salary, but they will be split between government and employers. More details on this split will be revealed later this month.