UK furlough scheme enters its final month – should it be extended?

Analysis: Rishi Sunak's scheme has helped hold off mass unemployment, but he now favours targeted action

• Calls grow to extend furlough for badly hit sectors

There have been few unalloyed successes for the government during its battle with the biggest public health challenge of modern times. Vaccine procurement was one, the furlough introduced at the start of the crisis was another.

State wage subsidies are entering their final month and although in the past deadlines for winding them up have been missed, there is no prospect of that happening this time. Unless something dramatic occurs in the next 30 days, a scheme that has supported 11.6m jobs and for which the final bill will be 70bn or more will come to an end.