Covid loans make UK taxpayers shareholders in cannabis oil firm

Future Fund scheme granted loans to eclectic range of companies, list from British Business Bank shows

British taxpayers are now shareholders in a further 65 companies because of a government rescue funding scheme set up during the Covid crisis - including a medical cannabis firm, a video game studio and a chain of bars offering activities like ping pong.

A list published by the government's development bank reveals an eclectic range of firms that have received convertible loans as part of the Future Fund.