We are in desperate need ofa recovery plan. But the Treasury has gone missing | Gordon Brown

The crushing impact of Covid-19 means the chancellor must act quickly and imaginatively to create jobs and encourage growth

When a crisis hits, effective governments do two things. The first is obvious: they deal with the immediate challenge. The second is harder: they anticipate the fallout and then set about working out how to tackle the consequences, looking months or even years ahead.

Related: Jobless total to hit 1980s levels without fresh state support

The generous economic dove of spring is now, sadly, on course to be the tax-raising fiscal hawk of autumn

Without a plan to recapitalise industry, otherwise sound companies may be unable to fund much-needed investment