Watch live: Rishi Sunak unveils support for firms in Tier 2

22 October 2020, 10:07 | Updated: 22 October 2020, 12:41

Rishi Sunak delivers economic update in Commons | watch live on LBC

Chancellor Rishi Sunak is addressing the Commons to announce financial support for hard-hit businesses in Tier 2 areas.

He had been expected to update the Job Support Scheme (JSS) - which is set to replace furlough in November.

The new measures will be aimed particularly at pubs, bars and restaurants in Tier 2.

Under current government rules, hospitality businesses under Tier 2 can only take customers from the same household unless they sit outside, resulting in a large drop in customer numbers.

Because the tier two restrictions suppress demand without attracting additional government support, they have been described as the "worst of all worlds" by the hospitality sector.

Areas in tier two include London, Essex, much of the West Midlands, Leicester, Nottinghamshire, Cheshire, West Yorkshire and north-east England.

Watch the Chancellor's speech in full at the top of the page