ON the day that the economy suffered its biggest dip on record Ludlow MP Philip Dunne has praised the economic support measures taken by the Government.

Philip Dunne MP welcomed what he described as ‘unprecedented’ economic support to protect jobs and businesses in south Shropshire during the coronavirus outbreak.

The MP says that in the Ludlow constituency 9,500 jobs have been protected through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, with Government grants covering 80 per cent of people’s wages, up to £2,500 a month.

He claims 4,400 self-employed people in south Shropshire are receiving grants worth a total of £12.6m from the Government to help with the impact of coronavirus.

“As latest economic figures show, this is a hugely challenging time for people and businesses, and the Government’s schemes have helped to protect the livelihoods of thousands of people in south Shropshire,” said Mr Dunne.

“We know there have already been job losses in south Shropshire, despite the government’s world-leading economic response to coronavirus. So as we move through the second stage of the roadmap to recovery, the government must do all it can to kick-start the engine of our economy while continuing to provide flexible support to those who need it.”

Forecasters say that as well as having the highest Covid-19 death toll in Europe, the United Kingdom will also be the worst hit economically by the virus.