Chancellor's speech will have disappointed hundreds of local businesses and millions in need nationwide

"Hundreds of local businesses who are struggling and were looking to the Government for clarity and improvement of schemes to help them and the thousands of empolyees whose jobs are in jepardy over the next few months expect and need more, " said Cllr Robin Ashby, who speaks for Newcastle Liberal Democrats on business and employment.

"The Chancellor's speech at the Conservative Party's virtual conference today will also have disappointed millions who were hoping to hear how he plans to help them through this crisis.

"Instead of an extension to furlough, measures to help the millions excluded from help or a boost to universal credit, we were instead given little more than a stump speech to aid Rishi Sunak's career.

"The country needs more concrete measures now to support the millions of people who are worried about their jobs and their family's financial futures."