Chancellor’s £30bn plan to prevent coronavirus spread – The Yorkshire Post says

Yet, while the Richmond MP delivered with a wide-ranging £30bn package of emergency measures to extend the scope of sick pay, help the NHS and assist small businesses, it was the tone of his speech that was so striking.

Delivered calmly – and without hyperbole at a time of profound crisis less than four weeks after his appointment – Mr Sunak signalled a desire to work on a cross-party basis.

Commanding the confidence of the Commons, Mr Sunak’s attention to detail – and recognition that urgent action was needed after Budget day began with an unprecedented cut in interest rates – is precisely what the country expects from its Chancellors at times of national crisis.

This was particularly notable with the responsible decision to extend statutory sick pay to individuals from the moment they have to self-insulate – the hope is proactive and pre-emptive action like this limits the spread, and impact, of Covid-19.

Likewise Mr Sunak’s prudent decision to exempt many small firms from business rates shows he is clearly keen not to punish those companies whose turnover is hit by staff sickness and a drop in consumer spending.

But the Chancellor – who tried to create the impression that he was a friendly GP writing a prescription – cannot escape the fact that the economy is still weak. And while he is willing to take advantage of the low cost of borrowing to pay for infrastructure improvements, while 
further delaying the spending review, social care reform and other decisions, Mr Sunak is banking on his coronavirus remedies preventing further contagion to the nation’s economy and health.