Chancellor unveils measures to support self-employed

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced that self-employed people will be able to claim a grant worth 80% of their average monthly profits - up to £2,500 a month.

He said the support for those affected by the coronavirus crisis would be in place for at least three months.

The chancellor said the scheme was open to anyone with trading profits of up to £50,000.

But it will only be available to those who make the majority of their income from self-employment and who filed a tax return for 2019 - ensuring only the "genuinely self-employed" benefit from the scheme.

Mr Sunak said those who were not eligible had average earnings of more than £200,000.