Cameron: My policies left economy stronger to cope with pandemic

DAVID Cameron yesterday insisted his government's careful handling of the economy had helped to make the subsequent £70billion Covid furlough scheme more affordable

- Martyn Brown

The ex-Prime Minister said austerity measures in his six-year premiership and beyond meant the UK had the "financial capacity" to launch the scheme when the pandemic struck.

Unions have blamed cuts to public services under his leadership for leaving the NHS in a "parlous state". But he told the Covid-19 Inquiry the fiscal plan was "the right economic policy".

He denied there was too little economic planning for a pandemic, and said 10 years of a Tory government had put the economy in a strong position after a Labour administration.