Rishi Sunak urged to introduce ‘Shop Out to Help Out’ scheme to save the high street

The Chancellor has been urged to introduce a Shop Out to Help Out-style voucher scheme to help Britain’s high streets recover from the pandemic.

A leading think-tank has called on Mr Sunak to give people free high street vouchers as part of next week’s budget, adding that the Chancellor shouldn’t think about withdrawing support.

Influential think-tank The Resolution Foundation also said that the Chancellor needs to spend big to help the economy, including on furlough and business bailouts, as well as the ‘Shop Out to Help Out’ voucher scheme to boost the high street.

Research director at The Resolution Foundation, James Smith, has said that a £100billion stimulus package would be required as a response to the biggest downturn in 300 years.

Clint Mann / Geograph

He urged the Chancellor to hand out £9 billion in vouchers in a bid to help stimulate growth, adding that £100billion would be required overall ‘to increase the chances of a strong recovery from the pandemic-induced slump and to ensure the recovery reaches firms and families’.

Mr Smith said: “The Chancellor is approaching his second Budget at a pivotal moment for the economy, with the country likely to emerge out of the biggest economic downturn in over three centuries in the coming months.

“But while in the US debate has focused on President Biden’s £1.9 trillion stimulus plan, the UK debate has got stuck on how to withdraw support.

“Instead, the Chancellor should combine extending existing support with fresh stimulus once restrictions are lifted to deliver a £100 billion plan to boost Britain’s recovery.

“That is the scale of ambition needed to increase the chances that Britain sees a strong recovery from its pandemic-induced slump, and to ensure the recovery reaches firms and families across the UK.”

N Chadwick / Geograph

Mr Sunak will be unveiling his new budget next week, and is set to reveal a range of dramatic policies with the aim of getting Britain’s economy to grow post-lockdown.

However, it isn’t expected any kind of voucher scheme will be announced while most businesses remain closed under the current restrictions.

What do you think, would it be a good idea?