IAN Blackford has urged Boris Johnson to “show the leadership required” and announce an extension of the furlough scheme.
The Job Retention Scheme is due to finish by the end of next month, and without the Government propping up the payroll, firms across the UK are likely to let staff go.
Blackford told the Commons: “Our First Minister has shown leadership on all fronts during this pandemic. However, the responsibility and power for extending the furlough scheme lie with the Prime Minister and the Chancellor.
“The Prime Minister must announce an immediate extension, no half-measures, no half-baked projects, to this vital and life-saving scheme. Will the Prime Minister show the leadership required and save the jobs?”
Johnson responded: “I notice that both [Blackford] and [Labour leader Keir Starmer] now support an indefinite extension of the furlough scheme… that’s what he said.
“What we will do, as I’ve said throughout, is continue to put our arms around the people of this country going through a very tough time and come up with the appropriate, creative and imaginative schemes to keep them in work and keep the economy moving.”
READ MORE: Boris Johnson dismisses coronavirus furlough plea to save 61,000 Scottish jobs
Blackford said that the last thing Scots at risk of losing their jobs due to the furlough scheme ending want is a hug from Boris Johnson.
He said: “Yesterday, the only reassurance the Prime Minister gave those Scottish workers [was] saying that he would throw his arms around them. Prime Minister, I can tell you the last thing those 61,000 Scots are looking for is a hug from you.
“They need the security of knowing that they can hold onto their jobs and incomes, for themselves and their families.”
Johnson responded: “I can imagine that [Blackford] doesn’t want a hug from me, but that was a metaphor and what we’re … perhaps it’s physically incarnated by the £12.7 billion of Barnett Consequentials that we’re seeing come from the UK Exchequer to support people across the whole of our country.”
Blackford's question came after Starmer pointed to the organisations calling for an extension to furlough - including the CBI and the governor of the Bank of England.
He asked: "When is the Prime Minister finally going to act?"
The PM said he recognises it is "tough times" for businesses, and the government will do its "level best to protect them through this period".
But he pointed to comments made by shadow education secretary Kate Green about not letting a "good crisis" go to waste.
WATCH: Ian Blackford says hug from PM is 'the last thing' furloughed staff want
"The reality of this opposition has been exposed and the cat's out of the bag," he said.
"They are seeking to create political opportunity out of a crisis whilst we are taking the tough decisions."
The SNP's Patrick Grady also brought up the furlough issue.
He told Johnson will be the government hit with the cost either way "whether they extend the job retention scheme or pay the long-term price of long-term unemployment".
He asked: "Which of those is it going to be?"
Johnson said his government with "intensify our support for every part of the union - from space ports to backing our armed services", but again did not give a furlough pledge.
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