The Prime Minister apologised for the ‘anguish’ caused by new lockdown plans, particularly for struggling businesses as he set out plans for a second lockdown

Boris Johnson has announced support for the self employed will double to 80% of trading profits – but only for the month of November.

The Prime Minister said financial help for self-employed workers would increase from 40% to 80% of their profits as he prepared to plunge England into a four-week lockdown on Thursday.

The changes mean the self-employment income support scheme, which is calculated over three months, will increase to an average of 55% of trading profits from November to January with a maximum grant of £5,160.

Mr Johnson apologised for the “anguish these measures will impose”, particularly to businesses which have been hammered by restrictions.

But in a speech to MPs, he restated his view that it would be a “moral and medical disaster” if the Government failed to impose tougher measures.

Setting out new financial support, Mr Johnson said: “We’ve already paid out £13.7bn to help the self employed.