The City of London's local authority is pressuring the government to allow it to re-open pubs, restaurants and retailers as soon as possible, with one top official warning policymakers that businesses need to be open if it is to afford the various coronavirus support schemes in place.

The City of London Corporation’s policy chair Catherine McGuinness said businesses “need to see a light at the end of this long tunnel”, as London’s financial district shuts down for the next four weeks.