Businesses at the time were facing a nightmare of cancellations and spiralling debt; despite that, some weren’t able to claim the government grants that could have helped them.

That discussion made it clear to me that the travel and tourism industries, and the thousands of people they employ, deserve real, targeted support to help them through the pandemic.

While the sector has seen some relief, the withdrawal of furlough risks delivering another hammer blow to countless families across the travel industry.

The latest statistics show that 110,000 people are still on furlough in the ten industries with the largest proportion of employees on the scheme. This includes more than one in two people working in air transport, as well as 46% in the travel agency and tour operator sector – the figures are stark.

It’s clear this government must not pull the rug out from under the feet of the travel industry, which has endured so much through this pandemic. More than 56,000 people in the sector will be impacted if the government does not act, and that’s why the chancellor must.

We need to consider the impact on the lives of those that could find themselves out of a job this week without further support. And on the hard-pressed businesses that will have no choice but to make staff redundant.

MORE: Extension of furlough for travel and aviation ’not unaffordable’

We need to give specific support to agents and operators who’ve remained open during the pandemic but didn’t get sufficient support.

The Liberal Democrats are calling for furlough to be extended for the industries, like travel, that are being hardest hit by the pandemic. This would prevent a tidal wave of job losses in the coming weeks and would support the most vulnerable workers and businesses through winter."

Christine Jardine is MP for Edinburgh West and the Liberal Democrats’ treasury spokesperson.