Stuart Patrick, Glasgow Chamber of Commerce Chief Exec-JS In this truly horrible year it is perhaps unsurprising that a new virus variant should appear just in time for Christmas, once more throwing government and business into turmoil. If consumer facing businesses are to endure several more weeks of lockdown then we must continue to call for government to increase financial support, anticipating that the rolling out of vaccines will finally bring both medical and economic relief. The damage being done to livelihoods is currently masked by the job retention scheme and a growing mountain of small business debt but at some point there will be company collapses, jobs lost and communities impoverished. The short term does not look bright but larger cash grants, a further year of rates relief and options to extend loan repayment terms or convert debt to equity can all help.