James Watt, the co-founder of Aberdeenshire-based craft brewing firm BrewDog, warned on Tuesday that the UK Government’s response to the coronavirus “is going to create the biggest unemployment crisis we have ever seen and propel millions of families into poverty.”

In a series of tweets, Watt said: “Our Prime Ministers actions yesterday, in not closing bars & restaurants down, but telling people not to go will plunge hundreds of thousands into unemployment …

“One thing I think we don’t yet realise is that Covid-19 & governments response to it is going to create the biggest unemployment crisis we have ever seen and propel millions of families into poverty. Every business now faces a grim battle to both survive and protect livelihoods …

“At BrewDog we are doing all we can to make it through & protect as many jobs as we can. But we, like so many businesses have lost 70% of our income almost overnight …

“Whilst staying safe, please try please support your local breweries, independents and small businesses in the next few weeks. The government needs to immediately announce significant additional financial measures to help support our economy to save jobs, businesses and community.”