What really gets me is that although there is money for businesses for rates rent etc. there is no money for the staff, and it is quite deliberate.

If he ordered the pubs and restaurants to close he would have to pay for the furlough of the workers but as he has only banned the sale of alcohol and allowed them to stay open if the management lay staff off that's their decision and so he is not responsible and doesn't have to pay them.
Calculated and vindictive, that's what I think!