People thought Rishi Sunak was giving them £500 and are devastated it's just a £10 meal voucher

If you were expecting a £500 handout from the Tories to spend on whatever you want, we’ve got some bad news for you...

Rishi Sunak, Chancellor of the Exchequer, announced in the House of Commons on Wednesday afternoon the government’s new 'Eat Out to Help Out' scheme.

While that may sound, er, exciting to some, it’s a whole lot less than what people were expecting.

Here’s the very specific way you’ll need to claim it:

In August, go to a restaurant on Monday, Tuesday and/or Wednesday and you can get a 50 per cent reduction – of up to £10 per head – on sit-down meals and non-alcoholic drinks.

For example, a family of four can save £40 on a meal worth £80.

Wednesday’s announcement came about after The Guardian reported the Treasury was considering “radical plans” to give all adults £500 and children £250 in vouchers to spend in sectors of the economy hardest hit by the coronavirus lockdown.

James Smith, research director at the Resolution Foundation, said on Sunday:

A universal high street voucher scheme to be spent only in these sectors would kickstart demand in the right parts of our economy, boost living standards and deliver targeted support to the businesses that need help the most.

The chancellor’s recovery package on Wednesday should reflect this unique economic challenge.

Cut to Sunak announcing the £10 “Eat Out to Help Out” scheme and dashing the hopes of thousands of people across the country.

Many took to social media to express their frustration:

Sorry, everyone – might need to save for that PS5 some other way...