Large retailers that kept their doors open but claimed business rates have been urged to put cash towards helping people shut out of financial support schemes.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham suggested other big firms follow Tesco's example, which said on Wednesday that it would repay £585million it had received in tax relief during the pandemic.
The supermarket giant said the financial support had been a "game changer" but it had weathered the worst of the crisis and intended to return the cash.
Mr Burnham said the move by Tesco could “offer the glimmer of a solution” to helping millions of people excluded from Rishi Sunak ’s financial support schemes.