LONDON (REUTERS) - The British government is not crashing the economy with its multi-billion-pound schemes to help businesses and workers, as both companies and citizens needed support to survive the coronavirus crisis, its business minister said on Friday (March 27).

"I don't think we are crashing the economy," British Business Minister Alok Sharma told Sky News.

"I hope the downturn, if I can put it like that, and the impact on the economy will be short term."

"This is a global issue that is affecting countries across the world and we are providing support, as indeed others are, for their businesses and their citizens," he said.