Jeremy Hunt proposes April Fool’s Day ban - leaked papers reveal Michael Gove heads up taskforce

The government is considering imposing an April Fool’s Day ban in a bid to boost the economy, a leaked briefing note reveals.

The paper, penned by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s office for No 10, suggests that millions is lost in the UK each year through wasted work hours.

“Nothing should be off the table as we drive growth, and a ban on the annual celebration could free up funds lost to tomfoolery - possibly in the millions,” it says.

It gives the example of hours spent in newsrooms penning prank stories.

Sources suggest Michael Gove has been commissioned to look into the matter by prime minister Rishi Sunak, who is understood to be supportive of the idea.

Mr Sunak pitched the idea himself as chancellor in 2021 but it was shot down by then-prime minister Boris Johnson, who described it as as “load of old spatchcock”.

A government spokesperson said there was “no truth in the matter”. Subsequently presented with the briefing note, they said they had firmly believed there was no truth in the matter when they said there was “no truth in the matter”.