Budget gossip and U-turns to blame for Britain’s weak growth, former Bank of England economist warns Reeves

Speculation over the upcoming Budget is partly to blame for weaker-than-expected economic growth figures as worries over tax hikes hit business and consumer spending, the former top economist at the Bank of England has warned.

Andy Haldane, who was chief economist at the Bank until 2021, told Sky News’s Mornings With Ridge And Frost that the build-up ahead of the Budget has been a “circus” and called for the process to be overhauled to prevent leaks that can damage the economy.