The economic news is worse than expected. The economy shrank by 0.1 per cent in March, as hard-stretched consumers began reining in their spending. Ominously, the contraction came before April’s 54 per cent increase in the energy price cap and May’s interest rate rise.
These figures would be concerning even if the Government appeared focused and united. Neither can be said to be true. The cost of living and boosting economic growth was meant to form the core of the Queen’s Speech. Yet it is unclear what the Prime Minister intends to do about either, or even if he will do anything at all.
