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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Business
Richard Partington Economics correspondent

Is Labour to blame for slowing UK economy? It’s more complex than that

The chancellor, Rachel Reeves
Rachel Reeves’s downbeat messaging has had an impact but the economic picture is more complex than much of the coverage suggests. Photograph: John Thys/AFP/Getty Images

Economic growth revised to zero, stubbornly high inflation, and warnings of job losses on the horizon. After less than six months in office, a narrative is taking hold that Keir Starmer’s government is fumbling his number one mission to reboot Britain’s economy.

On the eve of the prime minister’s first Christmas in Downing Street, the early indicators certainly aren’t looking good. After growth was revised down from 0.1% to zero in the third quarter, and with the Bank of England forecasting more of the same in the fourth quarter, at best the UK economy has gone sideways since Labour’s election landslide in July.

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