The British economy cannot get going. Growth flatlined in February, the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics show, as a rise in construction was offset by falls in services and production.
The Chancellor remains optimistic, pointing to growth over the past three months which he said demonstrated the economy was performing better than expected. Yet this will give little succour to consumers, still facing double-digit inflation.
The Government’s political strategy is clear: to delay holding a general election until as late as possible, in the hope that tax cuts and sufficient time will turn things around. But the economic strategy is less clear. Meanwhile, Britons face another year of pain, as everything from housing costs to food prices continue to soar.
Indeed, this week the IMF predicted that the UK economy would shrink by 0.3 per cent in 2023, making it the worst-performing economy in the G20, which includes sanctions-hit Russia.
Jeremy Hunt is right. Revised forecasts mean the UK economy is doing less badly than previously thought. But that is different from doing well, while Britain continues to perform worse than its competitors.
The right to clean air
Opponents of London’s expanded ultra low emission zone (Ulez) will have their day in court. A judge has accepted a request from five Conservative councils for a judicial review of Sadiq Khan’s policy. A ruling against the Mayor could potentially delay the August 29 expansion.
The case is likely to rest on whether Khan acted beyond his powers by expanding the Ulez by varying the existing scheme order rather than issuing a new charging order, and that he failed to consider including motorists living on the edges of London in the vehicle scrappage scheme.
The Evening Standard supports the Ulez extension. Every Londoner, regardless of their postcode, has a right to breathe clean air. Traditional internal combustion engine vehicles are a leading cause of air pollution, linked to an estimated 4,000 deaths in the capital in 2019.
Instead of costly legal challenges, local authorities should work together on installing electric vehicle charging stations and support City Hall’s plan to make London a net zero city by 2030
Kings of convenience
The first word that springs to mind about living in London is not necessarily “convenience”. But where would any of us be without our local convenience stores, which are enjoying a sales boom?
There are, we understand, parts of Britain where you can’t pop out in a dressing gown to pick up an emergency carton of orange juice or packet of fig rolls. So let’s raise a glass of milk to our local shops, who are always there for us and never judge our purchases.
