Rarely can an encouraging first estimate of quarterly GDP – up by an unexpected 0.6 per cent, making the UK the fastest-growing G7 nation – have had a greater political impact than when the chancellor seized on it to bludgeon her panicky, confused, rebellious colleagues into sanity.
Bolting out of No 11 Downing Street, the recently camera-shy Rachel Reeves declared to semi-startled reporters that the impending Labour leadership election risked “plunging the country into chaos at a time when there is conflict in the world, but also at a time when our plan to grow the economy is starting to bear fruit”.
