Reeves seizes on surprise UK growth as evidence Labour leadership must stay

Rachel Reeves hailed the fact that the economy unexpectedly grew in March as proof the government had ‘the right economic plan’. Photograph: Henry Nicholls/AFP/Getty Images

The chancellor has seized on official figures showing the UK economy was more resilient than feared at the start of the Iran war as evidence to keep the current Labour leadership in place.

Rachel Reeves hailed the fact that the economy unexpectedly grew in March, during the first month of the conflict in the Middle East, as proof the government had “the right economic plan”.