New figures from the Office for National Statistics confirm that UK GDP fell by 0.3% in the last three months of 2023, following a 0.1% contraction in the prior quarter – that confirms a technical recession occured last year. Hunt took to the airwaves to say: “I don’t think any of us were expecting the economy to actually grow last year.” Maybe he forgot a little pledge made by his colleague in January 2023:

“We will grow the economy, creating better-paid jobs and opportunity right across the country.“

With inflation due to fall to 2% in a month and the Bank of England set to cut rates in the summer, growth will be more forthcoming. Tories are wondering whether it will come too late for Sunak…