Stride: Reeves flatlining growth and hiking tax

SIR Mel Stride has sounded the alarm on Rachel Reeves’s “flatlining economic growth” after the release of “weak” official figures yesterday.

- By Steph Spyro

The Conservatives accused Labour of trapping Britain in a “doom loop”.

The economy grew by 0.1% in August following a fall of 0.1% in the previous month, the Office for National Statistics reported.

Shadow Chancellor Sir Mel said: “ONS figures show that growth continues to be weak and Rachel Reeves is now admitting she is going to hike taxes yet again, despite her promises.

“If Labour had a plan — or a backbone - they would get spending under control, cut the deficit and get taxes down, as the Conservatives have set out with our £47billion savings plan.

“Instead they are going to hit a fragile economy with more damaging tax rises.”

Turbulence

The Tories urged Ms Reeves to avoid further tax hikes in her budget next month because of rising inflation, unemployment increasing and borrowing being “out of control”.