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

Chancellor says ‘now not the time to put economic stability at risk’ as ONS records 0.3% growth in first month of Iran war

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Analysis: Reeves says ‘if economy ain’t broke, don’t fix it’

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”.