LONDON :
THE British economy flatlined in
the third quarter of the year,
according to downwardly revised
official figures on Monday, in
another blow to the new Labour
Government that has made
growth its number one mission.
In its latest revision of the July
to September period, the Office
for National Statistics said the
British economy showed no
growth against the previous estimate of 0.1%.
The agency partly blamed the
reduction on fresh survey data
showing weaker trading across
bars and restaurants.
The reduction has prompted
critics to say that Labour talked
down the economy on taking
power on July 5 for the first time
in 14 years when it described its
economic inheritance from the
previous Conservative administration as being the worst in
generations.
Treasury chief Rachel Reeves
promised to turbocharge economic growth after Labour won
the July election but has now
seen the economy stall over the
three months to September,
while official figures earlier this
month also pointed towards a
0.1% decline in October.