UK economy flatlined in March as strikes impact growth

The wave of public sector strikes is also hitting the UK economy, which flatlined last month.

Despite a decent performance by the construction industry - the Office for National Statistics says walkouts by teachers and civil servants has offset any growth.

[slipperydouglas]

The audacity of the tories blaming the uk’s poor economic performance on strikes is absolutely staggering

[MoebiusUK]

Ben Habib supported Liz Truss and said 'I am completely behind her'

He also was a vocal advocate for Brexit.

We should listen to whatever he says then do the exact opposite.

[antonioandresgarcia]

Hang on. Habib says that the UK has not taken advantage of Brexit yet because it still has EU regulations in place, while saying that he is investing in Poland instead of the UK to take advantage of lower corporation tax. Last time I checked Poland was an EU member? And all of this at the same time he argues that we need less taxes but my mortgage going up from 1.48% to 5.15% thanks to Liz 'The Genius' Truss. WTF is going on in the UK.

[kieranoconnor]

Astra Zeneka chose Ireland because of; Skills, Infrastructure, Premises, LOocation, Political Stability, Access to the EU.

[victoriaselwyn]

Weird how you want to pin this on strikes rather than acknowledging that you pulled yourself for the largest single market in the world. Weird!

[skrich]

Dr Sandher is spot on. The richest in our society are trousering vast sums of money in share dividends and profits from assets and not reinvesting in the economy. They simply buy more assets with it or shift it into tax havens. That's where the stagnation is - not because of striking workers.

[WhichDoctor]

the government already admitted that the rail strikes cost them more than just giving the rail staff what they asked for in the beginning would have cost. No doubt the same will be true for teachers and doctors and everyone else. Basically the tories would rather waste our money uselessly prolonging industrial action than spend it wisely investing in the future of our public services and economic growth

[jugaloo]

Oooo, let me guess....the tory's giving away the equivalent of our entire defence budget to thier mates? Could that be part of it?

[fionaholland]

Funny how the Tories pretend the public sector is just a drain on the economy when we ask for decent wages but then when we strike we get blamed for the economy failing. Either the public sector supports the economy or it doesn't. If it does, admit the private sector depends on the public sector for infrastructure, healthy employees and customers and skills. Stop gaslighting us.

[minxiv]

The Tories need to take a pay cut and stop receiving all their benefits! Give that money to the NHS workers. Tories OUT!

[xxnoxx-xpbl]

Ben Habib totally fell apart there on Brexit. "We should have...policies that...". Never a how, of what with these guys. Just unicorns.

[Eli-pjxm]

Well. A Brexiteer who would rather invest in Poland than in the UK. Imagine that. I can't believe these people.

[chrisstyles]

The doctors lose we all has run the country for the last 13 years.

[trevorwiley]

It's easy for the government to say that demands from strikes are too inflationary, but it always seems that the brunt of the 'measures' implemented always seem to be passed away from corporations. High corporate profits are highly inflationary but the government doesn't seem too fussed to do anything about that

[ramatgan]

When I was in UK. I saw empty boarded up streets under a constant grey sky, litter everywhere.
Homeless people sleeping in doorways. Opioid addicts out of their mind and women so drunk they urinated on the streets. It's a sad declined country

[jkftuk]

I mean how is it reasonable to allow mp's to vote to increase their own wages roughly every 6 months in line with inflation, yet give them the power to suppress any increases in everyone else's wages

[Badger-wu]

Get them OUT and the Economy might grow . They are on a wrecking spree with England .

[porcupineinapettingzoo]

So man who championed brexit as best for British business would like you to stop mentioning brexit and invest in Poland, despite all that EU red tape because ultimately less corporation tax is the most important thing, something the UK government could have changed as a member of the EU, how has he not been tarred and feathered?

[howardgayton]

Brexit. The economy is following exactly what Remain said would happen, and the exact opposite of what Leave said would happen. The answer: to apply to Join the Single Market and Customs Union ASAP.

[PAD]

The Brexit Fanatic who will not invest in the UK...Once again self interest over country. Shameful