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       Do you trust Rachel Reeves with Britain's economy? (Image: Getty)

       Rachel Reeves' ability to steer Britain's economy is being questioned again after economic growth fell unexpectedly in May. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said on Friday (July 11) that gross domestic product shrank by 0.1% in May after a 0.3% drop in April. Most economists expected the economy to rebound with slight growth of 0.1% in May.

       The economy could now be heading for a contraction overall in the second quarter of the year in what would be a blow to Ms Reeves and the Government's key aim to turbocharge economic growth. The Chancellor said the figures were "disappointing" but renewed her pledge to get more money in people's pockets.

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       638 Comments

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       25 Comments

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       Bank increases interest on two Cash ISAs offering up to 4.20%

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       34 Comments

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       16 Comments

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       458 Comments

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       527 Comments

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       105 Comments

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       33 Comments

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       8 Comments

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       43 Comments

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       138 Comments

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       638 Comments

       Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride said the May GDP figures would "pile even further pressure for tax rises in the autumn". He said: "Under Labour - taxes hiked, inflation and unemployment up and growth stagnant. We can’t afford Labour."

       So what do you think? Vote in our poll and join the debate in the comments section. Can't see the poll below? Click here.

       The ONS data showed the construction sector contracted by 0.6% in May in a sharp reversal of 0.8% growth in April. The services sector expanded by 0.1% in a bounce back after an upwardly revised 0.3% decline in April.

       Economist Matt Swannell, at the EY Item Club, said it was "all but certain" GDP would contract overall between April and June as US tariffs continue to weigh on activity.

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       Labour Leftie unleashes huge ￡120bn list of tax hike demands on Rachel Reeves

       54 Comments

       'Needs to go!' New calls for triple lock 'replacement' in betrayal of pensioners

       10 Comments

       State pension triple lock in chaos as country faces 'retirement nightmare by 2040'

       8 Comments

       State pension warning as triple lock to cost 3 times more than predicted

       17 Comments

       Currys boss' chilling warning to Reeves: 'think very carefully' before you make it 'worse'

       43 Comments

       POLL: Will Keir Starmer bring in wealth tax?

       138 Comments

       Rachel Reeves dealt final blow as OBR issues huge UK economy warning

       638 Comments

       NatWest and Royal Bank of Scotland savers issued five-day rates alert

       Comments

       Rachel Reeves' 'triple-locked' body language 'a key sign of low confidence' at PMQs

       25 Comments

       Russia economy meltdown as inflation soars to three-year high

       5 Comments

       Bank increases interest on two Cash ISAs offering up to 4.20%

       Comments

       Rachel Reeves dealt massive blow as she's warned more firms will go bust

       6 Comments

       PIP and Universal Credit changes 'damaging' for people in these UK regions

       1 Comments

       Keir Starmer set to block fresh wealth tax raid despite pressure from Labour MPs

       34 Comments

       Rachel Reeves creates 'tax time bomb' that could shrink UK economy

       16 Comments

       Andrew Neil savages Rachel Reeves for 'spouting nonsense' in furious rant

       458 Comments

       UK economy shrinks another 0.1% in disaster for Rachel Reeves

       527 Comments

       Labour's first year in power sees economic growth promises turn into broken dreams

       105 Comments

       Rachel Reeves 'catastrophe' strikes as new economic bombshell rocks Labour

       33 Comments

       FTSE 100 hits 'record high' fuelled by mining stocks rally and BoE rate cut expectations

       1 Comments

       Labour Leftie unleashes huge ￡120bn list of tax hike demands on Rachel Reeves

       54 Comments

       'Needs to go!' New calls for triple lock 'replacement' in betrayal of pensioners

       10 Comments

       State pension triple lock in chaos as country faces 'retirement nightmare by 2040'

       8 Comments

       State pension warning as triple lock to cost 3 times more than predicted

       17 Comments

       Currys boss' chilling warning to Reeves: 'think very carefully' before you make it 'worse'

       43 Comments

       POLL: Will Keir Starmer bring in wealth tax?

       138 Comments

       Rachel Reeves dealt final blow as OBR issues huge UK economy warning

       638 Comments

       NatWest and Royal Bank of Scotland savers issued five-day rates alert

       Comments

       Rachel Reeves' 'triple-locked' body language 'a key sign of low confidence' at PMQs

       25 Comments

       Russia economy meltdown as inflation soars to three-year high

       5 Comments

       Bank increases interest on two Cash ISAs offering up to 4.20%

       Comments

       Rachel Reeves dealt massive blow as she's warned more firms will go bust

       6 Comments

       PIP and Universal Credit changes 'damaging' for people in these UK regions

       1 Comments

       Keir Starmer set to block fresh wealth tax raid despite pressure from Labour MPs

       34 Comments

       Rachel Reeves creates 'tax time bomb' that could shrink UK economy

       16 Comments

       Andrew Neil savages Rachel Reeves for 'spouting nonsense' in furious rant

       458 Comments

       UK economy shrinks another 0.1% in disaster for Rachel Reeves

       527 Comments

       Labour's first year in power sees economic growth promises turn into broken dreams

       105 Comments

       Rachel Reeves 'catastrophe' strikes as new economic bombshell rocks Labour

       33 Comments

       FTSE 100 hits 'record high' fuelled by mining stocks rally and BoE rate cut expectations

       1 Comments

       Labour Leftie unleashes huge ￡120bn list of tax hike demands on Rachel Reeves

       54 Comments

       'Needs to go!' New calls for triple lock 'replacement' in betrayal of pensioners

       10 Comments

       State pension triple lock in chaos as country faces 'retirement nightmare by 2040'

       8 Comments

       State pension warning as triple lock to cost 3 times more than predicted

       17 Comments

       Currys boss' chilling warning to Reeves: 'think very carefully' before you make it 'worse'

       43 Comments

       POLL: Will Keir Starmer bring in wealth tax?

       138 Comments

       Rachel Reeves dealt final blow as OBR issues huge UK economy warning

       638 Comments

       Rob Wood, at Pantheon Macroeconomics, said he believed there were "signs that GDP growth can rebound in June", which would help eke out growth in the quarter.

       Suren Thiru, Economics Director at the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, said: "The UK's growth trajectory in the near term is likely to tilt downwards as any uplift from higher consumer and Government spending is hampered by escalating business caution, amid fears of further tax rises in this autumn's budget.

       "The lack of momentum in the UK economy indicated by these sluggish figures means an August interest rate cut currently looks inevitable, despite the recent spike in inflation."

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