During a broadcast of BBC Radio 4’s ‘Any Questions’ program, Esther McVey, a Conservative minister, faced laughter from the audience after asserting that Chancellor Rishi Sunak had successfully “turned the economy round.” McVey’s remarks came just a day after it was announced that the UK had entered into a recession.
Appearing on the program on Friday night, McVey, who holds the title of Minister for Common Sense, urged Tory MPs to support Prime Minister Rishi Sunak despite recent defeats in by-elections. She stated, “People need to now get behind Rishi Sunak, who actually inherited a difficult set of circumstances and say ‘yes, he has turned the economy round – that is turning round now’.”
The audience’s response was immediate, with laughter filling the studio as McVey’s claim was met with skepticism. Presenter Alex Forsyth interjected, highlighting the contradiction, stating, “Is it? The UK’s just gone into a recession.”
Undeterred, McVey attempted to address the audience’s reaction, acknowledging the recent economic data. She conceded, “Yeah, OK. Those figures were from the end of last year, and you’re right it was a technical recession and it’s a shallow recession.”
The Office for National Statistics had released figures just a day prior, revealing a 0.3% contraction in the economy during the final three months of 2023. This, coupled with a 0.1% decline in gross domestic product (GDP) between July and September, officially placed the UK in a state of recession.
The timing of the recession announcement was particularly challenging for Sunak, who had prioritized economic growth as one of his key pledges to voters. The revelation underscored the uphill battle facing the government in achieving its economic objectives amidst ongoing challenges and uncertainties.
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