Britons slam ‘incompetent’ leadership as UK in recession: ‘Haven’t had economic growth for years’

Britons slam ‘incompetent’ leadership as UK in recession: ‘Haven’t had economic growth for years’

WATCH: Britons react to the UK being back in recession

GB News
Georgia Pearce

By Georgia Pearce


Published: 15/02/2024

- 15:12

Updated: 15/02/2024

- 15:23

The UK economy contracted in the final three months of 2023

Manchester locals have hit out at the Conservatives as new figures reveal that the UK is in recession once again.

The ONS has released new figures for the last three months of last year, and show Britain's economy shrank by 0.3 per cent.


This is the first time the UK has entered recession since the coronavirus pandemic and the country's subsequent lockdown.

The economy plunged into reverse figures in the first half of 2020.

Manchester residents speak to GB News

People of Manchester slammed the 'incompetency' of government as the UK plunges into recession

GB News

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt remained positive following the news, saying there are "signs" the economy is "turning a corner".

Hunt said in a statement: "High inflation is the single biggest barrier to growth which is why halving it has been our top priority. While interest rates are high - so the Bank of England can bring inflation down - low growth is not a surprise.

"Although times are still tough for many families, we must stick to the plan – cutting taxes on work and business to build a stronger economy."

Speaking to GB News, the people of Manchester told reporter Sophie Reaper that the government has become "incompetent" with keeping Britain's economy afloat.

Jeremy Hunt

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has remained optimistic and said the economy is 'turning a corner'

PA

One local told GB News: "Things have not been great for a long time, have they? We've been stuck with the Tories not investing in things.

"And they say that that's really the source of the recession, lack of investment. It's the same old really, as far as I'm concerned."

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Another fumed: "We just haven't got economic growth and we haven't had economic growth for for years - we just haven't got policies in place to generate growth."

When asked by Sophie if he trusts the government to get things back on track, he replied: "No, because they're incompetent and just don't have a plan or a vision."

Manchester resident

One Manchester local says the British government 'doesn't have a plan or vision'

GB News

In further criticism of the government, another Manchester resident said of the recession: "They have tendencies that could get us there - I don't know if the leadership is quite right. There needs to be some changes."

Another was in agreement, admitting: "The way it's been the last three years, the amount of money they've been spending, we was always going to go into recession.

"I don't trust any of the government, not at all. I don't think they've got the best interests of the ordinary man in their hearts. That's the way I feel about this country at the moment.

"They really are not doing anything for us, and yet we seem to be giving everything away."

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