John McDonnell responds to PMI report on Brexit-related uncertainty

John McDonnell MP, Shadow Chancellor, responding to a report that Brexit-related uncertainty was the biggest brake on business activity growth in February, said:

"This is a signal of plummeting business optimism in the wake of the government's bungling of Brexit.

"The signs of falling UK private sector employment are worrying, against the backdrop of dropping business investment, downgraded growth forecasts, and a manufacturing recession.

"The UK economy is not in good shape and only a Labour government with a plan to grow it would undo the damage that the Tories have done."

Ends

Note to Editors:

• ·         UK private sector employment falls at fastest rate since 2012, according to the latest PMI release. Source: https://www.markiteconomics.com/Survey/PressRelease.mvc/613085035098483db9da8ff193286816