Anneliese Dodds reacts to regional GDP statistics showing widening gaps between regions and nations

“These figures confirm what we already know: the pandemic, and the Government's handling of it, is worsening regional inequality.

“We need a responsible approach to secure our economy and bring jobs to every village, town and city.

“Instead, the Chancellor is hitting families with a triple hammer blow of cuts to Universal Credit, a massive hike in council tax and a pay freeze for millions of key workers. It’s economically illiterate."

Ends

Notes to editors:

· Of the nine English regions, the largest negative growth in Quarter 2 2020 was the West Midlands with negative 21.0 per cent, whilst the smallest decline came from London, at negative 16.6 per cent.

· Regions that declined more than the overall: West Midlands, East of England, South East, North West, South West.

· In Quarter 2 (Apr to June) 2020, all four countries in the UK showed negative growth in gross domestic product (GDP): Scotland fell by 19.4 per cent, followed by England, which fell 19.0 per cent, Wales fell by 15.1 per cent and Northern Ireland fell by 13.6 per cent.

· More information can be found here: https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/grossdomesticproductgdp/bulletins/gdpukregionsandcountries/apriltojune2020