Rishi Sunak Blasts Forecasters for Underestimating UK's Covid Bounce Back

Prime Minister Orders Ministers to Highlight UK's Strong Economic Growth

In a fiery Cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak lambasted forecasters for significantly underestimating Britain's Covid recovery. He urged ministers to emphasize the fact that the UK is now among the top performers in the G7 for economic growth.

Revised GDP Figures Show Surprise Recovery

Recently released data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed that GDP was actually 0.6% higher than pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2021, contrary to previous estimates of a 1.2% decline. This revision has left experts red-faced.

Cabinet Sees Revised Numbers as a Rebuke to Labour Party

Rishi Sunak seized the opportunity to dismantle the narrative propagated by the Labour Party that economic growth in the UK has been stagnant. He described the ONS's U-turn as a complete destruction of their claim.

Treasury Source Criticizes ONS for Delayed Revision

Expressing frustration, an unnamed Treasury source blamed the ONS for failing to revise their numbers earlier, resulting in 18 months of negative perception about the UK's economic state. The source further complained about the portrayal of the UK as an outsider and a basket case.

Revised Figures Show UK Outpacing European Nations

Rishi Sunak informed his ministers that the revised growth numbers position the UK ahead of France, Germany, and Italy, with a faster recovery rate than any other European nation. This news further bolsters the government's confidence in the UK's economic performance.

ONS Boss Blames Turmoil for Revision

During questioning by MPs, Sir Ian Diamond, head of the ONS, attributed the revised figures to a "period of great turmoil." He also mentioned that other countries would soon be publishing their own revised numbers, but the ONS had released theirs ahead of schedule.

A "Revision" and Not a "Mistake," Says ONS Boss

Sir Ian Diamond clarified that the revised figures were not a mistake, but a revision. He acknowledged that the semantics might be open to interpretation but emphasized his concern about the impact of the revision, admitting that it had occupied his thoughts throughout August.