This morning, the ONS announced that the economy grew by 0.8% in Q2 2014, meaning that we’re now at the pre-recession peak of 2008.
This comes in addition to yesterday’s announcement from the IMF that the UK is expected to be the fastest-growing G7 economy in 2014.
These aren’t just abstract numbers and predictions – they mean more jobs and security for families and businesses here in Amber Valley. In fact, earlier this month, we saw the ONS announce that unemployment continues to fall here – June’s figures are at 2.5%, down from 2.7% in May and 2.9% in April.
This news hasn’t just happened by accident. It’s the result of the realistic assessments that the Government has taken over the past four years. This is also the product of hard work by British people; in Amber Valley, we have many manufacturing businesses that export to other nations, and this morning’s announcement showed growth of 0.4% in this sector.
But the job isn’t yet complete. We must continue to ensure that we tackle the deficit – which is now down by more than a third – so that we can secure a brighter future for Britain.