A positive new report raises the question: was Reeves undermined by dodgy data? | Heather Stewart

Assessment’s finding of a jump in UK productivity emphasises urgent need to appoint a national statistician The keen new chancellor, John Healey, responded to last week’s better-than-expected economic news by claiming the government was “bringing hope back”. Growth did not plunge as feared after Donald Trump unleashed war on Iran – with GDP expanding at a pretty decent 0.4% in the second quarter.…