Rachel Reeves humiliated on BBC Breakfast as she gives | UK News

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves was delivered a large blow this morning as BBC Breakfast halted for a breaking information announcement. Presenter Ben Boulos paused the show to let viewers know that the UK financial system contracted by 0.3% in April, according to the Office for National Statistics – with the politician saying the information was “disappointing”.

With a crimson breaking information banner showing on screen, the BBC host defined: “The UK economy shrank by 0.3% in April, compared with the month before. When we talk about GDP, the size of the economy, it is a measure of all of the economic activity in the UK. It is the total value of what we’re making, doing, buying, and selling. Economic growth, more of that, is generally seen as a positive thing.”

“This figure, for April, indicates that there was a decrease in the amount of economic activity,” he added. “But I should add a word of caution. This is the figure for one month alone. Experts tend to look for the trend across every three-month period, which will put the April figure in context.”

But then Ben ended the report with a large blow to the Chancellor. He mentioned: “Shrinking by 0.3%, that follows growth of 0.2% in March, slowing down from the 0.7% growth in February. So the trend of the economy looks to be downwards.”

Speaking on the identical show, Ms Reeves admitted that “the numbers are disappointing”. She continued: “But monthly, GDP numbers are particularly volatile and if you take the three month period then the economy grew by 0.7%.

“I feel we also all know that April was a difficult month.” Passing the blame to Donald Trump and his tariffs, Reeves continued: “It was the month that US tariffs got here in and there was a lot of uncertainty.”

Reeves went on to say that weak economic growth has been a “problem” in the UK for over a decade. “I, as Chancellor, am decided to flip around the poor GDP and poor growth numbers and the poor residing requirements,” she declared.

The Chancellor set out her spending review in the House of Commons on Wednesday, announcing a series of measures to boost the economy. Ms Reeves said the OBR’s forecast showed people would be “£500 higher off” a year under this government.

She explained: “Compared to the forecast in the ultimate funds delivered by the occasion reverse, and after taking account of inflation, the OBR say right now that people will likely be on average over £500 a 12 months higher off under this Labour Government.”