THE TUC slammed the Tories for turning Britain into a “stagnation nation” after new figures revealed that the economy had flatlined in April. 

Data from the Office for National Statistics shows that gross domestic product (GDP) had stalled last month, following growth of 0.4 per cent in March.

The figures have exposed Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s claims to the electorate that the economy had “turned a corner,” after Britain entered recession last year.

It comes a week before the Bank of England makes its decision on interest rates ahead of the election.

Rob Wood, chief UK economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, said the figures “further complicate” the bank’s decisions, and that he expects interest rates to be on hold in June, with a cut in August less likely. 

Retailers lost 2 per cent of their trade last month.

Production output fell by 0.9 per cent, and construction was down by 1.4 per cent, falling for the third consecutive month. 

TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said: “This has been the worst government for growth in modern times — and working people have paid the price. 

“The Conservatives can spin all they like. But the last 14 years have been dismal for growth and living standards.  

“They have turned Britain into a stagnation nation.” 

Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt insisted that the Conservatives would “keep the economy growing with our clear plan to cut taxes on work, homes and pensions.”

According to the TUC, annual growth has averaged just 1.5 per cent since 2010, the worst performance for a government since the Great Depression.