AN UPWARDS bump in gross domestic product (GDP) was hailed by Chancellor Rachel Reeves as an indication the government’s economic strategy was working today.

The rise, of 0.7 per cent for the first quarter of the year according to official statistics, “shows the strength and potential of the UK economy,” she said.

“Up against a backdrop of global uncertainty, we are making the right choices now in the national interest,” the Chancellor added.

In fact, the rise was lower than the 0.9 per cent recorded in the same quarter last year, when Tory Jeremy Hunt was at the Treasury.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer claimed that it showed the government was on course to meet its target of having the highest growth rate among the G7 biggest capitalist economies.

But Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: ”It is far from clear that we are heading in the right direction.

“If we are ever going to get sustained growth, the government will need to focus more on creating and protecting good-quality jobs and on getting more money into the pockets of workers.  

“It also means more investment in everything from good-quality green jobs to the public services and local authorities currently being pushed into austerity by cuts. 

”A real recovery must mean that everyday people feel it in their pockets.”

TUC general secretary Paul Nowak also warned: “The job of securing strong future growth is far from over.

“A fully funded industrial strategy — one that delivers good jobs across the country — is key for ongoing progress.”