Jeremy Hunt Roasted For Insisting UK's Economy Is 'Brighter Than Expected'

"I'd like to borrow his rose-tinted glasses."
Jeremy Hunt said the UK economy was looking "brighter than expected" – despite there being no growth at all in February
Jeremy Hunt said the UK economy was looking "brighter than expected" – despite there being no growth at all in February
TOBY MELVILLE via Reuters

Jeremy Hunt surprisingly claimed the UK economy’s outlook is “brighter than expected” – even though we just heard that it didn’t grow at all in February.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) just revealed that the UK had no month-on-month growth in its gross domestic product (GDP) in February.

It comes after the UK breathed a sigh of relief when GDP grew – ever so slightly – in January by 0.4%, as it meant we had just dodged a recession.

A recession is when there are two consecutive quarters of declining GDP.

Taking the full quarter into account, that means in the three months to February the UK’s GDP grew by just 0.1%.

ONS director of economic statistics Darren Morgan said that the recent numbers came down to a small boom in construction, repair work, and retail.

These successes were then offset by the strikes from civil servants and teachers along with the unseasonably mild weather which led to falls in the use of electricity and gas.

Despite these bleak numbers though, Hunt seemed surprisingly optimistic.

He said: “The economic outlook is looking brighter than expected – GDP grew in three months to February and we are set to avoid recession thanks to the steps we have taken through a massive package of cost of living support for families and radical reforms to boost the jobs market and business investment.”

But people were quick to ask: Since when has 0.0% growth been a good thing?

#R4today saying that Jeremy Hunt says the economy is doing well. All I can say is I’d like to borrow his rose-tinted glasses. https://t.co/hRgWrESIpD

— Sir Jan Harvey (@TheJanHarvey) April 13, 2023

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt says the economy is 'brighter than expected' despite new data showing it flatlining in February — Did he expect a recession then?

— Barry Halverson (@barry_halverson) April 13, 2023

"brighter than expected" probably better described as "less shit than expected" https://t.co/oufKOVWzJe

— Sam Davey 🇪🇺 (@yevaDmaS) April 13, 2023

How dare we believe what's right in front of our noses.. 😕https://t.co/Nvc8xImVvw

— Justine (@Justine_F1) April 13, 2023

Why does he always look like a cat that swallowed the f***king canary ???

The UK economies just flatlined. People can barely survive…

Blame the strikers! What next month HUNT the weather?!🙄 #ToryLiars
Hunt says UK outlook ‘brighter than expected’ https://t.co/nGrHKbiajI

— Cami 💚 (@Cami_bekind) April 13, 2023

Former chancellor and current PM Rishi Sunak was also ridiculed in the process, with people mocking his seemingly relaxed attitude towards to flatlining economy.

Sunak seems to be treating the pothole and the economy the same.

Ignore and hope it gets better soon! 🕳️ pic.twitter.com/VkGwOvfx7X

— Best for Britain (@BestForBritain) April 13, 2023

People also couldn’t help pointing out the reality of living in the UK right now.

The cost of living crisis is squeezing wallets from every side, with inflation in double digits, led by soaring grocery bills and energy prices, and climbing interest rates.

Unexpected?

Rents up. Mortgages up. Water bills up. Insurances up. Road tax up. Council tax up. Eating out up. Food shopping goes up EVERY week?

Tories want to blame this on strikes but it's profiteering by energy companies & supermarkets that's tanking the economy. pic.twitter.com/iq6o4hRAFd

— Gyll King (@GyllKing) April 13, 2023

Of course, this is not the first time the UK has faced a bleak economic forecast.

Only earlier this week, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecast that the UK would have the worst performance in 2023 out of all G7 countries, shrinking by 0.3% across the whole year.

That is still a smaller amount than the IMF previously predicted – but Twitter wasted no time in pointing out that this not something experienced by most EU states right now. And while Germany’s economy is set to shrink too, it’s by a significantly smaller margin of 0.1%.

“Everything the light touches is the United Kingdom”
“What about that shadowy place, with a faster growing economy?”
“That’s the EU” pic.twitter.com/oyZquWS7Fr

— Larry the Cat (@Number10cat) April 12, 2023
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