Tories on defensive as economy slumps more than expected

The official figure represents the slowest growth rate since the first quarter of 2016, according to the Office of National Statistics (ONS). The ONS originally forecasted the economy to slow down to a lesser extent, to 0.4% rather than the 0.3% figure it published on Friday. In defence, Hammond (pictured) argued employment was at "its highest ever rate" and was set to keep climbing.  Ahead of the General Election on 8 June, he told Sky News: "The British economy is resilient and the choice facing the British people on June 8th is between five more years of strong, stable government u...