Shrinkage of economy at record levels

NO CHEERS Economist Suren Thiru

THE economy shrank at its fastest rate for a century last year.

Gross domestic product plunged by 9.9%, according to the Office for National Statistics.

However, after 1.2% growth in December, despite restrictions across large parts of the country, the economy looks set to avoid its first double-dip recession since the 1970s.

But Suren Thiru, British Chambers of Commerce head of economics, cautioned: “Despite avoiding a double-dip recession... there is little to cheer in the latest data.”

Unemployment for September to November was 5%, a rise of 0.6% over the previous three months, meaning 1.72 million unemployed.

TUC general secretary Frances O’grady said yesterday: “The Chancellor must urgently extend full furlough support to the end of the

HUGH Bonneville says there will be a second Downton Abbey film as soon as enough people have been vaccinated.

The actor, 57, who plays the Earl of Grantham, confirmed he had already seen a script for a sequel.

He told Zoe Ball on the Radio 2 Breakfast Show: “If everybody who is offered a vaccine takes a vaccine, we can make a movie.

“We would love to do it, we are desperate to do it.”

Hugh said he has been volunteering as a marshal at his local jab centre in West Sussex and has already had his first dose.

He said: “I joined the vaccination team a few weeks ago, only to discover we were to be offered a jab as we are client-facing, so to speak, seeing hundreds of people a day.”

POSH PART As Grantham