Slump ‘among worst in West’

BRITAIN will suffer the worst downturn of the world’s seven most advanced nations next year, a think-tank predicts.

The economy will shrink by 0.4%, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development predicts.

Growth of just 0.2% is pencilled in for 2024. It said: “Risks to the outlook are

considerable and tilted towards the downside.” Pat McFadden, Labour’s Shadow Chief Secretary, said: “Today’s figures are yet more evidence of the Tories’ 12 years of economic failure.” Separate Office for National Statistics figures showed government borrowing hit £13.4billion last month, £4.4bn more than October last year.