Britain's economy unexpectedly contracted in January, extending a run of stop-start data that has dogged finance minister Rachel Reeves' attempts to ignite growth, before an update to parliament on the economic outlook.

The slowdown in January piles further pressure on Rachel Reeves and Sir Keir Starmer ahead off this month’s spring statement

Britain’s economy shrank in January amid a sharp fall in the manufacturing sector, in a blow to Chancellor Rachel Reeves before her spring statement, official figures have shown. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the economy contracted 0.