The Chancellor has had a rocky 14 months at the Treasury, presiding over a damaging economic slowdown which only looks to be getting worse. But she decided instead to fire shots at a rival economy.

UK plc was at a standstill in July, in more evidence of a slowdown that could heap more trouble on the Chancellor.

Official GDP figures confirm widely expected slowdown after strong expansion in first half of the year

The Chancellor has had a rocky 14 months at the Treasury, presiding over a damaging economic slowdown which only looks to be getting worse. But she decided instead to fire shots…

On another dismal day for Labour, official figures showed output flatlined in July, triggering warnings from business leaders that the Government 'cannot tax its way to growth'.