Barber: Has recovery been reversed?

Brendan Barber, TUC general secretary, comments on the UK economy:

“The impressive GDP figures are the result of fiscal stimulus and active policy making. But continued growth cannot be taken for granted, and there is now a huge risk that cuts in spending will bring the recovery to a shuddering halt.

“With depressed export markets, unemployment remaining stubbornly high and consumer confidence extremely fragile as people fear for their jobs, the worst conclusion that could be drawn today is that recovery has now been secured.

“We need continued low interest rates and an end to policies designed to shrink the state. Deficit fetishism still risks a return to a flat line economy.”