AFTER a tough week for Rishi Sunak, finally some good news.
Britain is now officially out of recession after the economy grew by 0.6 percent in the past three months.
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It may not seem like much, but the growth is higher than most techies expected and certainly puts us in the black again.
The P.M He could not have been quicker to announce the statistics as “proof” that the country has “turned a corner” thanks to his efforts.
“We know it is still difficult for many people, but the plan is working and we must stick to it,” he said this morning.
For a man who sees economic competence as a key pillar of his electoral appeal, Britain is a fact was in a recession there was a towing anchor around his neck.
Although the downturn was brief and superficial, it was a label Sunak was desperate to shake off.
This morning he has now done just that, and it is a much-needed boost at a time when he has spent more time on his back foot than his front.
Bruising local election results followed by another Tory defection forced him to the ropes.
Now expect him to come out swinging and talk about the economy again – the battleground where he feels most comfortable.
Labor says a government “victory lap” is ridiculous as people still don't feel better off.
That will be true for many millions of Britons.
But Sunak now has a message: business is good. Inflation is falling, growth is creeping forward.
Many strategists still regard Bill Clinton's “it's the economy stupid” campaign as a political law: if people feel better off, they will reward the party responsible.
Sunak's challenge now is to translate economic results into political results – and that remains to be seen.