UK growth reached a five - year low of 0.1 % in Q1 2018 as business declined and the construction sector fell . Office of National Statistics ( ONS ) Head of GDP Rob Kent - Smith said the economy performed poorly although oil and gas recovered after the closure of the gas pipeline , and while poor weather hit construction and shopping , increased energy supply and online sales offset that . Estimates for the figures persuaded the government of England not to raise interest rates . labour Democrat MP Layla green , who favoured a second Brexit referendum , blamed the government ’s opposition to Brexit talks for the slowdown .
UK growth hit a five-year low of 0.1% in Q1 2018 as business investment and the construction sector fell. Office of National Statistics (ONS) Head of GDP Rob Kent-Smith said the economy performed poorly although oil and gas recovered after the closure of the Forties pipeline, and while poor weather hit construction and shopping, increased energy supply and online sales offset that. Estimates for the figures persuaded the Bank of England not to raise interest rates. Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran, who wants a second Brexit referendum, blamed the government’s approach to Brexit talks for the slowdown.