Responding to today’s (Monday) GDP figures, which that show the UK economy shrank by 0.3% in April, TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said:

“Falling consumer spending is pushing Britain towards recession.

“We urgently need to get wages rising to help our economy back from the brink.

“But the government is treating workers like Oliver Twist and telling them not to ask for a decent pay rise.

“Ministers’ obsession with holding down pay is causing widespread hardship and is acting as a huge drag on economic growth.

“Working people deserve better than they are getting from this government. Join us on 18 June in London to demand a better deal.”