Chris Leslie MP, Labour’s Shadow Chancellor, responding to today’s updates on exports and manufacturing, said:

“The increase in the trade deficit and fall in manufacturing output are both signs of George Osborne’s neglect of the need for a balanced recovery.

“The trade in goods has sunk to a five year low and exports have not kept pace with the Chancellor’s ‘march of the makers’ promise.

“Britain needs a serious strategy to help exporters – this means redoubling efforts to boost productivity, tackling infrastructure obstacles, addressing the skills deficit and ensuring innovators can access the capital they need.”