Seema Malhotra MP, Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, responding to today’s announcement of GDP growth having slowed in Quarter Three, said:

“These disappointing figures further underline why we need a balanced recovery if our economy to withstand future economic headwinds.

“In the wider context of the ongoing recession in manufacturing, today’s announcement of the largest fall in construction growth in three years should set alarm bells ringing in the Treasury.

"And it further supports our arguments that the Chancellor should not be constraining the ability of government to invest by limiting his options and playing political games with fiscal policy.

“Working households facing large cuts to their income next April will not be reassured by these figures. The priority now for David Cameron and George Osborne must be to reverse their cuts to tax credits.”