John McDonnell MP, Labour’s Shadow Chancellor,commenting on today’s manufacturing and trade figures, said:

“This is yet another decline in manufacturing that is contributing to a further widening of the trade deficit.  The evidence is now clear, claims by Philip Hammond that the fundamentals of the economy were strong going into the referendum were pure fantasy.

"Not only did the Government totally fail to make any preparation for a leave vote, they have also failed to address the UK economy’s over reliance on the service sector and imports.

"This has left the UK far more vulnerable to a Brexit downturn than we should have been. It’s time Philip Hammond finally came off the fence, ditched George Osborne’s planned cuts to government investment, and told us what he’s going to do about it.”