RISHI Sunak has this morning seized on Britain's exit from recession as "proof" his plan is working.
The UK is now officially out of recession after the economy grew by 0.6 per cent in the last three months.
The growth was higher than most boffins had expected and firmly puts us back in the black following a brief and shallow downturn.
Following a bruising week of local elections fallout and a Tory defection, the PM trumpeted the good news.
He said: "The economy has turned a corner. Today's news proves that.
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“We know things are still tough for many people, but the plan is working, and we must stick to it.”
Labour says a government “victory lap” is ridiculous given people still do not feel better off.
Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: "“This is no time for Conservative ministers to be doing a victory lap and telling the British people that they have never had it so good.
"The economy is still £300 smaller per person than when Rishi Sunak became Prime Minister."
While 0.6 per cent growth seems small, economists said it showed the economy in more robust health than previously thought.
ONS director of economic statistics Liz McKeown said: "After two quarters of contraction, the UK economy returned to positive growth in the first three months of this year.
"There was broad-based strength across the service industries with retail, public transport and haulage, and health all performing well.
"Car manufacturers also had a good quarter. These were only a little offset by another weak quarter for construction."
It represented the strongest quarterly growth since the fourth quarter of 2021.