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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Budget 2020: UK growth 'to be slowest since 2009' | Budget 2020: UK growth 'to be slowest since 2009' |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The British economy will grow at the slowest pace since the financial crisis this year, according to the government's spending watchdog. | The British economy will grow at the slowest pace since the financial crisis this year, according to the government's spending watchdog. |
| The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) cut its 2020 growth forecast to 1.1%. | The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) cut its 2020 growth forecast to 1.1%. |
| This would be the weakest performance since 2009 and does not take into account any hit from the coronavirus. | |
| It came as the chancellor unveiled a £30bn package to help the economy cope with the outbreak. | |
| Slower growth | Slower growth |
| A year ago, the OBR predicted the UK economy would grow by 1.4% this year. | A year ago, the OBR predicted the UK economy would grow by 1.4% this year. |
| Chancellor Rishi Sunak said a weaker global backdrop would drag down UK growth. | Chancellor Rishi Sunak said a weaker global backdrop would drag down UK growth. |
| The economy is expected to rebound in 2021, with growth of 1.8%, before moderating to 1.5% in 2022 and 1.3% the following year. | The economy is expected to rebound in 2021, with growth of 1.8%, before moderating to 1.5% in 2022 and 1.3% the following year. |
| However, the forecasts were made before the extent of the coronavirus outbreak in the UK became clear. | However, the forecasts were made before the extent of the coronavirus outbreak in the UK became clear. |
| They do not take into account the emergency government stimulus measures or the cut in UK interest rates announced earlier on Wednesday. | They do not take into account the emergency government stimulus measures or the cut in UK interest rates announced earlier on Wednesday. |
| There are currently 382 cases of the virus in the UK, and this number is growing. | There are currently 382 cases of the virus in the UK, and this number is growing. |
| Fighting the virus | Fighting the virus |
| Mr Sunak unveiled £7bn of emergency funding to help people deal with the virus, alongside at least an extra £5bn for the NHS. | Mr Sunak unveiled £7bn of emergency funding to help people deal with the virus, alongside at least an extra £5bn for the NHS. |
| He said the outbreak would have a "significant impact" on the economy. | He said the outbreak would have a "significant impact" on the economy. |
| But he also said extra spending and investment would provide "security today" and "prosperity tomorrow". | But he also said extra spending and investment would provide "security today" and "prosperity tomorrow". |
| It came as the chancellor unveiled a three-point plan to tackle the coronavirus, including: | It came as the chancellor unveiled a three-point plan to tackle the coronavirus, including: |
| Mr Sunak warned that the coronavirus would hit spending and trigger a temporary disruption to the economy. | Mr Sunak warned that the coronavirus would hit spending and trigger a temporary disruption to the economy. |
| He warned that a fifth of Britain's workforce could be off work at any one time. | He warned that a fifth of Britain's workforce could be off work at any one time. |
| The extra cash for the NHS, families and businesses comes on top of an extra £18bn earmarked by the chancellor to boost the economy. | The extra cash for the NHS, families and businesses comes on top of an extra £18bn earmarked by the chancellor to boost the economy. |
| Mr Sunak said the government would do "everything we can to keep this country and our people healthy and financially secure". | Mr Sunak said the government would do "everything we can to keep this country and our people healthy and financially secure". |