John Healey: “We are determined to drive good growth in every postcode, provide some breathing space for today, and fresh hope for the…”

Despite conflicts in the Middle East and Europe hitting people across the world, today's figures offer more proof of Britain's resilience in the face of these global shocks.

It's really tough in the face of these economic global shocks

It's a sign of resilience in the UK economy that some had not expected

My observation on the banks is that people too often see them as big, distant financial institutions, when they are hardwired into the economic fabric of this country and our future prospects.