UK economy sees record growth of 7.5% in 2021 as long Covid recovery begins

The UK economy grew by 7.5 per cent last year after coronavirus lockdown restrictions were eased, according to official figures.

The growth, which exceeded projections by the Bank of England, was the fastest since ONS records began in 1948 but came after a record 9.4 per cent slump in the economy in 2020.

New data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) also showed that the economy grew by 1 per cent in the final three months of the year, despite the impact of the spread of the Omicron variant of Covid-19.

READ MORE:'What is going to be done now to protect our children's lungs?' - Families' fury over Clean Air Zone delay

The hospitality and leisure sector felt the brunt of Omicron and related Government restrictions towards the end of last year.

However, the economy remained at pre-pandemic levels from February 2020.

ONS director of economic statistics Darren Morgan said: “GDP fell back slightly in December as the Omicron wave hit, with retail and hospitality seeing the biggest impacts.

“However, these were partially offset by increases in the Test and Trace service and vaccination programmes.

“Despite December’s setback, GDP grew robustly across the fourth quarter as a whole, with the NHS, couriers and employment agencies all helping to support the economy."

Mr Morgan added that although GDP in December was in line with levels from February 2020, the fourth quarter as a whole was “slightly below” the same period in 2019, before the pandemic struck.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak said: “Thanks to our £400 billion package of support and making the right calls at the right time, the economy has been remarkably resilient; with the UK seeing the fastest growth in the G7 last year and GDP remaining at pre-pandemic levels in