Watch: Rachel Reeves holds press conference as Britain falls into recession

Britain has fallen into recession as millions of people stay at home rather than join the workforce. The economy shrank 0. 3pc in the final three months of 2023, according to the Office for National Statistics. It follows a decline of 0. 1pc in the previous three months, pushing the economy into its first technical recession since lockdown struck four years ago. It deals a blow to Rishi Sunak as he prepares to fight a general election this year. The bleak economic figures come as Britain grapples with a worklessness crisis. There are 9. 25 million people aged between 16 and 64 who are not working nor looking for work, according to the ONS, meaning they are officially classed as economically inactive. Read all the latest on our politics liveblog: , politics, economy, labour Subscribe to The Telegraph with our special offer: just 1 for 3 months. Start your free trial