Richard Quigley MP has welcomed today’s announcement that the UK economy grew by 0.7% in the first quarter of 2025 – surpassing economists’ expectations and signalling a major step forward in national recovery and regional opportunity.
Commenting on the figures, Richard has said:
“This is excellent news for our country and our community. The fact that the UK posted the strongest growth among G7 nations shows that our economy is turning a corner. It brings fresh optimism for families, businesses, and investors here on the Isle of Wight.”
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According to the Office for National Statistics, the growth was driven by robust performance in the services sector – particularly retail and IT – as well as gains in manufacturing.
Richard has highlighted the Isle of Wight’s potential to benefit from this national upswing:
“The Isle of Wight is well-positioned to ride this wave of growth. From our vibrant tourism and hospitality sectors to our leadership in renewable energy and digital innovation, we’re ready to attract new investment and create high-quality local jobs.”
He also referenced the Island’s ongoing infrastructure and regeneration projects, which he believes will gain momentum amid rising business confidence and improved economic stability:
“Greater stability creates the conditions for long-term planning and sustainable development—exactly what we need to build a stronger future for our Island.”
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While Richard acknowledges that there is still more to be done, he remains committed to working hard on behalf of the Isle of Wight, ensuring that the community receives the full benefits of the government’s ongoing focus on economic growth and levelling up across the UK.
“ensuring that the community receives the full benefits “
Perhaps Mr Quigley would explain how pensioners are going to benefit?
No winter fuel allowance. Energy prices sky high. Food prices rocketing. Taxed on state pensions from next April. Frozen thresholds. PIP payments under review. Care homes closing. Care homes losing the majority of staff.
I don’t believe the economy grew, they tell us
anything.
Everything you have stated is true, not to mention
the recent Council tax increase that the Labour Government
pre-election said they would not increase.
The only reason some eateries are doing well is
because of the hot weather spell, not because of the
Government.
They can keep dreaming, they will never get my
vote.
this cretin doesn’t care about the hundreds of thousand who have lost their jobs due to the cynical incompetence of the train crash of a “government” we are stuck with, i don’t hear of jobs being advertised on the island just a list of firms forced to close
The island is suffering big time, so many
businesses have and are still closing down.
It will be a grim winter on the island.
I just saw a pig fly by.
Lol
BBC NEWS UPDATE FROM 6PM
This “growth” does NOT take into account figures including April.
April’s NIC increases, etc
They should break the growth down by area.
The figures are of course, historical and predate a lot of the hidden and not so hidden extra costs we have all been subjected to. All smoke and mirrors as usual. Instead of posing and grinning why is he not sorting out the things that need fixing and were promised in their and his manifesto.
Their manifesto was a joke.
False promises, (pre-election) politicians
offer so many sweeteners and once elected
they go shy.
Economic growth is defined as increases in the goods and services produced per capita, not how much spare money people have, or the cost of living. It’s our GDP which is on the rise, faster than the other G7 nations, and in time coupled with a falling interest rate will (potentially) trickle through to the rest of us from a more buoyant economy after 14 years of relative stagnation. Yes, I hate it too, it does nothing to reflect the inequality of wealth distribution and could be seen under a Tory leadership as yet another example of trickle-down economics and rising tide theory, where buoyancy lifts all boats. In reality, it usually only benefits those at the top with financial skin in the game; the rest of us continue to fail miserably. We’re at a critical fork in the road due to years and years of buying into the previous narrative of maximum profits/trade=good….and Trumpism, which could do for us all. I’m crossing my fingers that my disgust at Starmer’s apparent lack of socialism is misdirected, and that he’s playing a longer game. It SHOULD keep on improving as it relies on Keynesian monetary theory, where if people save less but spend more (lets face it we have no choice considering today’s cost of living) eventually comes around to generate more jobs and it all levels out again. Worth yet again pointing out though that just 100 of the world’s billionaires who squirrel their profits built from our badly paid labours could afford to eradicate world poverty 4 times over and still be billionaires. That’s every nation’s GDP increased, because we’d all have more money to spend on goods and services. Stupid, aren’t they?
Text book socialist diatribe.
In other words things are bad and we are all feeling it but brothers, we are all in the same boat and as soon as we all care and love for one another things will get better.
The Keynesian monetary theory is just that, a theory that has been shown to have limited success and I really don’t believe many will survive the “long game” which it is based.
Vive la revolution.
That’s an awful lot of words to say you’ve been brainwashed into the socialist belief system.
As history has proven, time and again, socialism only works whilst there’s other people’s money to spend.
quigley and his repugnant boss are destroying our country, our economy, and way of life, they will all be OK, financially, you, along with the rest of us are MUCH poorer already.
Keep telling yourself it will work eventually.
I hope you can look foward to the next government, which will be Reform, as much as I am.