Darling 'optimistic' on economy
Written: 9th April, 2008
The Chancellor Alistair Darling has defended his forecast after UK economic growth was downgraded by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Speaking on Radio 4's Today Programme, Mr Darling said that "there were grounds for optimism" despite the "unprecedented shock to the economy."
Mr Darling said that the UK still had a "strong economy that had proved remarkably resilient" in the slowdown.
He said the IMF had downgraded the UK by less than other major economies.
The IMF's World Economic Forecast, released later on Wednesday, is expected to say that the world economy will grow much more slowly than previously thought, led by a much deeper and longer slowdown in the US.
Source BBC news