Economics

Irish economy booms as British economy heads for bust

The Irish economy is on track to be the best performing in Europe this year in stark contrast to its British counterpart.

Estimates suggest Ireland’s economy will grow by 4.9 per cent this year, buoyed by its competitive position at the westernmost corner of the European Union.

The UK economy, meanwhile, has flatlined and is projected to be firmly at the bottom in the G7 group of advanced economies this year – including sanctions-hit Russia.

Commenting on the projected economic performance, Layla Moran, Lib Dem MP and member of the UK Trade and Business Commission said:

“This isn’t rocket science. The UK is the only developed economy with the added pressures of Brexit where businesses face extra costs, mountains of new red tape and amplified labour shortages.

“Our economy will continue to underperform until this incompetent Conservative government owns up to and fixes the issues caused by their botched Brexit deal.”

Others have pinned the UK economic woes squarely on Brexit too:

Writing in the New Statesman, Nick Ferris said it constituted a very genuine and substantial Brexit benefit – but for Ireland, not the UK.

“Brexiteers said their closest EU neighbour would be “doomed” – now it’s set to be the top-performing economy in Europe this year.”

Read his analysis in full below:

Related: Boris Johnson faces humiliation – as polls predict he’ll lose his seat at next election

Jack Peat

Jack is a business and economics journalist and the founder of The London Economic (TLE). He has contributed articles to VICE, Huffington Post and Independent and is a published author. Jack read History at the University of Wales, Bangor and has a Masters in Journalism from the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

Published by