Shadow chancellor Alistair Darling on economic growth

The UK economy grew by a faster-than-expected 1.1% in the second quarter of the year, according to official data.

The figure - a preliminary estimate from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) - was almost double the 0.6% growth rate expected by economists.

Shadow chancellor Alistair Darling said the figures vindicated the approach that the Labour government took over the last couple of years.