George Osborne: 'The British economy is performing strongly'

The Chancellor, George Osborne, has said the British economy is "performing strongly" and said it would be "a complete disaster" to divert from the coalition's long term economic plan.

Speaking on the campaign trail in Rochester and Strood ahead of the by-election, Mr Osborne echoed the prime minister's concerns that "red warning lights" are once again flashing over the state of the global economy.

Labour said Britain's economic recovery was still not being felt at home.