Facts

At Prime Minister’s Questions, Boris Johnson claimed the UK was the fastest growing economy in the G7. The Prime Minister had regularly made the claim at PMQs in recentweeks. 

While the latest data shows that the UK’s economy did grow the most over the past year - looking at the change between the third quarter of 2020 and the third quarter of 2021 (data for the fourth quarter of 2021 is not yet available) - this is only one measure. When you look at the UK’s growth between the second and third quarters of 2021, the UK ranked fifth in the G7. Also, when we look at our growth over the course of the pandemic so far (between the fourth quarter of 2019 and the third quarter of 2021), the UK’s economy has experienced the second worst growth among the G7, contracting by 1.5%.

For an excellent general analysis, see FullFact. 

Verdict

While Johnson’s claim was not false, it should be treated with caution because it was a selective account which does not tell the full story. 

We approached Mr Johnson’s office, the Cabinet Office and the No 10 Press Office to give them a chance to comment, but received no response.