Prime Minister defends record on visit to Harrogate
Rishi Sunak visited the Harrogate Bus Company earlier
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is entering what could be one of the most challenging weeks of his premiership, with potentially gloomy economic numbers, tricky by-elections and opposition to his Rwanda asylum plan.
His pledges on the economy are at risk, as official figures on Thursday will show whether the UK slipped into recession.
Mr Sunak promised to grow the economy, but if the Office for National Statistics' (ONS) gross domestic product data for the final three months of last year shows a contraction, it means the UK was in a recession after two consecutive quarters of negative growth.
ONS inflation statistics for January could show a small uptick, in what would be a blow to his goal of curbing price rises.
During a visit to Harrogate on Monday, the Prime Minister acknowledged that recent years had been "undoubtedly difficult", but insisted the economy had "turned a corner".
But he declined to say whether entering a technical recession would end the prospect of further tax cuts.
"At the start of this year I really believe the economy has turned a corner and we are heading in the right direction." he said.
Mr Sunak is also bracing himself for a double by-election challenge in Wellingborough and Kingswood on Thursday.
His party is thought to be facing an uphill battle in the two formerly safe Tory seats.
They were vacated by disgraced former Tory MP Peter Bone, who an inquiry found broke bullying and sexual misconduct rules, and Chris Skidmore, who quit in protest at the Government's plans to boost oil and gas production.
Further by-election defeats for Mr Sunak could galvanise Tory plotters who have called for him to move aside or risk disaster for the party at the general election later this year.
The by-elections are taking place while MPs are in recess.