The UK economy failed to grow in January, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The performance is bad news for the government as it covers a period before the Middle East conflict started.

The zero growth was weaker than had been predicted, and followed growth of just 0.1 per cent in December and 0.2 per cent in November.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer warned this week that the longer the conflict lasts in the Middle East, the more likely it is that there will be an effect on the UK economy.