UK economic growth tipped to be slowest in Europe next year

European commission says UK will join Italy at foot of growth league even with a soft Brexit

The UK will sink to the bottom of the European economic growth league next year to join Italy as the slowest-growing economy in the EU, before falling further the year after to anchor the table alone, according to European commission forecasts.

The EU's gloomy predictions are based on a soft Brexit - meaning Britain is expected to lag behind all its EU peers even if Theresa May can reach a deal with Brussels before 29 March.