内容摘要：According to a Downing Street spokesperson the prime minister also said "Ukraine must be at the heart of any negotiations to end the war" and it could be sure of "the UK's commitment to securing a just and enduring peace to bring an end to Russia's illegal war".

According to a Downing Street spokesperson the prime minister also said "Ukraine must be at the heart of any negotiations to end the war" and it could be sure of "the UK's commitment to securing a just and enduring peace to bring an end to Russia's illegal war".

"Consequently, they've reduced their interest in placing orders with companies like ours," he added."Everybody seems to have put the handbrake on," he said. "All that I ask, is that the government listen to what we are trying to say, and the fact they've done too many changes too quickly - and it's making it difficult for us to survive."

A growing economy usually means people are spending more, extra jobs are created, more tax is paid and workers get better pay rises.When the economy is shrinking, it can lead to businesses cutting back on investment and jobs.Rob Wood, chief UK economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, said tax hikes announced in the chancellor's October Budget and "global uncertainty" around Donald Trump's potential tariffs on trade with the US had "dragged the economy into stagnation".

The weaker-than-expected growth figures fuelled further expectations that the Bank of England will cut interest rates at its next meeting in February from 4.75% to 4.5%,But Mr Wood said the outlook for 2025 was brighter than the figures were showing for 2024.

He said despite the tax rises on businesses coming in April, the economy should get a boost from Reeves "recycling increased taxes into even more spending" in 2025.

An artist who created a stone sculpture which stunned beach visitors says he is "pleased" with the response.Rachel Lewis runs Bournville Cafe in Stirchley, and won the region's best cafe title at the UK Small Business Awards at the beginning of May.

The 41-year-old described the cafe as her "little baby", which she opened eight years ago to fulfil her business dreams, after running a sandwich van in the city.She said the annual award, which celebrates business owners across the UK, was not something she had been expecting and was a "massive achievement" for the cafe and the community.

"We went there with no expectations, so it was really exciting to win," she said.The UK Small Business Awards said that thousands of people apply for the awards every year. Ms Lewis is through to the award's grand finals in December, where a trophy is up for grabs along with a national certificate of recognition.