LONDON, June 28 Reuters Britain39;s economy grew more quickly than previously thought in the first three months of this year, expanding by 0.7 from the previous quarter, above an initial estimate of 0.6 growth, official figures showed on Friday.

The figures come less than a week before Britons vote in an election which opinion polls suggest will see Labour Party leader Keir Starmer replace Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Friday39;s data from the Office for National Statistics confirm Britain39;s economy exited a shallow recession at the start of 2024.

But the overall growth picture is weak. Firstquarter gross domestic product was just 0.3 higher than a year earlier, above an initial estimate of 0.2.

Economists polled by Reuters had not expected any revisions to the quarterly or annual growth estimates.

There was no currency market reaction to the data.

Britain39;s economy has struggled since the last national election in December 2019, hurt by the COVID19 pandemic which dealt a lasting blow to the labour force as well as Russia39;s invasion of Ukraine and postBrexit trade frictions.

Britain39;s economy in the first quarter of 2024 was 1.8 larger than in the final quarter of 2019, the weakest performer after Germany among the world39;s seven largest advanced economies.

Britain39;s growth in the first quarter was its fastest since the final quarter of 2021 and the second quarter looks solid too. Last week the Bank of England estimated GDP would expand by…