<p><br /> The fragility of the UK's recovery has been highlighted as latest figures show growth was 0.2 per cent in the first three months of 2010.<br /> </p><p><br /> The Office for National Statistics' initial estimate reflects the disruption caused by January's wintry weather.<br /> </p><p><br /> It is less than what economists predicted who thought it would be 0.4 per cent.<br /> </p><p><br /> It will be an election blow for Prime Minister Gordon Brown just hours after he took part in the second televised debate.<br /> </p><p><br /> For the Tories, shadow chancellor George Osborne said the figures underline the dangers of going ahead with the Government's planned increase in National Insurance contributions.<br /> </p><p><br /> "After the longest recession, we now have a jobless recovery from a weak Government," he said.<br /> </p><p><br /> ING economist James Knightley said he continued to expect growth of 1 per cent this year and 1.5 per cent in both 2011 and 2012.<br /> </p>
