Paul Johnson responds to IMF warning that UK will be weakest major G7 economy this year.

Britain may need a bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and is on the path to become the “sick man of Europe” because of Brexit, a senior finance chief has warned.

The coronavirus has increased the challenges of negotiating a new trade agreement for the UK before December 31.

Britain is due to face more disruption to its trade with the European Union when it introduces new post-Brexit customs checks on Jan. 1, the head of the International Monetary Fund, Kristalina Georgieva, said on Tuesday.

"The jury is in, the fat lady has sung, there is no debate anymore." / The UK is on track to be the worst-performing G7 economy this year – despite an upgrade from the International Monetary Fund.