Latest economic figures in UK boost pro-Brexit economists

London

PRO-"BREXIT" economists smell vindication, not fear.

With consumers on their biggest summer spending spree in 14 years after Britain's vote to quit the European Union, "Leave" backers Patrick Minford and Ruth Lea see reasons to be cheerful. For them, bumper retail sales figures this week and a report showing the labour market remained resilient provide initial evidence that the economy can defy gloomy pre-vote predictions.

While sentiment gauges dived after Britain's decision to split from its biggest trading partner, initial reports from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) s…