![]() ![]() ![]() “Looking out into future years, the key challenge for the Chancellor is that the budget 2012 forecasts were based on optimistic growth forecasts,” said Rob Wood, an economist at Berenberg Bank. “The conclusive proof is that plan A is not working.” “If they go on as they are, they face certain defeat,” said Simon Lee, a lecturer in political economy at Hull University Hull. The Conservatives need an alternative “plan B” for the economy, they say. Osborne’s supporters pin most of the blame on the euro zone debt crisis, and the International Monetary Fund says he is right to let some areas of spending rise while tackling the fundamental causes of heavy borrowing.īut his critics say austerity has disproportionately sapped demand and that he is running out of time to fix the economy soon enough for any benefits to be felt before the election. This would be deeply embarrassing for a man who promised the Conservative-led coalition would virtually eliminate a record budget deficit by 2015, arguing that the previous Labour government let Britain’s finances get out of control. ![]() In his economic statement to parliament, the Chancellor may even have to predict higher borrowing this year. No matter how Osborne presents the sums in his December 5 “Autumn statement”, he cannot hide a simple fact: the stagnating economy has played havoc with his ambitious plans to cut Britain’s debts before the next election in 2015. Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne (C) arrives for a State Banquet for the Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah at Windsor Castle November 27, 2012. ![]()
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