Of course it did. The Tories haven't even finished yet either. They're now talking about "injecting the free market" or some nonsense that really means "privatize" the National Health Service. What this always does is help a few select people cash in and the government no longer carries the numbers on their books so they can happily talk about the money saved. Sure, the government may save but the actual consumers will be crushed again with higher charges. Great savings there, boys. So the higher costs will be a great help for those suffering because of yet another recession. How much more savings can an already beaten down public take?
George Osborne's budget has increased the likelihood of a double-dip recession, the government's tax and spending watchdog told a powerful group of MPs today.
Cuts in public spending and higher taxes will have cut the forecast for growth and "logically increased the possibility of a double dip", said Geoffrey Dicks, one of three officials at the Office for Budget Responsibility, at the first meeting of the Treasury select committee in the new parliament.
The admission will be a blow to the chancellor who has denied his drastic austerity package increases the risk of the economy falling back into recession.
