Official data undermines Osborne claim to create ‘aspiration nation’

Chancellor George Osborne launched a last-ditch bid to resuscitate the British economy yesterday with Budget giveaways for drivers, beer-drinkers, home-buyers and small businesses.

With the UK on the brink of an unprecedented triple-dip recession, the under-pressure minister delivered a package of eye-catching measures which he said were aimed at creating an “aspiration nation”.

But the Budget was unveiled amid fresh gloom as the UK’s official economic growth forecasts were cut by half for this year from 1.2% to 0.6%, and trimmed next year from 2% to 1.8%.

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