One of the most dangerous elements of yesterday’s Pre-Budget Report for the Government was Alistair Darling’s claim that the economy would start recovering by the third quarter of 2009. It’s an optimistic prognosis, and gives the Tories an open goal if things aren’t on the up by then. But has Darling already started backtracking on it, to limit the damage? I may be reading too much into this, but here’s what he told the Beeb earlier:
“I do believe towards the end of next year things will improve.”
Now – as James Kirkup usefully points out over at Three Line Whip – the Chancellor’s claim yesterday was effectively that the recession ends in 219 days, or just over seven months. To my ears, that doesn’t quite translate as “towards the end of next year”…
Hat-tip: Politics Home
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