24 april 2010, I agree with vince !

Whilst I'm not sure vince cable is quite the soothsayer claimed, he's right to finger the risk of a so-called "double-dip recession". All the risks to recovery are on the downside, and latest figures - rising inflation, rising unemployment, anaemic growth, lower trend growth - all point to longer term effects and a fragile economy still dependent on the crutches of massive and unsustainable public sector spend. The big question was always will we have lift off by the time the crutches go; the big question now is when the crutches will go. For all the bitter debate, that will not be at a time of government choosing. The global capital behind the bond market supplying us with endless cash agreed to suspend its disbelief until after the election. That's going to end soon afterwards. Brits bristle at the greek comparison, but whilst we're not so far down the road nor so ineptly incapable of generating the growth to bounce back, nor do we have the security of the eurozone to bounce up off which, for all that it limits devaluation options, is a plus for them, not a minus: they'd be in far worse straits without it - think iceland. For britain, the million dollar question is can we keep our achilles heel well-protected by projecting to the global capital we need a serious intent to slim expenditure and take the medicine without too much social unrest knocking us off course. All parties will be forced the same route. The real question for the british electorate is who is best able to keep a firm hand on the tiller.