>> Austerity had nothing to do with growth. George Osborne originally said: >> Mr Deputy Speaker, let me now turn to the measures in the Budget designed to de

>> Austerity had nothing to do with growth. George Osborne originally said: >> Mr Deputy Speaker, let me now turn to the measures in the Budget designed to deliver this accelerated reduction in the structural deficit. The coalition Government believes that the bulk of the reduction must come from lower spending rather than higher taxes. The country has overspent; it has not been under-taxed. Our approach is supported by the international evidence, compiled by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, the International Monetary Fund and others, which found that consolidations delivered through lower spending are more effective at correcting deficits and boosting growth than consolidations delivered through tax increases. >> “and boosting growth” I’m having a hard time seeing this as anything other than intellectual dishonesty on your part. Given this is HN, I’ll be curious instead of judgemental. Help me interpret what you said about austerity had nothing to do with growth?