PM rebuked over claims on economy measures (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
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PM rebuked over claims on economy measures
8:00am Saturday 9th March 2013 in News
Prime Minister David Cameron in Keighley
David Cameron has suffered an embarrassing rebuke from a watchdog over claims he made in Keighley about the impact of the Government's austerity measures on economic growth.
Robert Chote, chairman of the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), took the unprecedented step of writing to the Prime Minister to set the record straight.
But Number 10 insisted the premier had not misrepresented the OBR’s position in a speech on the economy delivered to local business leaders at Cinetic Landis, of Cross Hills.
Mr Chote was moved to issue the missive after Mr Cameron declared that the OBR was “absolutely clear that the deficit reduction plan is not responsible” for depressed growth.
“In fact, quite the opposite," he said during a pre-Budget address, which he used to insist there was "no alternative" to the present plan.
In a published letter, the head of the OBR – set up by George Osborne in 2010 – wrote that “for the avoidance of doubt” it should be clear the watchdog did believe the measures had hit growth.
