Back in the 1970s the Conservative Research Department produced a booklet called "Words for Eating." Prominent would be quotes from the then Prime Minister James Callaghan and the then Chancellor of the Exchequer Denis Healey offering predictions of economic recovery subsequently proved to be false.
While Alistair Darling's interview for the Guardian was candid about the economy, his Budget speech in March was less so.
"We will do everything in our power to maintain stability – keeping inflation and interest rates low and maintaining our record of growth.
"While other countries have suffered recessions, the British economy has now been growing continuously for over a decade – the longest period of sustained growth in our history.
"Because of the changes made by this Government to entrench stability and increase the flexibility and resilience of our economy, I am able to report that the British economy will continue to grow through this year and beyond."
Perhaps it is time for a new edition of Words for Eating.
