Spending review anniversary

One year on from the comprehensive spending review where the government slashed departmental budgets, critics have accused the government of stalling Britain's economy.

With growth substantially slower, inflation and unemployment up and public borrowing higher than expected some are saying this is evidence for how the government's economic plans have failed.

The government argues that the UK's sluggish economy is the result of the continuing global financial crisis in the EU and the rising costs of imports.

But economists have said the causes of the stagnation are not as important as the fact it has happened, and some have called for the government to now focus on growth over deficit reduction as a way out of the crisis.

Labour: We need urgent action now to help economy

Cable: Economy is worse now than it was one year ago

Alexander: Decisions were absolutely right thing for our country