Poorly targeted short term initiatives to revive the UK’s flagging growth rates are likely to make things worse: consistency in economic policy is key in delivering long-term growth.

In the face of lower than expected growth, pressure is building on the Chancellor George Osborne, to bring forward strategies that will boost employment and growth in the short term. Will Tanner argues that poorly targeted strategies like support for small and medium-sized enterprises, increased infrastructure spending, and support for new mortgages are actually more likely to make things worse. Instead, the Chancellor must hold firm, and ensure greater consistency in the government’s economic policies.