Ministers will be deeply frustrated at the lack of economic growth, though they ought not to be surprised. Their own missteps have been well covered in this newspaper, and week after week new survey data reveals the extent to which government policies have dampened spirits, reduced hiring and spooked confidence.

However, while their opening salvo of policy choices hasn’t helped matters, the blame for the UK’s generally poor rate of growth does not sit solely with the government of the present day.........

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