News in the Telegraph today on the growth in government spending in the UK :

Official figures before the Budget on Wednesday disclose that public spending makes up 52 per cent of the gross domestic product.

When Labour came to power in 1997, the state’s share was 40 per cent. However, it has risen steeply over 13 years in which Government spending and the size of the public sector workforce have increased significantly, paid for by higher taxes.

Now, consider the following :

• 2009 Q4 GDP growth came in at 0.3% Quarter on Quarter and -3.3% year on year.
• Government final consumption expenditure rose by 1.2% in the quarter and 2% on 2008 Q4.

So, even with government spending at half of GDP and galloping ahead at 1.2% q on q growth, the whole economy only managed 0.3% growth. Hardly a rosy picture.