The government was counting on a speedy recovery from recession to help it fulfil its main purpose, which is to eliminate the structural fiscal deficit by 2015.

ECONOMIST: The Tories

"We are very clear that a newly-elected government has to send a credible signal about its plans to eliminate the great bulk of that fiscal deficit over the lifetime of the parliament and to start immediately in 2010, " he said.

BBC: Tories would strangle economic recovery - Mandelson