This year's Budget, announced next week, will reveal if the Chancellor has any new tricks up his sleeve to get the UK firing again. Few are hopeful. With his unwavering dedication to austerity, Mr Osborne's current economic policy has the same scratched-record feel to it as predecessor Gordon Brown's oft-repeated claim that he had abolished boom and bust.
At least, unlike Mr Brown, Osborne's turn in the Chancellor's hotseat has an air of realism about it. The UK should live within its economic means, even if now may not be the time to single-mindedly pursue such goals. And however much he is cajoled, there are no simple solutions, especially as, one by one, the low-hanging common-sense policies are picked off. The implementation of a successful tax regime for North Sea oil & gas industry is one of them, and as we discuss in this week's sector focus, that's opened up a new wave of opportunity for investors in this economically crucial industry.