Budget 2014: Two Hugely Awkward UK Exports Graphs Osborne Doesn't Want You To See | HuffPost

Two Hugely Awkward Budget Graphs Osborne Would Rather You Didn't See

Asa Bennett— The Huffington Post UK

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George Osborne, U.K. chancellor of the exchequer, reacts as he leaves 11 Downing Street in London, U.K., on Wednesday, March 19, 2014. Osborne will lay out a budget today focused on securing Britain's economic recovery and rebutting opposition Labour Party claims that he's ignoring the rising cost of living. Photographer: Jason Alden/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Bloomberg via Getty Images

George Osborne admitted in his Budget that "we still don't export enough", telling MPs of his commitment to change that after four years.

"I want the message to go out that we are backing our exporters – so that wherever you are around the world you can’t fail to see: Made in Britain," he told MPs.

In uncomfortable timing for the chancellor, the Office for Budget Responsibility, the government's independent spending watchdog, has produced a withering verdict of the UK's future potential to increase exports.

Despite coalition rhetoric that the UK is in a "global race" against other countries, the OBR warned that they expect the UK's share of the export market to keep shrinking as it loses out to competitors over the next few years.

The OBR also estimated that the amount exported by Britain will be so dwarfed by how much it imports that it will slightly drag down growth this year and then make "little" contribution to growth over the next few years.

The official forecaster said: "We expect net trade to make a small negative contribution of -0.2 percentage points to growth in 2014, revised down from no contribution in our December forecast.

"As in December, net trade is expected to make little contribution to growth over the remainder of the forecast period, reflecting the weakness of export market growth and a gradual decline in export market share."

Willie Bain, Labour member of the Commons business committee, told HuffPostUK: "In 2011, George Osborne promised a march of the makers, but despite the pound having devalued by around a quarter since the start of the financial crisis, our trade deficit in the last quarter at £2.6bn is £1.5bn higher than the year before.

"The OBR's prediction that the UK's share of the export market is due to fall in the future is deeply concerning. The Chancellor simply hasn't done enough in his Budget to boost exports or secure the balanced recovery that British exporters need."

The OBR's prediction will jar with Osborne's upbeat assessment of UK's export potential during yesterday's Budget: "We back businesses who invest and export."

Osborne was able to tell MPs that UK exports were up and were set to increase, according to the OBR, but ignored the rest of the watchdog's predictions.

Tory MP Nadhim Zahawi, who is on No 10's policy board, blogged on HuffPostUK: "This was truly a budget for the doers and the makers, one that will secure Britain's economic future as a great trading nation and the natural home of enterprise."

HuffPostUK contacted the Treasury for their response but no spokesman was available for comment.

George Osborne and his big red box

The Chancellor George Osborne Prepares To Give His Budget To Parliament(01 of21)

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 19: The Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne holding the budget box stands with his Treasury team (2nd L-R) Commercial Secretary to the Treasury Lord Deighton, Financial Secretary to the Treasury Sajid Javid, Economic Secretary to the Treasury Nicky Morgan, Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander and Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury David Gauke (R) outside Number 11 Downing Street on March 19, 2014 in London, England. The Chancellor of the Exchequer will deliver his Budget statement to Members of Parliament in the House of Commons later. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

BRITAIN-FINANCE-ECONOMY-GROWTH-BUDGET(02 of21)

British Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne poses for pictures holding the budget box outside 11 Downing Street in London on March 19, 2014, as he prepares to unveil the government's annual budget to parliament. Osborne will spell out his government's spending plans for the coming year on March 19, with another dose of austerity likely to be offset by some tax perks. AFP PHOTO / LEON NEAL (Photo credit should read LEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

The Chancellor George Osborne Prepares To Give His Budget To Parliament(03 of21)

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 19: The Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne holding the budget box outside Number 11 Downing Street on March 19, 2014 in London, England. The Chancellor of the Exchequer will deliver his Budget statement to Members of Parliament in the House of Commons later. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

The Chancellor George Osborne Prepares To Give His Budget To Parliament(04 of21)

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 19: The Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne holding the budget box stands with his Treasury team outside Number 11 Downing Street on March 19, 2014 in London, England. The Chancellor of the Exchequer will deliver his Budget statement to Members of Parliament in the House of Commons later. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

BRITAIN-FINANCE-ECONOMY-GROWTH-BUDGET(05 of21)

British Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne poses for pictures while holding the budget box outside 11 Downing Street in London on March 19, 2014, as he prepares to unveil the government's annual budget to parliament. Osborne will spell out his government's spending plans for the coming year on March 19, with another dose of austerity likely to be offset by some tax perks. AFP PHOTO / CARL COURT (Photo credit should read CARL COURT/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

The Chancellor George Osborne Prepares To Give His Budget To Parliament(06 of21)

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 19: The Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne (L) holds the budget box as his Treasury team (R) cross Downing Street on March 19, 2014 in London, England. The Chancellor of the Exchequer will deliver his Budget statement to Members of Parliament in the House of Commons later. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

The Chancellor George Osborne Prepares To Give His Budget To Parliament(07 of21)

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 19: The Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne (L) leaves Number11 Downing Street holding the budget box in front of Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander on March 19, 2014 in London, England. The Chancellor of the Exchequer will deliver his Budget statement to Members of Parliament in the House of Commons later. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

The Chancellor George Osborne Prepares To Give His Budget To Parliament(08 of21)

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 19: The Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne holding the budget box outside Number 11 Downing Street on March 19, 2014 in London, England. The Chancellor of the Exchequer will deliver his Budget statement to Members of Parliament in the House of Commons later. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

The Chancellor George Osborne Prepares To Give His Budget To Parliament(09 of21)

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 19: The Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne holds the budget box outside Number 11 Downing Street on March 19, 2014 in London, England. The Chancellor of the Exchequer will deliver his Budget statement to Members of Parliament in the House of Commons later. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

BRITAIN-FINANCE-ECONOMY-GROWTH-BUDGET(10 of21)

British Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne poses for pictures while holding the budget box outside 11 Downing Street in London on March 19, 2014, as he prepares to unveil the government's annual budget to parliament. Osborne will spell out his government's spending plans for the coming year on March 19, with another dose of austerity likely to be offset by some tax perks. AFP PHOTO / CARL COURT (Photo credit should read CARL COURT/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

BRITAIN-FINANCE-ECONOMY-GROWTH-BUDGET(11 of21)

British Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne poses for pictures holding the budget box outside 11 Downing Street in London on March 19, 2014, as he prepares to unveil the government's annual budget to parliament. Osborne will spell out his government's spending plans for the coming year on March 19, with another dose of austerity likely to be offset by some tax perks. AFP PHOTO / LEON NEAL (Photo credit should read LEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

BRITAIN-FINANCE-ECONOMY-GROWTH-BUDGET(12 of21)

British Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne walks out of 11 Downing Street in London on March 19, 2014, as he prepares to unveil the government's annual budget to parliament. Osborne will spell out his government's spending plans for the coming year on March 19, with another dose of austerity likely to be offset by some tax perks. AFP PHOTO / CARL COURT (Photo credit should read CARL COURT/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

BRITAIN-FINANCE-ECONOMY-GROWTH-BUDGET(13 of21)

British Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne poses for pictures holding the budget box outside 11 Downing Street in London on March 19, 2014, as he prepares to unveil the government's annual budget to parliament. Osborne will spell out his government's spending plans for the coming year on March 19, with another dose of austerity likely to be offset by some tax perks. AFP PHOTO / CARL COURT (Photo credit should read CARL COURT/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

The Chancellor George Osborne Prepares To Give His Budget To Parliament(14 of21)

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 19: The Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne leaves Number 11 Downing Street holding the budget box on March 19, 2014 in London, England. The Chancellor of the Exchequer will deliver his Budget statement to Members of Parliament in the House of Commons later. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

BRITAIN-FINANCE-ECONOMY-GROWTH-BUDGET(15 of21)

British Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne poses for pictures holding the budget box outside 11 Downing Street in London on March 19, 2014, as he prepares to unveil the government's annual budget to parliament. Osborne will spell out his government's spending plans for the coming year on March 19, with another dose of austerity likely to be offset by some tax perks. AFP PHOTO / LEON NEAL (Photo credit should read LEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

BRITAIN-FINANCE-ECONOMY-GROWTH-BUDGET(16 of21)

British Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne leaves after posing with the budget box outside 11 Downing Street in London on March 19, 2014, as he prepares to unveil the government's annual budget to parliament. Osborne will spell out his government's spending plans for the coming year on March 19, with another dose of austerity likely to be offset by some tax perks. AFP PHOTO / LEON NEAL (Photo credit should read LEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

BRITAIN-FINANCE-ECONOMY-GROWTH-BUDGET(17 of21)

British Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne leaves after posing with the budget box outside 11 Downing Street in London on March 19, 2014, as he prepares to unveil the government's annual budget to parliament. Osborne will spell out his government's spending plans for the coming year on March 19, with another dose of austerity likely to be offset by some tax perks. AFP PHOTO / LEON NEAL (Photo credit should read LEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

The Chancellor George Osborne Prepares To Give His Budget To Parliament(18 of21)

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 19: The Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne holds the budget box outside Number 11 Downing Street on March 19, 2014 in London, England. The Chancellor of the Exchequer will deliver his Budget statement to Members of Parliament in the House of Commons later. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

BRITAIN-FINANCE-ECONOMY-GROWTH-BUDGET(19 of21)

British Foreign Secretary William Hague arrives in Downing Street in London, on March 19, 2014, as members of the media prepare to film and photograph Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne later Wednesday as he unveils the government's annual budget to parliament. AFP PHOTO / CARL COURT (Photo credit should read CARL COURT/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

BRITAIN-FINANCE-ECONOMY-GROWTH-BUDGET(20 of21)

British Business Secretary Vince Cable (R) arrives for a Cabinet meeting in Downing Street in London, on March 19, 2014, as Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne prepares to unveil the governments annual budget to parliament. AFP PHOTO / CARL COURT (Photo credit should read CARL COURT/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

The Chancellor George Osborne Prepares To Give His Budget To Parliament(21 of21)

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 19: Kaya Mar holds a painting of George Osborne outside downing street ahead of the Budget on March 19, 2014 in London, England. Later The Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne will deliver his Budget statement to Members of Parliament in the House of Commons. (Photo by Bethany Clarke/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

See also:
Budget 2014: Private Jet Industry Rage About George Osborne's 'Unfair' Tax Hike
Budget 2014: Why Are Businesses Still Sitting On Billions In Cash Reserves?
Budget 2014: George Osborne's £119bn Welfare Cap 'Smoke And Mirrors', Warn Experts

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