Has the age of austerity really come to an end?

Sajid Javid's pledge to 'bring about a decade of renewal' comes under scrutiny

Sajid Javid said on Wednesday that the government could afford to "turn the page on austerity" as he set out Whitehall spending priorities. Publishing departmental budgets for next year, the chancellor claimed that a rise in spending of 4.1% over this year and next would "bring about a decade of renewal". Critics warned that his claims were overblown and that nine years of spending cuts would continue to take their toll. Here we assess Javid's claim that a line is being drawn under austerity.