[andrewb]

I don't think pensioners who have saved all their lives quite share your joy of ultra low interest rates which the Bank of England have been forced to lower due to our failing economy. This 'growth rate' you speak of. Were in a recession.. and we've borrowed hundreds of billions. That's real hard cash that will take generations of taxation to pay off if we ever manage to do it. Not something to brag about really when other European countries don't face deficit on anywhere near our scale because they saved in prosperous times rather than going on a wasteful spending binge.