Crisis, what crisis? Minister apologises for green shoots of recovery forecast

Vadera's optimism sparks row amid job losses

"In hindsight, it wasn't the smartest thing a minister could have said. Yesterday, as thousands of job losses were announced, the business secretary was trying to sell a rescue package for small businesses and the prime minister was fending off charges of incompetence over the economy, the business minister, Lady Vadera, was telling a TV news bulletin she had spotted "a few green shoots" of recovery. Within hours she was forced to apologise."