Osborne touts end to austerity with eye on polls

UK Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne twinned his Conservative Party's custody of a broadening UK economic recovery with a sprinkling of incentives for voters as he sought to break a campaign deadlock going into the May 7 general election.

Fifty days before a vote that polls suggest will yield no overall majority, Osborne unveiled higher economic growth and lower deficit and unemployment forecasts along with help for the North Sea oil industry and a freeze on fuel duty in a push for a Tory victory over the main opposition Labour Party.

While announcing measures including help for first-time homebuyers and cuts to taxes on beer, cider and Scotch whisky, the chancellor's final pre-election budget lacked the surprise element that has been a hallmark of his past budget statements to the House of Commons in London.