Osborne: 'I want to create a balanced economy'

Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne has predicted in his Autumn Statement that the UK economy will be back in the black by 2018/19.

Mr Osborne told the Today programme "growth is up and many tens of thousands of jobs are being created in the British economy at the moment".

"There are very strong things happening in our manufacturing sector and if the rest of the world can recover, then [the UK] can also get its exports going as well."

He said: "I am the first to say that although the economic plan is working, the job isn't done," adding that he was looking to create a more "balanced economy".

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Friday 6 December 2013.