In new Mercatus research, UK-based economist Anthony Evans goes in search of the data. He finds:

• The UK government’s response to the recession has been to eliminate the structural budget deficit over the medium term.
• There are changes in the composition of government spending but not a fall in the absolute level.
• Forecasts of falling government spending as a proportion of GDP are due to implausible growth forecasts rather than an absolute reduction in spending.
• History indicates that the government overestimates its ability to fund austerity through spending cuts, and therefore above-expected tax rises are likely.

Much more here, including lots of great graphs.