Osborne's dream of British 'makers' kept at bay by strong pound

London

GEORGE Osborne's plan to steer Britain's recovery away from domestic consumer spending is being thwarted at every turn.

First hampered by recession in the euro area, the UK's biggest market, manufacturers are now up against the pound at a seven- year-high, while Greece's debt crisis is further clouding the outlook for the currency region.

The external recipe means the factory-powered pickup the chancellor of the exchequer described as the "march of the makers" in 2011 has yet to materialise. Manufacturing is lagging the br…