Archie,
The government doesn't create economic growth per se, it ensures that the conditions are right for companies and individuals to do that. Spending money to create growth only works in very limited circumstances, for example where a lack of confidence prevents individuals or companies investing. Eventually the money that has been spent has to repaid.....and that's where we are at the moment. Even when the government manages to balance the books we'll still be paying over £60bn a year in interest on our national debt (£1000 a year for every person in the UK). That's a burden that falls on company profits as well as as every individual tax payer and money that can't be spent/invested to create growth.
For too long politians have been bribing us with our own money and this is why we're in the mess we're in now. Nicola Sturgeon still has this mentality and is determined to get her children and grandchildren to pay her bills!