EconomyPolitics
UK government borrowing rises to £24.5bn as John Healey prepares for budget
Publication: Economics | The Guardian
Author: Heather Stewart Economics editor
Source published: 21/10/2026, 06:48:00 UTC
Briefing created: 21/10/2026, 07:40:52 UTC
Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 21/10/2026, 07:35:24 UTC.
Briefings
The UK government's borrowing rose to £24.5bn last month due to high inflation-driven interest payments. September interest costs reached £10.9bn, the highest since records began, marking the eighth consecutive month exceeding £10bn. This pressure comes as John Healey prepares for the upcoming budget.
Key points
- September government debt interest payments reached £10.9bn, the highest figure since records began.
- The Treasury recorded a £24.5bn budget deficit last month driven by rising inflation.
Context
The Treasury's budget deficit of £24.5bn last month was driven by rising inflation pushing up interest costs. John Healey faces increased pressure before his budget next week.
Limitations
Evidence covers only September 2026; full historical context and prior deficit figures are unavailable. No specific inflation rate data or budget details beyond the deficit amount are provided.
Generated by Bittrees-hosted qwen35-2b sha256:aaf42c8b7c3c on 21/10/2026, 07:40:52 UTC. Based on publisher-provided feed evidence; may not cover the full original article. Check the source for details.
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