Government Debt Interest Payments 2025-09-09

2025-09-09

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Response quality

Questions & Answers

Q1 Partial Answer
Rebecca Paul Con
Reigate
Context
Interest on government debt this year is expected to total £111 billion, which accounts for 8.3% of total public spending.
I thank the Chancellor for that response. This year, interest on debt is expected to total £111 billion, which is 8.3% of total public spending. What are the Chancellor’s plans to rebuild confidence in the gilt market, and how confident is she that we will not be reliving the worst bits of the 1970s?
The best way to make sure that we continue to have confidence in the gilt markets is to keep the Tories and Liz Truss as far away from running the economy as possible. We have brought stability back to the economy, and there have been five cuts in interest rates. This is in sharp contrast to the disaster of Liz Truss and the clown show that we witnessed at the Reform conference at the weekend. Those two parties would lose control of spending, and push up mortgage costs and inflation. They have done it before, and they would do it all over again.
Assessment & feedback
The Chancellor did not provide specific plans to rebuild confidence in the gilt market or a clear assurance that the situation will not deteriorate like in the 1970s.
Keep Tories And Liz Truss Away From Running The Economy Brought Stability Back With Five Cuts In Interest Rates
Response accuracy
Q2 Partial Answer
Desmond Swayne Con
New Forest West
Context
The UK is currently being charged more in interest than Greece.
So why does the Chancellor think that the United Kingdom is being charged more in interest even than Greece?
The spread on our gilts over the central bank rate is lower in the UK than it is in Greece, so maybe the right hon. Gentleman should look again at his evidence. The truth is that we have had five cuts in interest rates since this Government came to office. We are paying high levels of interest on the debt, but the debt was accrued by the Conservative party, which destroyed our economy and public services all at once. We are fixing the mess that the Conservatives left.
Assessment & feedback
The Chancellor did not directly address why UK is being charged more in interest than Greece, instead stating that the spread on gilts over central bank rate is lower and emphasizing past mistakes of the Conservative party.
Spread On Our Gilts Over The Central Bank Rate Is Lower Fixing Mess Left By Conservatives
Response accuracy