Burnham’s former economic adviser gives Budget a four out of 10 Earnings One of Andy Burnham’s former economic advisers has given John Healey’s Budget a four out of 10, warning there remained a 50 per cent chance the UK economy will be in worse shape next year than it is now. Andy Haldane, who for years served as chief economist at the Bank of England, told the [...]
Economists urge Bank of England to halt bond sales as borrowing costs climb Economics The Bank of England should abort its costly approach to unwinding quantitative easing, which is stoking the government’s elevated borrowing costs and costing the taxpayer billions of pounds, a group of analysts and bond investors have said. The government’s long-term borrowing costs have risen to levels not seen this century, amid unease at the country’s [...]
‘Moron premium’ – Westminster turmoil has ‘cost taxpayers £35bn’ since 2022 Politics Secretive plotters and vengeful strategists in Westminster have cost taxpayers around £35bn since 2020, new research by one of the world’s top insurance companies has found. In a study into the costs of political fragility facing European governments, researchers at Allianz Trade found that the UK government continued to pay a “distinct political premium” due [...]
A beginner’s guide to appeasing the bond market – and why it matters July 24, 2026 Britain’s enormous debt pile means the bond market now has the power to decide the fate of a government. Ali Lyon spoke to gilt investors to see how our new Chancellor can keep them happy. When John Healey was last in the Treasury, the world was a very different place. Britain’s economy was growing at [...]
Borrowing costs jump after Burnham ‘fiscal flexibility’ remarks July 20, 2026 The government’s borrowing costs climbed sharply on Monday afternoon after Andy Burnham said he planned to juice government borrowing by taking advantage of “flexibility” in the current fiscal rules. The new Prime Minister told reporters that his administration would use all potential room within the self-imposed spending straitjacket, which he had promised not to loosen [...]
IMF: Middle East war risks sparking government debt doom loop April 14, 2026 Ballooning levels of government debt have left the global economy dangerously exposed to the aftereffects of the Middle East war, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which warned a fresh wave of inflation could trigger a historic bond crisis. In its latest Financial Stability Report, the financial body said that countries’ inability to rein [...]
UK government borrowing soars in September to highest in five years October 21, 2025 UK government borrowing soared north of £20bn in September, official data has revealed, in another blow for Rachel Reeves as she gears up for a painful tax-raising Budget next month. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said government borrowing over the month was the highest seen for five years and an increase of £1.6bn compared [...]
IMF sounds alarm on soaring sovereign debt October 15, 2025 The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has urged governments to bear down on profligate spending after it found government debt was on course to reach 100 per cent of global GDP within the next five years. In its latest Fiscal Monitor report, the world’s preeminent financial institution sounded the alarm on developed and developing nations’ over-reliance [...]
Silver prices tail off after hitting first record in four decades October 15, 2025 Silver prices retreated on Tuesday after hitting their first all-time high in over 45 years, as supply fears and a short squeeze added momentum to a year-long rally spurred by investor fears over government debt levels and sticky inflation. On a historic day of trading, spot prices for the precious metal broke $53 an ounce [...]
Ray Dalio: UK is in a ‘debt doom loop’ July 28, 2025 The UK is in a “debt doom loop” of high taxes, low growth and a ballooning debt pile, according to one of the world’s most renowned investors, who also warned that the need to raise taxes will only drive more wealthy residents to leave. Ray Dalio, the billionaire who founded US hedge fund giant Bridgewater [...]