Trending:

Britain’s Debt Now Exceeds Gross Domestic Product for First Time in 60 Years

By John Smith • Published: 21 Aug 2020 • 10:22

FOR the first time since 1960, the UK Government’s debt of just over £2 (€2.2) trillion is greater than Gross Domestic Product (GDP) according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Debt had been creeping up during the latter part of 2019 but the lockdown and pandemic has hit Britain badly and the fact is that for the past four months spending has exceeded tax income.

In the short term, the situation will get worse as the Government will need to fund the next round of Self-Employed Income Support and also settle the Eat Out scheme.

Analysts forecast that once these two significant amounts are paid, the need to borrow will drop especially as company VAT payments will be due and the Furlough scheme will finish.

Britain will not benefit in the way that Italy and Spain have from the financial support from the European Union and the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak will have to be creatively cautious in his Autumn budget and hope that significant trade deals following final Brexit divorce are just around the corner.

Written by

John Smith

Married to Ophelia in Gibraltar in 1978, John has spent much of his life travelling on security print and minting business and visited every continent except Antarctica. Having retired several years ago, the couple moved to their house in Estepona and John became a regular news writer for the EWN Media Group taking particular interest in Finance, Gibraltar and Costa del Sol Social Scene. Currently he is acting as Editorial Consultant for the paper helping to shape its future development. Share your story with us by emailing newsdesk@euroweeklynews.com, by calling +34 951 38 61 61 or by messaging our Facebook page www.facebook.com/EuroWeeklyNews

Comments

    • John

      21 August 2020 • 20:30

      Don’t worry, as we are constantly being told we are still the 6th richest country in the world and can afford to pay for unlimited illegal immigration and all the other wonderful fairytale spending pledges that the liberal left are so keen on. Heavens knows what debts the other countries below us are labouring with. One day someone might educate the left and explain to them that being £2 trillion in debt is not rich – we are effectively bankrupt. We can’t pay for our own citizens let alone everyone else’s. But that is just a trifling detail which is of no importance in their blinkered eyes.

    Comments are closed.

Continue Reading