Public Finances: Borrowing Costs Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

Public Finances: Borrowing Costs

Katie White Excerpts
Thursday 9th January 2025

(1 day, 17 hours ago)

Commons Chamber
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Darren Jones Portrait Darren Jones
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I think the question was whether I was going to demand that the Chancellor come back from her trade trip to China. I will not, no.

Katie White Portrait Katie White (Leeds North West) (Lab)
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Does the Chief Secretary agree that there is an irony in the Conservatives raising concerns about the cost of borrowing, when they oversaw debt rising from 64.7% of GDP to more than 96% of GDP and left a £22 billion unfunded black hole in public finances—and now continue to oppose the tough decisions that we are making on tax and spend to fix their mess?

Darren Jones Portrait Darren Jones
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That is exactly why our fiscal rules are non-negotiable. While the Conservatives borrowed to pay the bills every month because they did not have enough money to pay for all their promises, this Government are investing in the future of our country, whether through reforming public services or investing in infrastructure and opportunities for growth. That is exactly the right approach to the economy; it is what our fiscal rules demand, and what we will be held to.