Osborne to admit debt plan in ruins

clock

Chancellor George Osborne is to tell the electorate this week that his debt plans are in ruins, with the deadline for bringing UK debt down pushed back by many years.

Osborne, who has already come under fire for cutting too far and too fast, had staked his reputation on maintaining the UK's AAA credit rating but lost this last month. Now, the Chancellor is poised to reveal his plans to bring down public debt by 2015-2016 at the latest have had to be pushed back by two years as the embattled UK economy struggles to deal with a range of problems. Having originally committed to bring the burden of public debt down by 2015-16 at the latest, the Chancellor extended that target by a year in December and is now preparing to concede another delay to 2017-1...

To continue reading this article...

Join Professional Adviser for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, industry insights and market intelligence
  • Stay ahead of the curve with spotlights on emerging trends and technologies
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletters
  • Make smart business decisions with the latest developments in regulation, investing retirement and protection
  • Members-only access to the editor’s weekly Friday commentary
  • Be the first to hear about our events and awards programmes

Join

 

Already a Professional Adviser member?

Login

More on Economics / Markets

Five years on from Covid: What's next for markets?

Five years on from Covid: What's next for markets?

It is now five years since the start of the UK’s Covid lockdown. Since then, we have seen considerable market and geopolitical-related change. Here, William Marshall looks back over the past five years and also explores what we might expect from markets...

William Marshall
clock 06 May 2025 • 4 min read
Gilt yields fall after Donald Trump backs down in 'tariff war'

Gilt yields fall after Donald Trump backs down in 'tariff war'

US president pauses most additional tariffs

Jonathan Stapleton
clock 10 April 2025 • 2 min read
Reeves defends yearly Budget to avoid 'constant chopping and changing'

Reeves defends yearly Budget to avoid 'constant chopping and changing'

Treasury Committee scrutinises chancellor on Spring Statement

Isabel Baxter
clock 02 April 2025 • 3 min read