Public
sector net debt reached 94.9% of GDP by June 2026, up from a year ago, while
broader measures approach or exceed 100%, per official data and analyst
projections.
The Conservatives point to £3,500 spent every
second on interest—enough to fund services instead—while Labour's Tris Osborne
blames prior Tory chancellors, recessions, and crises like COVID-19 and the
Ukraine energy shock.
Public frustration boils over borrowing priorities, with calls to cut spending sharply as stabilizing the debt demands tough choices on taxes, outlays, or growth.