Borrowing in April hit highest level since Covid

"highlight the deteriorating growth outlook and fragile fiscal backdrop that will face whoever is in 10 Downing Street."

— Ruth Gregory , Academic

"April's borrowing figure was substantially higher than a year earlier."

— Grant Fitzner , Academic

"We estimate that debt interest costs in 2026/27 will be about £15bn higher than assumed in the Budget."

— Rob Wood , Executive

"Cutting borrowing and debt – with our actions reducing government borrowing by over £20 billion last year."

— Lucy Rigby , Politician

"apologised for referring to some of the almost 8,000 staff that are set to lose their jobs to artificial intelligence as 'lower-value human capital'."

— Bill Winters , Executive

"This provides an early sign of the deterioration in the public finances that is inevitable over the coming quarters."

— Ruth Gregory , Academic

"Overall, the big picture is that the UK’s public finances are fragile. That won’t change whoever is prime minister."

— Ruth Gregory , Academic

"Tax hikes to fund spending plans could undermine growth and worsen the fiscal arithmetic."

— Rob Wood , Executive