UK government finances better than expected in January

"We know there is more to do to stop one in every £10 the government spends going on debt interest, and we will more than halve borrowing by 2030-31 so that money can be spent on policing, schools and the NHS."

— James Murray , Politician

"The big reduction in public borrowing and surge in retail sales in January support other evidence that the economy started the year looking a lot healthier."

— Paul Dales , Academic

"Labour's record high taxes and irresponsible spending have weakened the economy."

— Mel Stride , Politician

"The economy started the year looking a lot healthier and will give the chancellor something positive to point to in her fiscal statement on 3 March."

— Paul Dales , Academic

"January – which is traditionally a strong month for self-assessed tax receipts – saw the highest surplus since monthly records began."

— Grant Fitzner , Academic

"The budget overrun remains significant, re-emphasising the weak economic position that is driving the government’s need to borrow."

— Henning Diederichs , Academic

"Borrowing for the financial year was now expected to reach £130bn, which is worrisome for an economy that both the OBR and the Bank of England judge to be close to full capacity."

— Martin Beck , Academic

""This decline eases immediate pressure on the public finances""

— Nabil Taleb , Executive

"The economy started the year looking a lot healthier and will give the chancellor something positive to point to in her fiscal statement on 3 March."

— Paul Dales , Academic

"January – which is traditionally a strong month for self-assessed tax receipts – saw the highest surplus since monthly records began."

— Grant Fitzner , Academic

"The budget overrun remains significant, re-emphasising the weak economic position that is driving the government’s need to borrow."

— Henning Diederichs , Academic

"Borrowing for the financial year was now expected to reach £130bn, which is worrisome for an economy that both the OBR and the Bank of England judge to be close to full capacity."

— Martin Beck , Academic

"We know there is more to do to stop one in every £10 the government spends going on debt interest, and we will more than halve borrowing by 2030-31 so that money can be spent on policing, schools and the NHS."

— James Murray , Politician

"The big reduction in public borrowing and surge in retail sales in January support other evidence that the economy started the year looking a lot healthier."

— Paul Dales , Academic

"Labour's record high taxes and irresponsible spending have weakened the economy."

— Mel Stride , Politician

"Tax receipts usually boost the public finances in January as people rush their tax returns ahead of the deadline. But, this year appears to have been a bumper year, leaving borrowing significantly lower than forecast by the OBR."

— James Smith , Academic