Get the facts on debt and deficit

24 November 2023

Debt is only projected to begin falling in the latter half of the decade

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s claim that the government is “delivering” on the pledge to get debt falling is only correct when looking at longer-term projections.

Debt is only projected to begin falling in the latter half of the decade

26 September 2022

The deficit is lower than it was 12 years ago

Labour shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves said in a speech that the Conservative government had not got the deficit down during 12 years in power. This isn’t true.

The deficit is lower than it was 12 years ago

17 February 2022

More older people have financial debt—but fewer are actually struggling

An article in the Express used accurate figures from Labour showing more pensioners are in debt, but that doesn’t mean that more pensioners have a debt problem.

More older people have financial debt—but fewer are actually struggling

2 July 2020

This is what we know about the government loan to pay slave owners compensation after slavery was abolished in 1833

This amounted to £20 million, or 40% of government spending that year.

This is what we know about the government loan to pay slave owners compensation after slavery was abolished in 1833

11 December 2019

What has happened to the debt and deficit now and under previous governments?

This article is part of our Ask Full Fact series on the 2019 general election, answering your questions about the election, from claims the main parties are making to what …

What has happened to the debt and deficit now and under previous governments?

4 October 2019

This quote attributed to Boris Johnson is not real

Boris Johnson did not say "we have wiped out the national debt". He did say the Conservatives had tackled the debt and deficit.

This quote attributed to Boris Johnson is not real

26 April 2019

What is the UK’s public debt?

In May 2010, when the Conservative-led coalition came to power, the national debt was £1.03 trillion. As of March 2019 it had risen to £1.80 trillion.

2 November 2018

BBC Question Time: Recap and Factcheck

Question Time on 1 November came from Clacton-on-Sea. Topics covered included income tax changes, austerity, early elections, policing priorities, and the impact of the investigation into Arron Banks.

26 October 2018

BBC Question Time: Recap and Factcheck

Question Time on 25 October 2018 came from Barrow-in-Furness. Topics covered included Brexit, austerity, Trident and non-disclosure agreements.

26 June 2018

Economy introductions: the size of government debt

The government owes £1.7 trillion. That’s the size of public sector net debt, or the national debt. It’s different to the government deficit.

Economy introductions: the size of government debt

Debt and deficit

Debt is only projected to begin falling in the latter half of the decade

The deficit is lower than it was 12 years ago

More older people have financial debt—but fewer are actually struggling

This is what we know about the government loan to pay slave owners compensation after slavery was abolished in 1833

What has happened to the debt and deficit now and under previous governments?

This quote attributed to Boris Johnson is not real

What is the UK’s public debt?

BBC Question Time: Recap and Factcheck

BBC Question Time: Recap and Factcheck

Economy introductions: the size of government debt

Full Fact fights bad information