UK government borrowing in September hit the highest level for the month in five years, according to the latest official figures.
Borrowing – the difference between public spending and tax income – was £20.2bn in September, up £1.6bn from the same month last year, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.
The ONS said a rise in debt interest payments offset the increased amount the government had raised through tax and national insurance.
Borrowing over the first six months of the financial year has now reached £99.8bn, the ONS said, which is up £11.5bn from the same period last year.
