Public sector net debt surges to £2.13 trillion as Covid pandemic smashes UK economy

The appalling extent of damage the Covid pandemic is reaping on the UK economy was laid bare today as official figures showed public sector net borrowing was £19.1 billion in February - the highest February borrowing levels on record.

The Office for National Statistics said the February number was up some £17.6 billion on last February.

Public sector net debt rose £333 billion over the first 11 months of the current financial year to £2.13 trillion, or 97.5% of GDP, maintaining a level not seen since the early 1960s, the ONS said.

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