Public sector borrowing figures “not a green light to spend more”, says IEA expert
25 May 2021
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In the Media
Julian Jessop quoted in The Telegraph
25 May 2021

In the Media
Julian Jessop quoted in The Telegraph
25 May 2021

Society and Culture
Commenting on the public sector net borrowing figures for April published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), Julian Jessop, Economics Fellow at free market think tank the Institute of Economic Affairs, said:
“Public sector borrowing continues to undershoot the OBR’s forecasts, but it would be wrong to see this as a green light for the government to spend even more.
“The economy is now rebounding strongly as Covid restrictions are lifted but borrowing is also still very high.
“Any further policy stimulus could simply distort the recovery and add to inflationary pressures – as we are already seeing in the US.
“Instead, the UK government should be looking for more ways to roll back the state and allow markets to work properly again.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
Contact: Emily Carver, Head of Media, 07715942731
IEA spokespeople are available for interview or further comment
Further IEA reading:
“Public sector borrowing continues to undershoot the OBR’s forecasts, but it would be wrong to see this as a green light for the government to spend even more.
“The economy is now rebounding strongly as Covid restrictions are lifted but borrowing is also still very high.
“Any further policy stimulus could simply distort the recovery and add to inflationary pressures – as we are already seeing in the US.
“Instead, the UK government should be looking for more ways to roll back the state and allow markets to work properly again.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
Contact: Emily Carver, Head of Media, 07715942731
IEA spokespeople are available for interview or further comment
Further IEA reading:



