Chris Leslie MP, Labour’s Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, responding to today’s public sector finance figures, said:

“Not only is George Osborne set to break his promise to balance the books by next year, but so far this year he is borrowing more than the same period last year.

“Borrowing is now expected to be almost £190 billion more than planned under this government. This is the cost of three damaging years of flatlining and falling living standards we have seen since the election.

“Labour will balance the books and get the national debt falling as soon as possible in the next Parliament, but we will do so in a fairer way. And we will act to secure a strong and balanced recovery that delivers rising living standards for the many, not just a few at the top.”

Ends