The UK government posted an unanticipated £1.8 billion budget deficit in July 2026, when Treasury receipts typically surge from self-assessed income tax payments. The shortfall comes ahead of Chancellor John Healey's first budget scheduled for October.
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The UK government posted an unexpected £1.8bn budget deficit in July, a month when self-assessed income tax payments usually lift receipts, after public spending exceeded revenue [investing.com#1][theguardian.com#1][bloomberg.com#1][ft.com#1][bbc.co.uk#1][urdupoint.com#1][irishnews.com#1]. City economists had expected no shortfall, while the Office for Budget Responsibility had forecast a £500mn s
The UK government borrowed £1.8 billion in July after spending exceeded tax receipts, the Office for National Statistics said, against forecasts for either a £500 million surplus or a balanced month [bbc.co.uk#1][theguardian.com#1][urdupoint.com#1][skynewsarabia.com#1]. The deficit was £700 million higher than in July 2025, even though July typically gets a boost from self-assessed income tax paym
Thread (1/2) Is this madness? Apparently we should 'balance' fixing the economy against appeasing the markets, “A difficult balancing act remains: maintaining credibility with financial markets while avoiding policies that unnecessarily weaken the economy” www.ft.com/content/481b... Latest borrowing data underscores challenge facing chancellor John Healey ahead of his first Budget
The UK government borrowed significantly more than expected last month, highlighting the challenges facing Chancellor John Healey ahead of his first budget in October. The budget deficit hit £1.8bn in July, some £2.3bn worse than the Office for Budget Responsibility forecast of a £500m surplus.