Ticking-off for 
Cameron over debt claim

The Prime Minister’s assertion in last week’s Conservative Party political broadcast sparked a furious complaint by Labour, which described his comments as “deliberately misleading” as the debt was actually rising.

Chair of the UK Statistics Authority Andrew Dilnot confirmed yesterday that public sector net debt has risen from £811 billion in 2010 when the coalition took office to £1.1 trillion at the end of last year.

Responding to Labour’s complaint, Mr Dilnot said it was important that politicians distinguished correctly between accumulated debt, and annual public sector borrowing – which has come down under the coalition.

He said it was important for all parties to understand the relevant statistical definitions.