<p>Government paid £10.9bn in debt interest, the highest September figure since records began</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/live/2026/oct/21/uk-inflation-jump-rising-motor-fuels-cost-jackdaw-gas-field-latest-news-updates">Business live – latest updates</a></p></li></ul><p>The Treasury ran a higher than expected budget deficit of £24.5bn last month as rising inflation pushed up the interest paid on government debt, increasing pressure on John Healey before his first budget next Wednesday.</p><p>Official figures show the government paid £10.9bn in debt interest: the highest September figure since records began, and only the eighth time the monthly number has been above £10bn.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/oct/21/uk-government-borrowing-rises-john-healey-budget">Continue reading...</a>