Cost of public services sees government borrowing rise

Government borrowing in July rose on the year before as the cost of running public services and benefits continued to increase, official figures show.

Borrowing, the difference between spending and tax income, hit £3.1bn last month, some 1.8bn more than in July 2023.

The Office for National Statistics also revealed the UK's national debt remained at its highest level since the early 1960s.