Episode
Britain’s Debt Problem Is Getting Worse - What Happens Next?
- Podcast
- Market Maker
- Published
- Sep 23, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 2664
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Summary
UK government borrowing is surging, bond yields remain elevated and the cost of servicing Britain’s debt is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. But how serious is the problem and what happens if borrowing costs stay high? In this episode, Anthony Cheung and Piers Curran break down why Britain’s public finances are under pressure, how the bond market can constrain government spending and why the Bank of England’s decision to step back from quantitative tightening could matter for UK borrowing costs. We also explore whether governments can simply keep accumulating debt, why the US and Japan have managed even larger debt burdens, and whether AI-driven productivity growth could eventually offer Britain a way out. Finally, we look at the bigger question facing developed economies: if debt keeps rising, what could actually cause the music to stop? 00:00 Britain’s Debt Problem 02:22 Why Debt Is Getting Expensive 08:56 The Global Debt Problem 10:49 Britain’s Borrowing Surge 11:50 Why UK Inflation Is Different 15:44 Is Britain’s Economy Stalling? 17:53 Why Bond Yields Matter 21:20 Quantitative Tightening Explained 27:32 Could QE Return? 30:29 Can AI Save the UK Economy? 36:00 Can Britain Keep Borrowing? 40:12 Is the West Losing Power?