Bright Blue TV: Should we be worried about the deficit?

In the first episode of Bright Blue TV we explore whether or not we should be worried about the UK’s ballooning deficit. As a result of COVID-19, the deficit this year is forecast to be £394 billion, or 19 per cent of GDP, its highest level since 1944-45. This pushes the country’s national debt to 105 per cent of GDP, its highest level since 1959-60. Fiscal responsibility has always been a quintessential conservative value, so how worried should we be at the moment about the current budget deficit?

Bright Blue TV is hosted by Chief Executive of Bright Blue, Ryan Shorthouse. In this episode he will be joined by former Lord Chancellor, David Gauke, economist Julian Jessop, and Chief Executive of the New Economics Foundation, Miatta Fahnbulleh.