“Let’s Pay Off The National Debt!”…

So, the cheering has subsided. The parties are over. You’ve finally done it. Won the election! The PM has appointed you Chancellor and you are sitting in your office at HM Treasury and the first Red Box lands with a thump upon your desk.

You open it and sitting atop the pile of Ministerial briefings and communiques, is a report shouting at you:

‘The National Debt is now over 100% of GDP’…

A bead of sweat runs down your temple and lands onto and magnifying exactly where it says:

‘over 100% of GDP’…

Your mind races. Memories of previous accusations by the then Government and now opposition fill you mind:

“Sorry. We spent all the money”

“There’s no money left”

“Didn’t fix the roof whilst the sun was shining”

“Maxxed out the Governments credit card”

“Bankrupt. Broke. Insolvent”

You pick up the phone and summon your Top Treasury Civil Servant and in hushed but slightly panicked tone say:

“We MUST pay off the National Debt. Tell me what to do?”.

The Treasury boffin. Pauses. Composes. Looks away, only to utter, somewhat disdainfully: