Business
UK borrowing costs hit 27-year high adding to pressure on Reeves
Tom Espiner & Nick EdserBusiness reporters, BBC News
ReutersUK government borrowing costs have reached their highest level since 1998, adding to the pressure on the chancellor ahead of the Budget.
The interest rate on 30-year government bonds, known as the yield, jumped to 5.698%, making it more expensive for the government to borrow money.
There are rising expectations that Chancellor Rachel Reeves will increase taxes in the Budget later this year in order to meet her borrowing and spending rules, as worries grow about the state of the government’s finances.
On the currency markets, the pound also fell more than 1% against the dollar on Tuesday.
Sterling dropped to $1.3379, which is the lowest level against the US currency since 7 August.
The UK was not alone in seeing borrowing costs rise, with yields on 30-year German, French and Dutch bonds climbing to their highest 2011.
A number of factors have led to borrowing costs for governments around the globe to go up, such as geopolitical tensions, US President Donald Trump’s trade policies and the upcoming confidence vote in the French government.
‘Difficult choices’
But Susannah Streeter, head of money and markets at Hargreaves Lansdown, said the chancellor faced “highly difficult choices” in the Budget and that she had been “dealt a warning” by investors.
“They are selling off UK government debt, clearly concerned that the government may be losing its grip on the public finances,” she said.
In its manifesto, Labour promised not to raise taxes such as income tax, VAT or national insurance on “working people”. This has led to much speculation over what taxes Reeves could raise in the autumn Budget.
One option suggested is that the freeze on income tax thresholds, which is due to end in 2028, could be extended.
Often referred to as a “stealth tax”, freezing income tax thresholds means that, over time as salaries rise, more people are dragged into paying higher rates.
There have also been reports that Reeves is considering reforming property taxes.
“With so many options for raising taxes being bandied about during the summer, there appears to be concern that the decisions made might not be sufficiently thought through,” said Ms Streeter.
“The worry isn’t just that government coffers won’t be replenished, but that they will be filled at the expense of growth, leading to a vicious circle emerging.”
On Monday, the government announced a partial reshuffle, with Darren Jones, formerly Reeves’s deputy, being given a key No 10 role by the prime minister.
The changes are focused on beefing up the economic know-how in Downing Street. Baroness Shafik, a former deputy governor of the Bank of England, has been named at Keir Starmer’s new chief economic adviser.
The moves are a recognition that the upcoming autumn’s Budget will be a defining moment in this Labour government.
Governments borrow money from investors by selling bonds – which is a loan the government promises to pay back at the end of an agreed time.
The yield on 30-year UK government bonds – known as gilts – has been rising for some months, and this makes it more expensive for the government to borrow money due to higher interest payments.
The government’s official forecaster, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), takes borrowing costs into account when looking at whether the chancellor is meeting her self-imposed fiscal rules.
When she became chancellor, Reeves set out two rules on government borrowing, which she has repeatedly said are “non-negotiable”. These were:
- day-to-day government costs will be paid for by tax income, rather than borrowing by 2029-30
- to get debt falling as a share of national income by the end of this parliament in 2029-30
Part of the reason Reeves is under pressure is that her financial buffer to stick to these rules is a relatively slim £10bn. The chancellor recently refused to rule out tax rises after disappointing data on economic growth.
On Tuesday, a spokesperson for Starmer said the government’s “iron-clad commitment to our robust fiscal rules remains”, adding it had made the necessary decisions to “stabilise the public finances”.
But shadow chancellor Mel Stride said the latest market movements were “another economic disaster from Rachel Reeves – and a clear vote of no confidence in Labour from the markets”.
“With more tax rises on the horizon, the economy is now in a precarious position,” he added.
There has been a wide range of forecasts for how much money Reeves might need to raise in the Budget to meet her rules.
One factor that will influence this is the borrowing costs facing the government.
When the OBR makes makes its forecasts for government debt it looks at yields on all bonds.
Paul Dales, chief UK economist at Capital Economics, said concerns about the path of UK inflation and interest rates, combined with global issues, were pushing UK government borrowing costs up.
In addition, he added that pension funds were also not buying as much long-term government debt due to the change in recent years from defined-benefit to defined-contribution schemes.
Mr Dales said Reeves would have to raise between £18bn and £28bn in the Budget to avoid breaking her fiscal rules, and to maintain her £10bn buffer.
Households and banks “will probably feel the brunt of the higher taxes”, he said.
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Business
India’s First Vande Bharat Sleeper To Run Between Patna And New Delhi: 1,000 Kms In 8 Hours, 160 Kmph Speed, Luxury Amenities – Reports
Delhi-Patna Vande Bharat Sleeper: Indian Railways passengers have been waiting eagerly for the new luxurious Vande Bharat Sleeper Express, which has been in the final stages of roll out and is being given final touches at the BEML factory. Passengers travelling between Patna and New Delhi are set to get a completely new travel experience as the much-awaited Vande Bharat Sleeper Train is expected to begin operations this month. The train promises the speed of Tejas, the comfort of Rajdhani, and the advanced technology of Vande Bharat — all in a sleeper configuration for the first time.
Designed for high-speed night travel, the train is being positioned as a premium option for long-distance passengers.
Trial Runs to Begin Soon
Two rakes of the Vande Bharat Sleeper Train are being manufactured at the BEML factory in Bengaluru. The first rake is expected to be ready and dispatched by December 12, after which trial runs will begin on the Patna–New Delhi route, reported Dainik Bhaskar. The train will cover around 1,000 kms in around eight hours.
Railways plan to start regular services before the New Year. The train is expected to run six days a week, departing Patna in the evening and arriving in Delhi the next morning. The return service will follow the same overnight schedule, reported Prabhat Khabar.
Speed and Performance Highlights
The train is designed to run at an operational speed of 160 km/h, with a maximum speed capability of 180 km/h. According to railway officials, the ride will be so stable that even tea kept in a cup will not spill while the train is running at full speed.
One of its key strengths is rapid acceleration and braking, allowing it to cover distances faster and reduce time spent stopping and restarting at stations.
Coach Composition and Seating Capacity
The Vande Bharat Sleeper Train will have 16 coaches with a total capacity of 827 passengers:
* 11 coaches of AC 3-tier (611 berths)
* 4 coaches of AC 2-tier (188 berths)
* 1 coach of AC 1st Class AC (24 berths)
Railways may increase the number of coaches in the future based on passenger demand. Ticket prices are expected to be around the fare of the Rajdhani Express.
Current Status of Vande Bharat Trains in India
At present, 164 chair-car Vande Bharat Express trains are operating across India. These semi-high-speed trains are manufactured at the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai and have received strong passenger response.
Due to growing demand for comfortable long-distance night travel, the sleeper variant has been developed, with the Patna–Delhi route likely to be among the first to get this service.
What the Railway Minister Said
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw recently told the Lok Sabha that the sleeper version of the Vande Bharat train has been indigenously designed for medium and long-distance overnight journeys.
He said that two rakes have been produced and are currently undergoing trials and commissioning.
Key Features and Facilities in Vande Bharat Sleeper Train
The interior of the train is designed to provide a premium airline-like and hotel-style experience. Major facilities include:
Passenger Comfort Features
* USB-integrated reading lamps for night-time reading
* Real-time passenger information system with audio and video updates
* High-speed Wi-Fi and onboard infotainment system
* Modular pantry unit for freshly prepared onboard meals
* Touch-free bio-vacuum toilets
* Hot water shower facility in First AC coaches
* Ergonomic ladders for upper berths
* PRM-friendly berths and toilets for elderly and differently-abled passengers
Advanced Safety and Security Systems
* KAVACH anti-collision technology to prevent train accidents
* Integrated emergency talk-back units for direct communication with train crew
* Fully sealed gangways between coaches to prevent dust and enhance safety
* Automatic plug doors that close before departure
* CCTV surveillance in every coach to deter theft and ensure passenger safety
Timings of the Vande Bharat Sleeper Train
The train will run six days a week:
* Evening departure from Patna, Morning arrival in New Delhi
* Evening departure from New Delhi, Morning arrival in Patna
The Vande Bharat Sleeper has been specially designed to offer high speed, superior comfort, and a premium travel experience for overnight journeys.
Rebates paid by drugs firms to the NHS are being cut by more than a third next year following the recent tariff deal with the US.
The Government said the rebate costs for companies – the proportion of revenues from new branded medicine sales that drugs firms must pay back into the NHS – would fall to 14.5% in 2026 from 22.9% this year.
It comes after the UK-US tariff deal earlier this month, which will see zero tariffs on British pharmaceutical products imported into the US in return for the NHS raising spending on medicines.
As part of the deal, it was also agreed that repayment rates on NHS drug prices would be capped at 15% for the first three years.
This is the amount that drugs firms pay back to the NHS to ensure it does not overspend its allocated budget for branded medicines.
The Government said it is able to offset the lower rebate thanks to falling costs for medicines, in part driven by drugs coming off patent.
But Downing Street admitted soon after the trade deal that the agreement to increase the threshold for what the NHS can pay for new medicines by 25% will cost it around £1 billion extra a year by 2029.
The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) said the “high and unpredictable” rebate costs had been a “significant drag on UK life science competitiveness in recent years”.
Richard Torbett, chief executive of the ABPI, said: “It’s good that the amount of revenue companies will need to pay to the UK government has come down in 2026.”
He added: “However, this is only the first step in returning the UK to a more competitive position.
“Payment rates remain much higher than in similar countries, and there is work to do to accelerate the NHS’s adoption and use of cost-effective medicines to improve patient care.”
The Department for Health said the lower rebate costs should also make the UK an attractive place for investment by pharma firms, clinical trials and the early launch of new medicines.
Health innovation minister Dr Zubir Ahmed said that together with the tariff deal, “this will help secure and drive investment in the sector, ensuring Britain remains a powerhouse for life sciences for the benefit of our patients, our NHS and our economy”.
Science minister Lord Vallance added: “We need our brilliant life sciences companies to discover and get important new medicines to patients right across the NHS and to create jobs in the UK.
“This new rate helps achieve that.”
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