Ben Thompson Interrupts BBC Breakfast with Breaking News: “In the Last Few Minutes”
On Wednesday’s episode of BBC Breakfast, viewers were caught off guard when host Ben Thompson abruptly interrupted the program to deliver an important financial update, stating, “in the last few minutes.”
Thompson, who was co-hosting alongside Sally Nugent, was in the midst of discussing the week’s trending stories when he suddenly cut in after the weather segment with Carol Kirkwood. “Now, 12 minutes past seven, and in the last few minutes there has been an official update on the UK’s finances,” he announced. “They tell us how much debt the country is in as a total.”
Sally quickly added context to the news, explaining, “Yes, the figures from the Office for National Statistics indicate how much wiggle room the new chancellor Rachel Reeves will have when she sets out spending plans in the Autumn,” The Express reported.
To provide further details, finance correspondent Ben Boulos joined the duo. He explained the gravity of the situation: “Now this is a bit like the monthly statement you get from the bank, and what it tells us is that in July, the government spent 3.1 billion pounds more than it has coming in—in taxes—and it has added to the total debt that has accumulated over the years.”
Boulos revealed the stark reality, saying, “It is the biggest it has been since the 1960s and it’s worth almost the same as the total value of all the goods and services that are made and sold in the economy.”
With the chancellor Rachel Reeves set to present her first budget and spending plans, Boulos emphasized the tough decisions ahead. “We know that some services will be protected, like health and education, but today’s figures show that there is going to be a bit of a squeeze on how much is available to spend on other things.”
He continued, “It’s not unusual for the government to spend more than it has coming in, but self-imposed tax rules mean that the government has to show that over the next five years it’s got a plan to rein that in.”
Boulos concluded by noting that the government will face some difficult choices regarding spending cuts in various departments, with more details expected in the Autumn budget. The unexpected update left viewers with a sobering look at the nation’s financial state, emphasizing the challenges that lie ahead.