MHCLG · £ million

Outstanding council borrowing, 2010 to 2020 under each government

The full published series with each government’s time in office shaded. The table gives the level each government inherited and the last complete period before it left. Changes describe the period, not a cause. Definitions and caveats are on the metric page.

Outstanding council borrowing, 2010 to 2020: 2010 Q1 to 2020 Q1LabourCoalitionCoalitionConservativeConservativeConservativeConservativeConservative050k100k2010201220142016201820202010 Q1: £70.1bn £ million · published 3 September 20262011 Q1: £73.8bn £ million · published 3 September 20262012 Q1: £85.6bn £ million · published 3 September 20262013 Q1: £87.9bn £ million · published 3 September 20262014 Q1: £89.1bn £ million · published 3 September 20262015 Q1: £91.9bn £ million · published 3 September 20262016 Q1: £94.4bn £ million · published 3 September 20262017 Q1: £99.2bn £ million · published 3 September 20262018 Q1: £107.1bn £ million · published 3 September 20262019 Q1: £115bn £ million · published 3 September 20262020 Q1: £126.9bn £ million · published 3 September 2026

Published valueProvisional or revisedLatestShaded bands: governments (see labels)Hover, tap or use arrow keys to read a value; tap again to unpin
The chart as a table
PeriodOutstanding council borrowing, 2010 to 2020
2010 Q1£70.1bn
2011 Q1£73.8bn
2012 Q1£85.6bn
2013 Q1£87.9bn
2014 Q1£89.1bn
2015 Q1£91.9bn
2016 Q1£94.4bn
2017 Q1£99.2bn
2018 Q1£107.1bn
2019 Q1£115bn
2020 Q1£126.9bn
GovernmentInheritedLeft at / latestChange during government
Labour 2024–5 July 2024presentThe last period published before this government took office is too old to serve as a fair starting level.
Conservative 2019–202413 December 20195 July 2024Fewer than two periods have been published during this government, so no change is shown yet.
Conservative 2017–20199 June 201713 December 2019£99.2bn2017 Q1£115bn2019 Q1 15.9%+£15.8bn
Conservative 2015–20178 May 20159 June 2017£91.9bn2015 Q1£99.2bn2017 Q1 8.0%+£7.3bn
Coalition 2010–201511 May 20108 May 2015£70.1bn2010 Q1£91.9bn2015 Q1 31.1%+£21.8bn
Labour 2005–20106 May 200511 May 2010No complete period was published before this government took office.
Labour 2001–20058 June 20015 May 2005No complete period was published before this government took office.
Labour 1997–20012 May 19977 June 2001No complete period was published before this government took office.
Conservative 1992–199710 April 19922 May 1997No complete period was published before this government took office.
Conservative 1987–199212 June 19879 April 1992No complete period was published before this government took office.
Conservative 1983–198710 June 198311 June 1987No complete period was published before this government took office.
Conservative 1979–19834 May 19799 June 1983No complete period was published before this government took office.