UK borrowing rises unexpectedly to £14.3bn in February

Data comes amid increasing fears that Iran war could send British government’s plans off course

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Britain’s public finances showed a higher than expected monthly deficit of £14.3bn last month, official figures revealed, amid growing fears the Iran conflict could blow the government’s plans off course.

The figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed public sector net borrowing – the difference between spending and income – had widened £2.2bn year on year in February and was higher than the £8.5bn City economists had forecast.