Britain is Mortgaged to the Hilt
It's time to rethink public finances to fuel economic growth in the UK. Britain’s national debt is rising by £280 million a day — ‘Mortgaged to the Hilt’
explains how we turn the tide
A FRESH, GROWN-UP LOOK AT BRITAIN'S FINANCES
The United Kingdom is in a rut. There is a growing sense that nothing works. There is little confidence that any of the traditional parties can move the dial. Populists pander to the frustrated majority but will only make matters worse. Even the current prime minister, Kier Starmer, has commented on “the tepid bath of slow decline.”
The root cause of many issues is money – how we generate it and how we spend it. On one hand, we lack the ambition and creativity to unlock ‘real’ economic growth. On the other, we are trapped by current spending commitments which drag on the economy and are politically difficult.
Straightforward ideas to start a serious national conversation.
Pragmatic choices: protect the vulnerable, cut waste, invest for growth.
Calm, credible, constructive — no jargon, no despair, just action
It’s time to rethink the public finances
The UK Public Finances are in their worst position since the IMF bailed out the UK in the
1970’s. Those who champion fiscal responsibility are too often dismissed as cranks for resisting the demands of an increasingly entitled electorate. Mortgaged to the Hilt aims to bring the conversation into the mainstream. We’ve started by offering some back-of-the-napkin ideas to get our economic house in order.
Sustainable public finances
Sustainable public finances ensure that governments can meet today’s needs without undermining their ability to invest in future generations.
Economic growth
By planning long-term and avoiding short-sighted fiscal choices, societies build resilience, trust, and room for strategic growth.
Public services that deliver
When budgets are stable and debt is kept at manageable levels, essential services—from infrastructure to social programs—remain reliable during economic ups and downs.
Inspiring change
We’ve started by offering some back-of-the-napkin ideas to get our economic house in order. We welcome constructive comments and your new ideas.
£280m
UK debt rising every day
£100bn
Annual UK public sector net borrowing
£159bn
Predicted annual cost of state pensions by 2040
“The author has joined the dots on how any
government has to think more holistically,
ambitiously, and long term if there’s to be any realistic chance of turning things round.”
Guto Harri, Former Director of Communications at No.10 Downing Street
About the author
Kent-based author Martin Beck brings 30 years of business experience — including 13
years working at the heart of Westminster — to bear on one of the biggest challenges facing
Britain today: the state of its public finances.
Written in an accessible and compelling style, ‘Mortgaged to the Hilt’ lays bare the UK’s
rapidly deteriorating fiscal position — with national debt now rising by around £280 million
every day.
Get in touch
E-mail: info@mortgagedtothehilt.com