UK borrows more as energy support begins and economy slows

The energy bills support scheme cost the government £1.9bn in October, while the energy price guarantee added a further £1.1bn. Photograph: Murdo MacLeod/The Guardian

Government help with energy bills and the impact of a slowing economy helped push UK public borrowing last month to the fourth highest level for an October on record, official figures have shown.

The Office for National Statistics said the gap between the state’s spending and its revenues widened by £4.4bn to £13.5bn last month as payments began under the energy support scheme.