Making the news today....

[Mark J]

 

UK government debt (known as gilts) is primarily held by a mix of domestic and international financial institutions. Major holders include private financial institutions (pension funds, insurance companies, banks), overseas investors, and the Bank of England. As of late 2025, foreign investors hold roughly 28-30% of UK gilts, with the Bank of England holding a significant portion (roughly 25-30%) via Quantitative Easing. 

• Other (approx. 10%): This includes individuals (via National Savings and Investments), public sector bodies, and other entities. 

• Private Financial Institutions (approx. 39%): UK-based banks, insurance companies, and pension funds are major investors, often holding debt for long-term security.
• Overseas Investors (approx. 30%): Foreign central banks, governments, and private investors hold a significant portion of UK debt.
• Bank of England (approx. 30%):
   Through the Asset Purchase Facility (Quantitative Easing), the Bank of England holds a substantial portion, though it is currently reversing this and selling bonds
  .

The Debt Management Office (DMO), an executive agency of HM Treasury, manages the issuance of this debt.
 

Who owns government debt? - Economics Help

WWW.ECONOMICSHELP.ORG

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Government debt is primarily held by banks, pension funds, investment trusts. PRivate sector investors both domestic and...

If the government owes so much debt perhaps we should invade whoever has our money and get it back. 

 

[Johnsond]

27 minutes ago, Steven P said:

reckon most of us would have some agreement that the political divisions are deepened by the massive increase in 'news' channels out there that have multiplied in the last few years. GB news being one... but at least they have OffCom watching over them to keep them from being too mental - it is the online ones like Linkedin and Twatter who sell themselves as opinions but people take them as news of the state of the world - I reckon most of us would go with them being a part of cause of political divisions.

🤷‍♂️Nothing changes with you, and never will. The prerequisite for decent, open and fair debate is honesty. You don’t have that in any way shape or form. 

Edited 14 hours ago by Johnsond

[Johnsond]

24 minutes ago, Mark J said:

 

UK government debt (known as gilts) is primarily held by a mix of domestic and international financial institutions. Major holders include private financial institutions (pension funds, insurance companies, banks), overseas investors, and the Bank of England. As of late 2025, foreign investors hold roughly 28-30% of UK gilts, with the Bank of England holding a significant portion (roughly 25-30%) via Quantitative Easing. 

• Other (approx. 10%): This includes individuals (via National Savings and Investments), public sector bodies, and other entities. 

• Private Financial Institutions (approx. 39%): UK-based banks, insurance companies, and pension funds are major investors, often holding debt for long-term security.
• Overseas Investors (approx. 30%): Foreign central banks, governments, and private investors hold a significant portion of UK debt.
• Bank of England (approx. 30%):
   Through the Asset Purchase Facility (Quantitative Easing), the Bank of England holds a substantial portion, though it is currently reversing this and selling bonds
  .

The Debt Management Office (DMO), an executive agency of HM Treasury, manages the issuance of this debt.
 

Who owns government debt? - Economics Help

WWW.ECONOMICSHELP.ORG

---

Government debt is primarily held by banks, pension funds, investment trusts. PRivate sector investors both domestic and...

If the government owes so much debt perhaps we should invade whoever has our money and get it back. 

 

The status quo suits many many people in the background Mark. You seen how much we are borrowing at the moment on a weekly basis?? 

[Mark J]

 

[sime42]

2 hours ago, Squaredy said:

I have not suggested Mr Musk or any other entrepreneur is altruistic.  What I said is that he has made his billions by providing something people want.  If you have a minute look at the vacancies page on the SpaceX website.  There are hundreds of current vacancies.  He employs about 120,000 people and most are on six figure salaries.

 

My view is that commerce is what ultimately creates wealth.  Governments do not.  The greatest achievement in history of taking people out of poverty is 800,000 in a quarter of a century.  This happened in China this century and it was all down to commerce.  Aided and abetted by government of course, but actually brought about by thousands of entrepreneurs.

 

Whether you like Musk’s politics or not he has made a huge contribution to wealth, not just his own.

 

I can’t comment on Grok as I don’t use it.  I see a place for AI; though I also see challenges as with all the major developments of the last couple of hundred years.

 

I do agree political divisions are getting deeper.  And for some reason most people seem unable to discuss and debate these matters in a civil manner which I think is a loss to everyone.  I suspect you and I would not agree what is driving all this though!

 

 

There's probably a reason that he's got hundreds of vacancies. He's screwed a lot of people to make his billions. Have a look at the safety record of Tesla vehicles and their manufacturing plants if you get a minute. If he stuck to making and selling stuff he wouldn't be so bad; it's the fact that he now dabbles heavily in politics as well that's the concern. His, and similar figures, influence is now massive. And not just in the US either. I sense we won't ever agree on the bloke, so let's leave it there, in a civil fashion!

 

Go on then, what do you suggest is driving political division? I'd say the media, traditional and social. Wealth inequality. Smart phones. The Internet. Folk conflating opinion with fact. Narcissistic politicians. Tech Bros. Random people on forums always seeking to stoke division rather than cultivate common ground. And the new kid on the block, AI. In no particular order. 

 

 

 

 

Edited 12 hours ago by sime42
Fat thumbs

[Mark J]

 

[Steven P]

13 hours ago, Mark J said:

• Overseas Investors (approx. 30%): Foreign central banks, governments, and private investors hold a significant portion of UK debt.

 

This bit of course is all wrong - our cash flowing overseas to fund the Belgians and their pensions (and the Chinese but enough of our cash goes that way to buy their cheap tat).