Laura Trott, Chief Secretary to the Treasury falters over 'basic' debt question

The Chief Secretary of the Treasury, Laura Trott, appeared to falter over her answer about the level of government debt when questioned on BBC Radio 4's PM programme.

Host Evan Davis, who is the BBC's former economics editor, suggested that government debt was projected to rise, and asked Ms Trott how that could be compatible with possible tax cuts.

She initially disagreed and said debt was falling as a percentage of GDP (Gross Domestic Product), which Evan Davis countered by stating he was using GDP figures, insisting that "this is really basic" and that he was amazed she did not know debt was rising.