Britain will today make the final payment on a multi-billion-dollar loan it took out in 1945 to refinance the country in the wake of the Second World War.
In a transaction that will draw the curtain on the devastating economic consequences of the bloodiest conflict in modern history, the Treasury will transfer ?43m to the US and ?12m to Canada.
The original loan of $4.34bn – equivalent to ?27bn today – was made to avert Britain from bankruptcy at the end of the war rather than to finance the combat itself.
The Government hailed the repayment as a sign that the UK repays its debts – although the reality is that Britain has a patchy record on debt repayments.
Ed Balls, the Economic Secretary to the Treasury, said: “This week we finally honour in full our commitments to the US and Canada for the support they gave us 60 years ago.
“It was vital support which helped Britain defeat Nazi Germany and secure peace and prosperity in the postwar period. We honour our commitments to them now as they honoured their commitments to us all those years ago.”
The loan was to be paid off in 50 annual repayments starting in 1950, but today’s payment comes six years late. Continue reading “Britain pays off final instalment of US loan – after 61 years”