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The UK borrowed a higher than expected £14.3bn in February, according to official figures that are set to be overshadowed by the threat to the public finances from the Middle East war.

The shortfall between government spending and income was £2.2bn higher than in the same month a year ago and far above the £8.5bn forecast by economists polled by Reuters.

February’s figure was driven by the timing of debt interest payments and higher spending, which offset an increase in revenues in the month, the Office for National Statistics said on Friday.

The surge in energy prices unleashed by the Middle East war has pushed up UK borrowing costs amid fears of a prolonged inflation shock.

According to the ONS data, borrowing for the first 11 months of the fiscal year that began in April was £125.9bn, down 8.7 per cent from the same period a year earlier as tax receipts increased.

Responding to the figures, chief secretary to the treasury James Murray said: “We have the right economic plan. Because of the choices we made before the conflict in the Middle East began, we are better prepared for a more volatile world.”

This is a developing story