The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said borrowing hit £22.3bn last month, the highest October figure since monthly records began in 1993. It underlines that the pandemic is having a "substantial effect" on the public finances, the ONS said. But the figure - the difference between spending and tax income - was not as high as some economists had forecast. Since the beginning of the financial year in April, government borrowing has reached £214.9bn, £169.1bn more than a year ago.