London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Monday, Jun 23, 2025

Bank of England chief says it never feels good to raise rates - but it is their job

Bank of England chief says it never feels good to raise rates - but it is their job

It's critical the Bank of England takes action on rates, the governor of the Bank of England tells Ed Conway.

The head of the Bank of England - responsible for the rise in interest rates - has said it never feels good for central bankers to raise rates but it is their job.

Asked how it feels to be doling out the medicine of interest rate rises, in an effort to reduce inflation, Andrew Bailey said it never feels good for central bankers.

"I don't think anyone should think that central bankers in any sense feel good doing this. But it's our job."

Speaking to Sky News data and economics editor Ed Conway, Mr Bailey said he was doing so to bring down inflation, and that if actions weren't taken, things would get worse.

"Much bigger" job losses could result, he said, explaining that it was critical the Bank takes action.

"I'm afraid if we get into that situation, the action that will have to be taken thereafter to restore stability would be much larger and much more damaging. It's so critical that we take action. So the pain is necessary to prevent something worse."

He denied accusations that the rate rises are bringing about a recession, saying such a statement was unfair. Instead, Mr Bailey placed the blame on economics shocks, the war in Ukraine and high gas and goods prices.

"I don't think it's correct to say that we are precipitating recession. Unfortunately, the UK, along with other countries, particularly European countries, has been hit by a huge shock to national real income. And that huge shock of course, is really to do with the war in Ukraine. And the huge impact it's having on the energy prices, particularly gas prices".

For mortgage holders whose rates have risen the governor said the market rates are too high. More mortgage products should return to the market, he added.

There is some further good news for fixed mortgage holders.

Fixed rate borrowers and been impacted by rates rising "very, very substantially", Mr Bailey said, in the second half of September

"I think the good news is those market prices are now restoring stability. They're coming back down to where they were earlier in September. And that should feed through into the mortgage market."

The number of mortgages on the market has fallen since the mini-budget as the Bank of England reacted and signalled it would increase interest rates to curb inflation. The Bank's statements caused uncertainty among lenders over how much rates would increase and when.

Mr Bailey's comments come after the Bank unveiled the biggest interest rate hike for three decades. It raised the base rate of interest by 0.75 percentage points to 3% and said that the UK is already in recession.

It warned that the UK could face a protracted contraction in the coming years, with high inflation and the unemployment rate climbing to 6.5% - the highest since the financial crisis.

The length of this forecasted recession - eight successive quarters in which gross domestic product shrinks - would make it the most protracted since comparable records began but less deep than most previous downturns, including during the financial crash and the 1980s.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Starmer Invites Innovators to Join Government Talent Scheme
UK Economy’s Strong Opening Quarter Shows Signs of Cooling
Harrods Seeks Court Order to Secure Al Fayed Estate for Victims
BA and Singapore Airlines Cancel Dubai Flights Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Faces Backlash from MAGA Base Over Iran Strikes
Meta Bets $14 B on Alexandr Wang to Drive AI Ambitions
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
FedEx Founder Fred Smith, ‘Heart and Soul’ of the Company, Dies at 80
Chinese Factories Shift Away from U.S. Amid Trump‑Era Tariffs
Pimco Seizes Opportunity in Japan’s Dislocated Bond Market
Labubu Doll Drives Pop Mart to Status as China’s Most Valuable Toy Maker
Global Coal Demand Defies Paris Accord Goals
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.
BBC Demands Perplexity AI Immediately Stop Using Its Content
Telegram Founder: I Will Leave My Fortune to Over 100 of My Children
Political Turmoil Resurfaces in Belgium Amid Economic Concerns
Fed policymakers divided on timing of interest rate cuts
Trump signals imminent agreement with Harvard University
Inheritance tax referendum alarms Swiss billionaire community
Japan cancels bilateral security meeting amid US defence demands
AI skeptic Emily Bender warns that ‘the emperor has no clothes’
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
Plans to Sell Dutch Embassy in Bangkok Face Local Opposition
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump's $5 Million 'Trump Card' Visa Program Draws Nearly 70,000 Applicants
DGCA Finds No Major Safety Concerns in Air India's Boeing 787 Fleet
Airlines Reroute Flights Amid Expanding Middle East Conflict Zones
Elon Musk's xAI Seeks $9.3 Billion in Funding Amid AI Expansion
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Taiwan Imposes Export Ban on Chips to Huawei and SMIC
Israel has just announced plans to strike Tehran again, and in response, Trump has urged people to evacuate
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Juncker Criticizes EU Inaction on Trump Tariffs
EU Proposes Ban on New Russian Gas Contracts
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
UK Home Secretary Apologizes Over Child Grooming Failures
×