Official figures have revealed record borrowing by Gordon Brown last month.

The £9.4 billion of public sector borrowing in November was higher than the City expected and led to claims from the Conservatives that Labour would have to raise taxes to fill the "black hole" in Britain's finances.

Earlier this month the chancellor predicted in his pre Budget report that public spending would fall sharply.

However, the figures from the Office for National Statistics, showed spending increasing by 7.3 per cent a year.

Because the Treasury's income from taxes was only 4.9 per cent higher than last year, the government needed to borrow £9 billion in cash to make up the difference.

The Treasury is also facing an analysis on the level of borrowing and spending today from the International Monetary Fund.

IMF economists have been in Britain for 10 days examining the public finances.