Keltruck chairman sponsors ‘debt clock’ truck

A BLACK Country businessman has sponsored a seven-metre long, lorry-mounted “debt clock”  to highlight the UK’s national debt.

The truck, donated by Chris Kelly, chairman of Keltruck, is being used by the TaxPayers’ Alliance and is touring the country to raise awareness about the cost of debt.

Mr Kelly, one of the founding members of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said he was keen to support the campaign.

“Taxation is a big issue for me, as I fervently believe that national and local government more often misspends an incredible proportion of the tax take,” he said.

“This fuels the black economy, and worse still is a major disincentive to those who have the work ethic. It was therefore natural for me to want to support the TPA in the provision of this truck, showing very graphically, both the size of the national debt, and not least the way is it rapidly increasing every hour.”

The custom-built clock, one metre high by seven metres long, is mounted on the back of a 14 metre Scania Truck. It will show debt rising, according to figures provided by the Office for National Statistics, at the rate of  £5,169 per second – or £446,575,342 per day.

Matthew Elliott, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance said: “Britain has a huge national debt, but politicians of all parties seem to want to borrow even more. 

“The taxpayers who are expected to pay off these huge debts are being left out of the debate in Westminster, so we decided to take the issue on the road and to the people all around the country.

“We always hear huge numbers being bandied around in the billions and trillions, but it’s only when you actually see the real figure that it starts to sink in how huge the debt has become. The debt clock’s huge visual impact shows this is an issue that cannot be ignored, and the political parties must wake up to the size of the national debt.”

The tour, which is taking in 11 cities, ends on Monday in Norwich.