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		Britain's public debt is out of control, European Commission confirms Thursday, 19th February 2009 Britain needs a 'more ambitious' effort to reduce its record levels of public debt in the medium term, the European Commission has said today in its assessment of how countries shape up against the EU's Stability and Growth Pact. East Midlands Conservative MEP Roger Helmer has said the warning is yet further evidence that British families will be saddled with Gordon Brown's debt for years to come. Mr. Helmer said: "Public debt in Britain was already reaching dangerous levels when our economy was growing. Even without the stimulus package and bank debts being added to the government's balance sheet, it was unlikely we would have stayed within the EU's 3% target in the event of a downturn. "The European Commission is clear that British taxpayers will be saddled with Gordon Brown's debt for years to come. Reducing the debt in the medium term to the target level will mean saddling families and businesses with tax rises at a time when they are looking to put the recession behind them. "Labour played fast and loose with our public debt in the good times and now we are seeing the consequences."