GIST is the government’s new spending website, the beta version of which is up today. On the surface it all looks very sharp and transparent, showing you how much each government department has spent in each quarter and allowing you to click through to more detailed information. There is one thing they clearly don’t want taxpayers to find out about however. 

GIST tool shows #GovSpending data visualised in a user-friendly format for 1st time – try it here http://t.co/NfIYMKnLCE #transparency

— Cabinet Office (@cabinetofficeuk) July 30, 2013

For some reason there is no big, colourful box for the government’s debt interest payments. This year’s debt interest payment is £47.1 billion. Per quarter, that would be the fifth largest square on the table above. All we get are vague non-explanations such as “reducing the structural deficit in a fair and responsible way: £26 million”. Which means absolutely nothing. Hashtag transparency…

UPDATE:

Still don't see the £5 billion that gets sent to Brussels anywhere on those spending graphics…

— Guido Fawkes (@GuidoFawkes) July 30, 2013