Originally Posted by
pr00ne
Er, just how can it range from a probable low of £4.9B to a probable high of £20.8B?
Surely it is there or it isn't?
It's the difference between the most likely and most dangerous outcomes. The £20Bn figure represents the absolute worst case scenario if all risk factors were to transpire simultaneously. Because of that the £20Bn is probably a bit of an extreme figure, but getting it out now is probably prudent softening in case it did happen.
Interestingly, it's also classic corporate behaviour - new CEO arrives in a company and often the first thing to do is to open the books and get all the bad news out. Do it early enough it makes your predecessor look bad and gives you a good solid base for claiming you're great when 12 months later things aren't quite so bad. But I can't possibly think why a new SoS would want to make his predecessor who is now Chancellor look bad.
Canny bloke this new SoS.