Grantanow
Surely the point about interest on the reserves is that it is to ensure an accounting cost for money that might be used otherwise and thereby gain a return. It's the opportunity cost of stashing away reserves to meet contingencies (rather like maintaining military resources that might never be used but are needed in case they are put to use). If Kwarteng abolished the reserves interest he is effectively saying stashing cash carries no opportunity cost which is untrue. But it might on paper get Truss out of the hole she has dug for herself. The better answer of course is for the Tories to get rid of her and Kwarteng and appoint a grown up team.
I completely disagree with you. There is no earthly reason why the BoE should pay interest on the reserves which it creates note. They are nothing to do with money 'stashed away' by the commercial banks, they come directly from the BoE.
As I understand it they are technically deposit accounts with the BoE but the banks haven't deposited anything, the BoE did. Until they are called on to meet an emergency use they are just numbers on an account. I assume though, that the interest goes directly to the banks (have to check that) and are unearned and unjustified profit for them. If accounting demands that interest is paid on reserves then it could be paid at a nominal fixed rate to be unaffected by rises in the base rate. Say 0.01%....
That could reduce the apparent 'debt' by some £30 billion or more...