The chairman of the UK's fiscal watchdog, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), has issued a profound apology and declined to rule out his resignation after a significant blunder led to the premature release of the government's budget.
An Unprecedented Technical Error
In an event described as an unprecedented mistake, the OBR accidentally published its full fiscal forecast online approximately 40 minutes before Chancellor Rachel Reeves was scheduled to deliver her budget speech in the House of Commons on Wednesday. The independent body later attributed the serious lapse to a 'technical error'.
OBR chair Richard Hughes stated that a link to the crucial 'fiscal outlook' document was unintentionally uploaded and subsequently 'went live on our website too early'. The document was later removed, but not before its sensitive contents had been accessed. Speaking to Sky News, Mr Hughes said he was 'mortified' upon discovering the error and confirmed that an immediate investigation had been launched.
Political Fallout and Reactions
The Chancellor's office expressed deep disappointment, with Rachel Reeves characterising the leak as 'deeply disappointing' and 'a serious error on their part'. Despite the severity of the mistake, her office confirmed she still 'has confidence' in Mr Hughes's leadership of the OBR.
When pressed by Sky News on whether he would step down if the investigation recommended it, Mr Hughes gave a measured response. 'I will abide by the recommendations,' he stated, adding, 'And I always serve, so long as I have the confidence of the chancellor and the Treasury Committee.' He emphasised the seriousness with which the OBR is treating the incident, noting the investigation would report directly to both the Treasury and the Treasury Committee.
Content of the Leak and Wider Consequences
The leaked document contained highly market-sensitive information that is traditionally kept under strict embargo until after the Chancellor's speech. Key details that were prematurely revealed included:
- Official growth forecasts for the UK economy.
- The extent and nature of planned tax rises.
- The significant decision to lift the two-child cap on benefits.
Shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride labelled the leak 'outrageous' in the Commons, suggesting the error might even constitute a criminal offence due to the nature of the information released. Sky News political editor Beth Rigby analysed that the early disclosure meant the Chancellor had 'lost the room' before she had even begun her address, leaving her 'utterly furious, and probably a little bit upset as well'.
Mr Hughes concluded that the OBR now understands how the mistake occurred and he vowed to 'take action to make sure it doesn't happen again'.
