‘External person’ may have leaked Budget document link, says OBR chief
An “outsider” could have accessed a link to the Office for Budget Responsibility’s (OBR) financial outlook leaked ahead of the budget, the head of the watchdog has said.
An investigation was announced after a document containing details of Rachel Reeves’ budget was mistakenly published shortly before midday on Wednesday, less than an hour before the Chancellor was due to announce the measures.
The report included growth forecasts, the size of tax increases and the decision to remove the two-child benefit limit. It is usually published after a chancellor delivers his Budget statement to the House of Commons. Ms Reeves said this “must never happen again” but added that she remained confident in OBR chairman Richard Hughes.
Mr Hughes told BBC Radio 4: Today In the program broadcast on Thursday morning, it was revealed that the leak came from outside the organization.
“Well, the documents are not published on our website,” he said. “Apparently there is a link that an outsider can access.”
The OBR had previously blamed the early release on a “technical error” within the organization and apologized.
Mr Hughes continued: “We need to understand exactly what happened. We will do a full investigation.”
“A comprehensive report will be presented to parliament,” he added. “We will do this quickly so that people can have assurance in our systems and that can be restored.”
The inquiry will include expert opinions from Professor Ciaran Martin, former head of the National Cyber Security Centre, and will report to the Treasury and Treasury Committee.
The chancellor told Sky News on Thursday: “Richard Hughes wrote to me last night apologizing for his mistakes. This was a serious mistake, a serious breach.”
“They announced an investigation that will report back to me very quickly.
“But I have confidence in Richard and the OBR. They are doing important work. But I am disappointed by what happened yesterday and it should not have happened and must never happen again.”
Ms Reeves previously said she became aware of the early release as she prepared to present the Budget in the House of Commons.
Speaking to Nick Ferrari on LBC on Thursday, the shadow chancellor said the OBR “needs reform” but felt it was “broadly” fit for purpose.
Sir Mel Stride said: “Clearly, this latest incident is both unprecedented and extremely worrying, as before the chancellor can actually stand up in the House of Commons, they must have leaked or published the full contents of their report, for whatever reason.
“But overall I think the OBR is important because it’s an independent body. It ticks off the chancellor’s homework, tells us whether he’s on target in meeting his fiscal rules, and I think it’s better for an independent body to do that rather than the chancellor himself.”
