The UK's fiscal watchdog has revealed it expressed significant concerns to Treasury officials about the extensive leaking of its economic forecasts in the days leading up to the recent budget.
Formal Complaint Not Made, But Concerns Were Clear
Professor David Miles, a member of the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), told MPs on the Commons Treasury committee that while no formal complaint was lodged, the watchdog's displeasure was unmistakable. He stated there was far more information appearing in the press about what the OBR's forecasts contained than is typical before a budget announcement.
"There was lots of information appearing in the press which wouldn't normally be out there and this wasn't, from our point of view, particularly helpful," Miles explained. He confirmed that concerns were raised directly with Treasury officials about the situation.
Leaked Report Delayed OBR Letter Publication
The hearing also shed light on the timing of an OBR letter to the committee. Professor Miles said the letter, sent on Friday, was intended to clarify the OBR's role in the budget process amid public misconceptions. It was meant for publication on budget day itself.
However, this plan was disrupted by the leak of the budget report, which forced a delay. The OBR decided to proceed with sending the letter to provide MPs with a clear account of its communications with the Treasury in the run-up to the fiscal event.
Source of Leaks Remains Unclear
When questioned by MPs on whether the OBR knew the origin of the leaked information, Professor Miles admitted it was hard to know where the details were coming from. The scale of the pre-briefing, however, was unusual and unhelpful for the independent body's process.
The revelation highlights ongoing tensions around the confidentiality of budget preparations and the challenge of maintaining a fair and orderly release of sensitive economic data.
