In a dramatic turn of events at the heart of British politics, Chancellor Rachel Reeves was caught off guard by a significant premature leak of the Budget. The incident unfolded live during a session of Prime Minister's Questions, sending ripples of anxiety through the Treasury benches.
The Moment of Realisation in Parliament
The crucial moment was captured on live broadcast at precisely 12:11 pm. As Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer was addressing the House of Commons, his colleague Torsten Bell was seen handing his phone to Rachel Reeves. The footage clearly shows the Chancellor's expression shifting to one of visible concern as she absorbed the news displayed on the device.
It is understood that Ms Reeves had been completely unaware of the developing situation until this point. The source of the problem was a mistake by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), which had inadvertently released sensitive budget information ahead of schedule. This left the Chancellor discovering the professional mishap in the most public of arenas.
Anxious Scenes on the Front Bench
The live footage documented a flurry of activity following the initial discovery. While Sir Keir continued his address to the House, Ms Reeves was seen writing notes after consulting another device, this time belonging to Treasury minister James Murray.
A telling exchange then occurred between the Chancellor and Mr Bell. They were observed passing notes to one another, with the Parliamentary Secretary for the Treasury attempting to offer reassurance. He was clearly heard telling Ms Reeves, 'It's fine, it's fine', in an effort to calm what was evidently a high-pressure situation.
Implications and Fallout
This public revelation of a major budget leak during a key parliamentary session represents a significant embarrassment for the government and the independent OBR. The incident raises serious questions about protocol and information security surrounding one of the year's most important fiscal announcements.
The fact that the Chancellor learned of this critical error not through official channels but via a colleague's phone in the middle of PMQs highlights a serious breakdown in communication. The political and media fallout from this premature disclosure is likely to dominate Westminster discourse in the coming days, as officials scramble to contain the damage from this very public mishap.
