Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons, Nusrat Ghani, has launched a stinging rebuke of the government following what she termed an 'unprecedented' early release of the Budget by the Office for Budget Responsibility.
Unprecedented Leaks Prompt Parliamentary Fury
Addressing MPs in the chamber, Ghani expressed severe criticism of the media engagement that occurred prior to the Chancellor's official statement. She highlighted the specific and serious nature of the breach, noting that the OBR had accidentally published details a full hour before the scheduled speech. This premature disclosure, she argued, fundamentally undermined the proper parliamentary process.
A Breach of House of Commons Standards
The Deputy Speaker was unequivocal in her assessment, stating that the government's actions fell disappointingly short of the conduct expected by the House of Commons. She delivered a firm reminder of a core principle of British democracy: significant government announcements, especially on fiscal matters like the Budget, must be made first to Parliament before being disseminated to the press or the public.
Reasserting Parliamentary Primacy
This incident has sparked a significant debate about procedure and transparency in Westminster. Ghani's condemnation serves as a powerful reassertion of Parliament's central role. The unprecedented OBR leaks on Wednesday 26 November 2025 have not only caused political embarrassment but have also raised serious questions about the government's respect for parliamentary protocol and its ability to manage sensitive information.
