Chancellor Rachel Reeves has launched a furious attack on the UK's fiscal watchdog after key details of her Budget were leaked to the public just minutes before she was due to address Parliament.
An Unprecedented Breach
Opening her crucial Budget statement in the House of Commons on 26 November 2025, a visibly angry Rachel Reeves revealed the significant security lapse. She informed MPs that the Office for Budget Responsibility's (OBR) economic and financial outlook had been published on its website prematurely, ahead of her scheduled address.
The Chancellor did not mince her words, describing the incident as both "deeply disappointing" and a "serious error" on the part of the independent fiscal body. This breach of protocol meant that the carefully choreographed revelations of the Budget, traditionally shared with the nation first from the despatch box, were compromised.
Taking Responsibility
In a swift response to the developing situation, the OBR itself issued a statement acknowledging the mistake. The watchdog accepted full responsibility for the breach, which represents an unprecedented leak in UK Budget proceedings.
The incident, occurring just before 12:46 PM on 26 November, cast an immediate shadow over what is one of the most significant set-piece events in the British political calendar. The early release of the OBR's outlook would have provided journalists, financial markets, and the public with key economic forecasts and analysis before the Chancellor had even begun her speech.
Political Fallout
This serious procedural error raises significant questions about the security and timing surrounding the release of sensitive government financial information. The breach undermines the long-standing tradition that Budget details are revealed first to Parliament, ensuring MPs hear the plans directly from the Chancellor.
The OBR, established to provide independent and authoritative analysis of the UK's public finances, now faces scrutiny over its internal processes. For Rachel Reeves, the leak represents a challenging start to delivering her first major fiscal statement, forcing her to address the security failure before even outlining her economic plans to the nation.
