Former Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has criticized the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) for allegedly compromising its political impartiality, as it prepares to release a review that could criticize the Conservative government on Budget Day.
The review is expected to address Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ claims of a £22bn financial gap left by the previous administration.
According to Reeves, this financial “black hole” in the public finances only became apparent when she came into office, alleging that the Conservative government withheld key information from the Office for Budget Responsibility. The review, which will be published on the same day as the Autumn Budget, will focus on the transparency of departmental spending and the provision of data provided by the previous government to the Office for Budget Responsibility.
Hunt expressed concerns about the timing, saying: “I do not believe that publishing a review containing criticism of the main opposition party on Budget Day is consistent with political neutrality.” He also claimed that no Tory ministers had been consulted, describing the review as “political interference”.
The timing prompted Hunt to suggest that the Office for Budget Responsibility may have “prejudged the outcome”, casting doubt on its impartiality. The release coincides with Reeves’ expected Budget, which is expected to include tax rises and spending cuts aimed at tackling an alleged £22bn fiscal deficit.
The head of the Office for Budget Responsibility, Richard Hughes, defended the timing, explaining that the report focused on “the institutional relationship between the Office for Budget Responsibility and the Treasury” and the “adequacy of information and safeguards” provided previously. He explained that given the potential market sensitivity to the contents of the report, it was not necessary or appropriate to share the findings with former ministers before publication.
As the Office for Budget Responsibility’s findings are set to coincide with Reeves’ budget announcements, discussions about financial transparency and the watchdog’s role in overseeing government accountability are likely to intensify. The report may increase pressure on the Conservative Party, with implications for government transparency and the independence of independent financial institutions.