Budget watchdog denies being 'at war' with the Treasury

THE Budget watchdog has denied being “at war” with the Treasury after the resignation of its boss Richard Hughes.

- DAVID HUGHES and CHRISTOPHER MCKEON

Mr Hughes quit as chairman of the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) after its assessment of Chancellor Rachel Reeves's plans was inadvertently made available online before she had delivered her speech last Wednesday.

His resignation came with the relationship between the OBR and the Treasury under strain after a Budget process characterised by leaks and briefings about the state of the public finances.

Budget responsibility committee member Professor David Miles described the relationship with the Treasury as “very close” but hoped for a “smoother” process next year.

He told the Commons Treasury Committee: “I wouldn't say we were at war with the Treasury.

“I mean, we have a very close relationship with the Treasury. In fact, we rely not just on the Treasury but other departments in Government for analysis of many sorts of measures.”

He said the OBR had raised concerns with Treasury officials about leaks, adding: "I think it was clear that we didn’t find this helpful. We made that clear.”