OBR complained to Treasury before budget about leaks spreading misconceptions'

"Prof David Miles of the OBR's budget responsibility committee told MPs on the Treasury select committee on Tuesday that the watchdog had raised the issue of leaks with the department before the chancellor's statement last week. I think it was clear that there was lots of information appearing in the press which perhaps wouldn't normally be out there and that this wasn't from our point of view particularly helpful, he said."

"Miles said the letter was published because the watchdog felt the public had received a false impression, which was damaging to the OBR and to the process. He highlighted two misconceptions the idea that the OBR had shifted the time period over which it assesses the yields on government bonds, perhaps under pressure from the government; and the idea that its forecasts had swung dramatically at the last minute, affecting Labour's decision-making."

The Office for Budget Responsibility complained to senior Treasury officials about a flurry of leaks before the budget. The leaks spread misconceptions about OBR forecasts and produced press information the watchdog found unhelpful and unable to correct. A letter was published to explain forecast evolution and to correct a false public impression believed to damage the OBR and the process. The OBR chair resigned after an inadvertent release of budget documents about an hour before the chancellor's tax and spending statement. The watchdog identified two misconceptions: a supposed change in the bond-yield assessment period under pressure, and claims that forecasts swung dramatically at the last minute, influencing Labour's decision-making.

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