"You can't run a Budget in a way that you do opinion polls. It shouldn't be like that. The Budget is something special that should be released to MPs at the moment they go into the chamber. The Chancellor stands up for the first time to tell the audience - and the audience is MPs, not the BBC or Sky News. This is about an audience for MPs."
"The fact it's had an effect on the markets is very, very worrying. What will we know in the Budget? The other thing I would say is there's been so much said, I'm not sure we even need the Budget today. I am very disappointed. The problem is, it's a breach of the ministerial code and I haven't got ownership of the ministerial code, the prime minister has. If it was me that was in charge, I think we might not have seen any more leaks."
Sir Lindsay Hoyle expressed disappointment about pre-Budget leaks and described them as an appalling breach of the ministerial code. He said past practice would have seen those responsible asked to resign or dismissed. He wrote to the prime minister and questioned whether the scheduled Budget needed to proceed given the extent of floated measures. He warned that leaks had affected the markets and criticised the practice of 'kite-flying' policy ideas to gauge public opinion. He insisted the Budget should be released to MPs only when the Chancellor delivers it in the House of Commons.
Read at www.bbc.com
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