The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has engaged a cyber-security expert as part of an investigation into how Budget details were released prematurely. The incident occurred when an economic forecast appeared online approximately 40 minutes before its intended announcement by Rachel Reeves, prompting a chaotic response.
Journalists accessed the leaked document despite it not being listed on the OBR’s website, as the URL closely resembled that of a past document. OBR chairman Richard Hughes expressed that he was “personally mortified” and committed to reporting the investigation’s findings to MPs.
Releasing such details before the chancellor’s official announcement is typically restricted due to market sensitivity. The early availability of the OBR’s report inadvertently confirmed several policy measures, including a pay-per-mile charge on electric vehicles and a three-year freeze on income tax and National Insurance thresholds.
Following the leak, the OBR removed the document from its site, attributing the oversight to a technical error. Hughes clarified that the document was not directly linked from the website, yet had still been made accessible. He stated that they would investigate how this occurred, with assistance from Professor Ciaran Martin, a former head of the National Cyber Security Centre.
The unexpected release briefly destabilized the UK bond market before settling back to previous levels. Hughes accepted responsibility on behalf of the OBR and dismissed questions regarding his resignation, stating he would not comment further.
The leak caused disruptions in the House of Commons, as MPs received updates and debated the implications. Conservative MPs shared pages of the document online, and a point of order was raised by shadow chancellor Mel Stride, who called for an inquiry, suggesting the leak may constitute a criminal act.
This incident marks a significant error for the OBR, although prior leaks have occurred in previous years, including key announcements during earlier Budgets in 2013 and 1996.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgmn991pz9jo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss