The controversy deepened in Westminster as OBR chief resigns became the latest political flashpoint. Richard Hughes, chairman of the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), has stepped down following a serious publishing error that saw key Budget forecasts released almost an hour before Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered her speech. The OBR later described the mistake as the worst failure in its 15-year history.
Hughes said he accepted “full responsibility” for the breakdown in safeguards and confirmed his resignation in letters sent to both Chancellor Reeves and the Treasury Select Committee. He said the organisation could only restore public confidence by implementing the investigation’s recommendations—and that his departure was part of helping the OBR “move on” from the incident.
Why the OBR Chief Resigns Amid Budget Chaos
The early publication resulted from technical weaknesses in the OBR’s website system. Investigators found that the report was accessible on a hidden URL for 38 minutes, during which it was downloaded 43 times from 32 devices. An attempt to access the document as early as 05:16 suggested that individuals were actively checking for Budget materials ahead of time.
Errors involving a WordPress plug-in and directory permissions allowed the file to be publicly downloadable despite staff believing that security controls were in place. Investigators said the platform used by the OBR was better suited to a small business than to hosting critical, market-sensitive data.
The mishap revealed major Budget measures early, including a three-year freeze on income tax and National Insurance thresholds, creating political turmoil for Reeves.
Political Reactions After the OBR Chief Resigns
Prime Minister Keir Starmer defended Reeves against accusations that she misled the public about the state of public finances prior to the Budget. But Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch argued that Reeves was using Hughes “as a human shield”, insisting it was the chancellor—not the OBR chief—who should face consequences for Budget messaging.
Economist Paul Johnson said the resignation was unsurprising given the scale of the error, though he praised Hughes as an “effective and robust” leader. Hughes had only recently begun his second five-year term after being renominated in May.
As the fallout continues, the OBR chief resigns episode raises fresh questions about the reliability of the UK’s economic institutions, the security of government systems, and the political handling of sensitive financial information.
