Richard Hughes has written to the Chancellor (1st December 2025) to resign as Chair of the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR).
The OBR inadvertently made it possible to access the November 2025 Economic and fiscal outlook (EFO) too early on Budget day. They launched an immediate investigation into what happened which has reported today, Monday 1st December 2025.
These early release details revealed significant amounts of information prior to the budget speech taking place.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves:
I want to thank Richard Hughes for his public service and for leading the Office for Budget Responsibility over the past five years and for his many years of public service.
This government is committed to protecting the independence of the OBR and the integrity of our fiscal framework and institutions.
HM Treasury indicate that it will launch a competitive external recruitment process in the coming weeks to appoint a new Chair.
They state that as with all appointments to the Budget Responsibility Committee, the appointment of the new Chair will be made by the Chancellor and will be subject to the consent of the Treasury Committee.
PAYadvice.UK 1/12/2025