OBR has ‘earned people’s trust’ despite budget leak, says former chairman

Richard Hughes, OBR Chairman, appearing before MPs of the Treasury Select Committee. (Parliament TV / PA) -

The former chairman of the UK’s budget watchdog has insisted people can “trust” the body, as he called out the “unusual” and “persistent” level of speculation prior to the latest autumn budget.

Richard Hughes resigned from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) in December over the mistaken early publication of its forecasts.