The Latest Breaking News from OBR

UK borrows less than expected this year as Hunt lines up giveaways

Chancellor says bringing down inflation remains one of his main aims as he prepares autumn statement

The Guardian - UK · Nov 21, 2023

Borrowing data offers boost to Chancellor’s tax cut plans

The Office for National Statistics said public sector net borrowing stood at £14.9 billion last month, £4.4 billion more than a year earlier,

The Independent UK · Nov 21, 2023

Autumn statement: where might Jeremy Hunt spend his windfall?

The chancellor is estimated to have billions to play with and has a range of options from lowering income tax to cutting inheritance tax

The Guardian - UK · Nov 21, 2023

Labour to put plans for strengthened OBR to Commons vote

Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves said the plan would ‘prevent a repeat of Liz Truss’ disastrous mini-budget’.

The Independent UK · Nov 12, 2023

A property price rise in the UK could be the Tories’ last election trump card

With the market expected to improve this year, the Conservatives will doubtless seek to exploit the reliable vote-winning tool

The Guardian - UK · Oct 21, 2023

UK government borrowing almost £20bn lower than expected

Despite figures for six months to end of September, analysts play down chance of pre-election tax cuts

The Guardian - UK · Oct 20, 2023

UK fiscal watchdog admits ‘genuine errors’ in inflation forecasting

OBR says it underestimated strength and persistence of inflation as well as impact of high energy prices

The Guardian - UK · Oct 19, 2023

Jeremy Hunt warns of ‘difficult decisions’ ahead as public finances worsen

Chancellor rules out tax rises and vows to cut spending in autumn statement as borrowing rises up to £30bn more than forecast

The Guardian - UK · Oct 13, 2023

Starmer vows more powers for OBR so Truss budget ‘disaster’ never happens again

The Labour leader said ministers would be legally bound to consult the official fiscal watchdog on tax and spending changes under his party’s plans.

The Independent UK · Sep 22, 2023

Labour says budget watchdog won’t be ‘gagged’ in future after disastrous Truss tenure

Planned boost to OBR’s powers outlined a year on from the Truss-Kwarteng mini-budget

Evening Standard · Sep 22, 2023