OBR chief's exit may ease pressure on Rachel Reeves but the battle isn't over

The OBR's exit may ease pressure on Rachel Reeves but the battle isn't over yet.

The sudden resignation of Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) chief Richard Hughes has undoubtedly provided some temporary respite to Chancellor Rachel Reeves, who had been under intense scrutiny following the budget's accidental publication. However, this reprieve is short-lived as the government now faces a daunting task in finding and appointing a suitable replacement for Hughes.

The drama surrounding Hughes' departure has raised concerns about the credibility of the OBR's forecasts and its ability to provide independent advice to the government. The OBR's own letter, which was delayed by the chaos surrounding the budget, revealed weeks of pent-up frustration within the institution. The letter criticized Reeves' plans for raising taxes and cutting spending, arguing that they were unrealistic given the shaky state of public finances.

The leak has also raised questions about the level of influence exerted by government insiders over the OBR's work. The Chancellor's office was accused of trying to shape the OBR's forecasts, which further eroded trust in the institution. Hughes' departure may be seen as a victory for the Chancellor's office, but it is unlikely to last.

The search for a new OBR chief is already underway, with several candidates emerging, including Clare Lombardelli, Carl Emmerson, and Conrad Smewing. However, whoever takes on the role will face significant challenges in asserting their independence from government pressure. Investors in bond markets, which have been unimpressed by the leak farrago, will be watching closely to ensure that the new OBR chief has the credibility and independence needed to provide reliable forecasts.

Ultimately, the battle between the Chancellor's office and the OBR is far from over. The stakes are high, with the government facing intense scrutiny over its fiscal plans. Only time will tell whether a new OBR chief can restore trust in the institution and provide credible forecasts that support the government's policies.

I'm kinda surprised that Richard Hughes' resignation isn't more of a big deal yet I mean, it's not like he was the first person to get caught up in all this budget drama... But seriously, I don't think anyone's really happy with how things are going The OBR's credibility is shot, and now they're gonna have to find someone who can actually make some decent forecasts without getting swooped up by the Chancellor's office Clare Lombardelli seems like a solid choice, but only time will tell if she can keep her independence

I'm low-key glad some breathing room for Rachel Reeves but honestly who's surprised by this drama ? The real question is how long can the gov keep pushing an OBR chief to cook the books, like what's next? A new chief will have a hard time standing up to that pressure. They'll need someone with some serious guts and a solid track record of being honest about public finances. Can't just find anyone who won't get bullied into giving Reeves what she wants

I'M GETTING SO TIRED OF ALL THIS BUDGET Drama!!! IT'S LIKE, CANT THEY JUST MAKE A DECISION ALREADY?! BUT SERIOUSLY, RICHARD HUGHES QUIT AS OBR CHIEF AND NOW ITS UP TO REEVES TO FIND SOMEONE NEW WHO CAN GIVE HER INDEPENDENT ADVICE. IT'S LIKE SHE THINKS SHE CAN JUST APPoint WHOEVER SHE WANTS AND THEY'LL BE OKAY WITH IT?! newsflash rachel, thats not how it works!

I think this whole thing is a bit concerning. As someone who's lived through many budget changes, I've seen how much of a game-changer it can be when the OBR gets things right (or wrong). This drama with Richard Hughes' departure and the Chancellor's office trying to shape his work has me worried that we might be losing some valuable expertise in the process. It's like they're playing a high-stakes game where one wrong move could tank their credibility completely.

It'll be interesting to see who gets picked up as the new OBR chief, but I'm not holding my breath. Whoever it is, they're going to have an uphill battle trying to restore trust and get the forecasts right. And what about all those investors watching from the sidelines? They've got a keen eye on this stuff, so we'll see how that plays out too.

One thing's for sure – this whole thing has me thinking a lot about the importance of independent watchdogs in keeping governments in check. It's not always easy to make decisions under pressure, but I think it's crucial that we have institutions like the OBR who can speak truth to power and provide some much-needed balance to all the noise.

I'm not surprised to see the Chancellor's office breathing a sigh of relief after Richard Hughes' exit, but it's only temporary reprieve . The fact that the OBR's own letter revealed weeks of frustration within the institution is a huge red flag . It's clear that there's been some serious pressure on the OBR to water down its forecasts in favor of government agendas.

I think the biggest challenge facing the new OBR chief will be finding a way to assert their independence from the Chancellor's office without appearing too confrontational . The government needs someone who can provide credible forecasts that support their policies, but also have the guts to tell them when they're wrong .

The fact that investors are watching closely for signs of credibility and independence is also telling . If the new OBR chief can deliver on those fronts, then maybe - just maybe - we'll start to see some trust in the institution rebuild . But until then, I think the battle between the Chancellor's office and the OBR is far from over

I'm telling you, something fishy went down at that OBR place... like they're just covering up their own mistakes . And don't even get me started on this whole 'leak' thing - sounds like a setup to me. I mean, who leaks internal memos and expects the public to believe it's all just a coincidence? The Chancellor's office is probably trying to distract us from the real issue: they're not being transparent about their plans . This new OBR chief is gonna have to navigate through some seriously shaky waters if they want to restore trust... but I wouldn't hold my breath, if you know what I mean .

I'm not surprised to see another shakeup at the OBR, it's just another example of how politics and policy are intertwined. It's like the Chancellor's office thinks they can control everything, but really they're playing with fire. The fact that the OBR has been forced to write a letter criticizing the government's plans shows that there's some pretty serious doubts about their credibility. And let's be real, whoever takes over will have an impossible job trying to restore trust. It's like investors are waiting for someone to blow the whistle on this whole thing. We need an OBR chief who can call out politicians when they're being wrong-headed, not just toe the party line.

Ugh, this just happened again! The Chancellor's office is at it again, trying to influence what the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) says. It's like they think they can just rewrite reality or something . I mean, who needs an independent body advising on how to run the country when you have your own people telling you what to do?

And now Richard Hughes is gone and I'm sure he had some great insights that were just ignored because they didn't fit what the Chancellor wanted to hear . It's like they're trying to control every aspect of the budget, even down to what the OBR says about it .

I hope whoever takes over as head of the OBR can shake off the feeling of being in their pocket and just do their job without fear of reprisal . We need an OBR that tells it like it is, not some sugarcoated version of reality . It's too hard to take anything seriously when you know someone's just pulling the strings from behind the scenes .