Financial campaigner Martin Lewis has launched a scathing attack on the Office for Budget Responsibility after it accidentally published its full Budget forecast hours before Chancellor Rachel Reeves was due to deliver her statement.
The 'Technical Error' That Rocked Westminster
The Office for Budget Responsibility confirmed it suffered what it described as a "technical error" that led to its comprehensive forecast for the upcoming fiscal year being published prematurely. The organisation, which serves as the independent economic watchdog, stated that the link had been removed and an investigation launched into the matter.
The incident occurred on November 26, just before Chancellor Rachel Reeves was scheduled to deliver her Autumn Budget statement in the House of Commons at approximately 12:30pm. During a standard budget process, the OBR's report is typically released about ninety minutes after the Chancellor finishes speaking.
Martin Lewis's Blunt Verdict
Money Saving Expert founder Martin Lewis did not hold back in his assessment of the situation, taking to social media platform X to express his disbelief. In his first post, he wrote: "This looks like staggering fat fingers from the OBR publishing budget outcome before the budget, govt will be fuming."
In a subsequent, more detailed post, Lewis delivered his now-viral two-word verdict, stating: "This is simply unbelievable. Its not a technical error it revealed the budget before the Chancellor its a giant c***-up."
He went on to emphasise the seriousness of the blunder, adding: "Its a huge reputational hit for the organisation that is the score-keeper for our economy and provides the guidelines that limit govt spending."
Fallout and Government Reaction
Chancellor Rachel Reeves began her Commons speech by expressing how "deeply disappointed" she was by the early leak of the OBR report. The premature publication revealed several key measures ahead of her official announcement.
According to the accidentally released document, the government plans included:
- Scrapping the two-child benefit cap
- Freezing income tax thresholds
- Introducing a new mansion tax
Martin Lewis, who has built a reputation for helping consumers navigate financial matters, has been regularly updating his followers throughout the Chancellor's budget announcements. The Money Saving Expert founder's harsh criticism highlights the significant breach of protocol that occurred and raises questions about the OBR's internal processes.
The incident represents one of the most significant budget leaks in recent political history and has cast a shadow over what Chancellor Reeves described as a budget focused on "welfare reforms, national debt, reforms to Cash ISAs and more."
