A senior cybersecurity official is set to investigate a breach in the Budget release, with indications pointing to an external source as the likely culprit.
The Office for Budget Responsibility, typically held in high regard, faced criticism when all the details of Rachel Reeves’ annual tax and spending proposals were prematurely disclosed online earlier this week.
Expressing deep regret over the incident, Richard Hughes, the OBR chair, issued an apology to the Chancellor. During an interview on BBC Radio 4’s Today program, Hughes disclosed that the leaked documents did not originate from their official webpage but were accessed via an external link. He emphasized the urgent need for a thorough inquiry to ascertain the exact sequence of events.
The investigation will benefit from the expertise of Professor Ciaran Martin, the former head of the National Cyber Security Centre, as confirmed by Mr. Hughes during an event with the Resolution Foundation.
Mr. Hughes affirmed his commitment to stepping down if both the Chancellor and the Commons committee lose faith in him following the breach. He stressed the gravity of maintaining Budget security and assured a prompt report by early next week.
Despite attributing the leak to a “technical error” within the organization, the OBR expressed remorse for the premature disclosure.
In response to the incident, Rachel Reeves expressed continued confidence in Mr. Hughes while emphasizing the importance of preventing such leaks in the future. The Chancellor acknowledged the gravity of the situation and expressed support for Mr. Hughes and the OBR’s vital work, albeit highlighting the disappointment caused by the breach.
Ms. Reeves shared that she became aware of the early disclosure while at the House of Commons preparing for the Budget announcement.