In today’s newsletter: Critics say the OBR’s growing influence has outpaced its accountability, raising questions about whether it serves the public, the Treasury, or the markets
Good morning. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) was designed to be an institution that crunches numbers quietly in the background. Instead, over the past week, it has found itself dragged kicking and screaming into the political spotlight.
On the day attention should have been fixed on Rachel Reeves’s economic plans, many instead watched the fallout from the OBR’s accidental early publication of her budget. After the leak there followed days of anger and disbelief, which culminated in the resignation of the OBR’s chair, Richard Hughes.
UK news | Vladimir Putin is “morally responsible” for Dawn Sturgess’s novichok death, an inquiry has found. Sturgess died after spraying herself with a nerve agent smuggled into the UK by Russian agents.
UK politics | A group of Holocaust survivors have demanded Nigel Farage tell the truth and apologise for the antisemitic comments that fellow pupils of Dulwich College allege he made toward Jewish pupils, as the Reform leader turned on broadcasters for questioning him about the growing scandal.
Eurovision | Ireland, Spain, Slovenia and the Netherlands will boycott next year’s Eurovision after Israel was given the all-clear to compete in the 2026 song contest despite calls by several participating broadcasters for its exclusion over the war in Gaza.
UK politics | Lord Evans of Watford, suspended by the House of Lords for breaking lobbying rules after a Guardian investigation, is now facing claims that he received at least $1m (£760,000) in an allegedly corrupt deal.
US news | The New York Times is suing the US defense department and the defense secretary, Pete Hegseth. The lawsuit argues restrictions imposed by the Trump administration violate free speech protections.
Continue reading…In today’s newsletter: Critics say the OBR’s growing influence has outpaced its accountability, raising questions about whether it serves the public, the Treasury, or the marketsGood morning. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) was designed to be an institution that crunches numbers quietly in the background. Instead, over the past week, it has found itself dragged kicking and screaming into the political spotlight.On the day attention should have been fixed on Rachel Reeves’s economic plans, many instead watched the fallout from the OBR’s accidental early publication of her budget. After the leak there followed days of anger and disbelief, which culminated in the resignation of the OBR’s chair, Richard Hughes.UK news | Vladimir Putin is “morally responsible” for Dawn Sturgess’s novichok death, an inquiry has found. Sturgess died after spraying herself with a nerve agent smuggled into the UK by Russian agents.UK politics | A group of Holocaust survivors have demanded Nigel Farage tell the truth and apologise for the antisemitic comments that fellow pupils of Dulwich College allege he made toward Jewish pupils, as the Reform leader turned on broadcasters for questioning him about the growing scandal.Eurovision | Ireland, Spain, Slovenia and the Netherlands will boycott next year’s Eurovision after Israel was given the all-clear to compete in the 2026 song contest despite calls by several participating broadcasters for its exclusion over the war in Gaza.UK politics | Lord Evans of Watford, suspended by the House of Lords for breaking lobbying rules after a Guardian investigation, is now facing claims that he received at least $1m (£760,000) in an allegedly corrupt deal.US news | The New York Times is suing the US defense department and the defense secretary, Pete Hegseth. The lawsuit argues restrictions imposed by the Trump administration violate free speech protections. Continue reading…
