The current chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has accused the previous government of leaving a £22 billion “black hole” in the public finances between income and planned spending.
Ms. Reeves claimed that she didn’t know about it until she started working for the government because the Tory administration kept information from the independent budget forecasters, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR).
On Wednesday, the same day as the budget, the OBR review into the matter of potential information withholding and the transparency of previous government departmental spending will be released.
Mr. Hunt stated, “I don’t think it’s appropriate to publish a review that contains criticisms.”
He went on to say that the review was a “political intervention” because no Tory ministers were consulted.
According to Mr. Hunt, the announcement’s budget day timing “gave the impression the OBR had pre-judged the outcome.”
On the basis of a £22 billion black hole, tax increases and public spending cuts are anticipated in Wednesday’s budget presentation.
