Has the OBR been saved?
The announcement that Robert Chote will take on the new role as head of the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has injected some new life into what was potentially a banana skin for the UK government. After a relatively smooth transition from opposition to government, George Osborne announced the creation of the Office for Budget Responsibility with the criteria that it would operate at an arms length distance from the UK government and indeed review and comment upon the performance of the UK government as a whole.
However, some weeks ago one of David Cameron's speeches contained details from a report which had apparently been rushed out by the OBR to allegedly allow David Cameron to quote specific figures. As a consequence, many believe that the OBR was actually dying before it had sprung to life and the resignation of the first chairman of the OBR seemed to confirm this fact. However, by hook or by crook it seems that George Osborne has managed to persuade one of the better respected names in the financial community to come on board although exactly what he has promised Robert Chote remains to be seen. The OBR is certainly alive and kicking again but for how long?
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