Ex-MPC member Jonathan Haskel approved as OBR chair

He received approval by the Treasury Committee today (16 July), following a pre-appointment hearing on Wednesday (15 July). The committee said that Haskel has the "appropriate professional competence and professional independence for the role". He will replace Richard Hughes, who stepped down from the role in December 2025 after the OBR's Budget forecasts documents were published before Chancellor Rachel Reeves started outlining her 2025 fiscal event. Haskel was nominated for the role by Reeves last month, who praised his expertise in economics and analysis, making him "an outstand...