Keir Starmer Defends Chancellor Rachel Reeves Amid Allegations of Misleading OBR Forecasts
On 1 December 2025, Keir Starmer publicly defended Chancellor Rachel Reeves following accusations that she misrepresented Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) forecasts to justify tax increases ahead of the autumn budget. The allegations center on Reeves citing bleak economic projections, while the actual figures were reportedly more positive than she suggested.
The controversy is part of broader scrutiny surrounding Reeves, including an ongoing Treasury-led inquiry into budget leaks which she supports, and a separate investigation into the early release of the budget document. Despite reports of friction between Reeves and the OBR, and related concerns about a pre-budget briefing involving the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), it has been clarified that Reeves will not face an investigation over that matter.
Starmer appears compelled to align closely with Reeves in response to these claims, emphasizing unity amid heated debate about Labour's economic strategy. Commentary notes that Labour’s economic plan is expected to take years to deliver, with the City maintaining a cautious stance toward Reeves’s approach. This coverage was reported by The Guardian as part of Today in Focus: The Latest, last updated on 5 December 2025.
