Lindsay Hoyle Criticises Chancellor Rachel Reeves for Early Disclosure of Budget Details - UK Politics Live

Introduction

Lindsay Hoyle, the Speaker of the House of Commons, has criticised Chancellor Rachel Reeves for disclosing details of the upcoming budget ahead of time.

In a letter to Reeves, Hoyle said that the early disclosure of budget details was "unprecedented" and "a breach of the convention that the Chancellor should not make any public statements about the content of the Budget before it has been presented to Parliament.”

Hoyle also said that the early disclosure of budget details had "undermined the authority of the House of Commons" and "set a dangerous precedent."

Background

The Chancellor of the Exchequer is responsible for presenting the annual budget to Parliament. The budget sets out the government's spending and tax plans for the coming year.

It is customary for the Chancellor to keep the details of the budget secret until it is presented to Parliament. This is to ensure that all members of Parliament are treated equally and have the same access to information.

However, in a speech on 23 March 2023, Reeves disclosed some details of the upcoming budget. This included plans to increase taxes on businesses and high earners.

Hoyle's Criticism

Hoyle said that Reeves's early disclosure of budget details was "a serious breach of convention." He said that it had "undermined the authority of the House of Commons" and "set a dangerous precedent."

Hoyle also said that the early disclosure of budget details had "created uncertainty and speculation" about the contents of the budget. He said that this had "made it difficult for businesses and individuals to plan for the future."

Reeves's Response

Reeves has defended her decision to disclose details of the upcoming budget. She said that she did so in order to "provide certainty and clarity" to businesses and individuals.

Reeves also said that she had consulted with the Speaker's Office before making her speech. She said that she had been assured that her actions were not a breach of convention.

Conclusion

The early disclosure of budget details by Chancellor Rachel Reeves has引发 controversy.

The Speaker of the House of Commons has criticised Reeves's actions, saying that they were "a serious breach of convention."

Reeves has defended her decision, saying that she did so in order to "provide certainty and clarity" to businesses and individuals.