Devon MP Sir Mel Stride condemns ‘utterly outrageous’ Budget leaks

Devon MP and Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride has sharply condemned the government’s handling of today’s Budget, saying the leak of key financial forecasts before the Chancellor’s statement was “utterly outrageous” and could even be a criminal act.

This Budget is the first delivered since Stride became Shadow Chancellor in November 2024, giving him a prominent role in responding to the government’s plans. 

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Before Rachel Reeves even rose to deliver her statement, Stride stood in the Commons to raise urgent concerns about the early release of the Office for Budget Responsibility’s (OBR) economic forecast.

Speaking at around 12.30pm, he told MPs: “This morning we have seen an unprecedented level of the OBR’s economic and fiscal outlook report before the Budget. This report contains market sensitive information. It is utterly outrageous that this has happened, and this leak may indeed constitute a criminal act.

“In Prime Minister’s Questions, the Leader of the Opposition asked the Prime Minister about this leak, but he refused to answer her questions. So, Madam Deputy Speaker, please can you advise this House what steps are at its disposal to force a leak inquiry into this matter and would it be possible to ask the Table Office to distribute copies of the report given to the House, given that everybody outside of this House has already had the opportunity to read it.”

Despite the row over the leak, the Chancellor went on to outline a series of tax and spending measures.

Reeves plans to raise £26 billion in extra taxes, including £8.3bn from freezing income tax thresholds until at least 2031. 

Other measures included higher taxes on savings and dividends, a new council tax surcharge on £2m-plus homes, and the return of full fuel duty next year.

Reeves also confirmed wage rises, as previously reported by The Moorlander, with the minimum wage for over-21s increasing to £12.71 from April next year. 

State pensions will also rise by 4.8 per cent and regulated rail fares in England will be frozen for a year.

But rural residents in Devon, including constituencies covering Dartmoor, may fear that frozen tax thresholds and higher motoring costs will put added pressure on household budgets, in a region where long travel distances keep fuel costs a major concern.

Reaction from local businesses across the county today has been mixed.

Business owners quoted by Exeter Today and the Torbay Weekly warned that rising costs, wage pressures and frozen tax thresholds were creating uncertainty for small firms, particularly in hospitality and retail.