John McDonnell MP, Labour’s Shadow Chancellor, responding to the Treasury Select Committee report on ‘Reviewing the Office for Budget Responsibility’, said:

“I welcome the recommendations of the Treasury Select Committee to ensure the OBR is allowed total independence going forward.

"It’s worrying to learn that people at the Treasury have been leaning on OBR officials. George Osborne must do everything in his power to ensure OBR staff are never again put in this situation by Treasury Ministers or their officials.

"The Chancellor has questions to answer personally on this, as we need to know whether or not he was aware of this practice.

"We also welcome the Treasury Select Committee advocating that the OBR should be allowed to cost party manifestos. This is something that Labour has long called for so that we can ensure full transparency, as it means voters can have greater understanding in all parties’ manifesto commitments.”