Ex-IFS chief named as chair of OBR

Robert Chote has been named as the first permanent chairperson of the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR).

His appointment follows an agreement by the Treasury Committee that he has the professional competence and personal independence required for the role previously held on an interim basis by Sir Alan Budd.

Prior to joining the OBR, Mr Chote, a former finance journalist, was the director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS).

The Treasury Committee’s chair, Andrew Tyrie, said Mr Chote was ‘very well qualified professionally for the post, having demonstrated his independence of mind and expertise during his time at the IFS.

‘An OBR along the lines proposed in the committee's report, to be released next week, and led by Robert, has every prospect of adding to the quality of public debate on fiscal policy.’

Categories: News , Alan Budd , Andrew Tyrie , IFS , Institute for Fiscal Studies , OBR , Office for Budget Responsibility , Robert Chote