Despatch: All parties should be subjected to the OBR

What if every political party had to face real economic scrutiny? As Britain’s political landscape fragments and fiscal debate grows ever more chaotic, Joseph Dinnage, deputy editor of CapX, asks a provocative question: should the Office for Budget Responsibility judge all parties, not just the one in power? In this essay, he charts Rachel Reeves’s faltering economic credibility, the radicalism of the Greens and Your Party, and the inconsistencies on the Right — arguing that an upgraded OBR, modelled on the Dutch system, could bring much-needed discipline and transparency to a system swamped by unserious ideas. It wouldn’t make forecasting perfect, he says, but it would help voters see which plans add up — and which are pure fantasy. Despatch brings you the best of CapX — the sharpest writing from the UK’s most insightful daily newsletter. Stay informed with CapX's unmissable daily briefings from the heart of Westminster. Go to capx.co to subscribe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.