Jeremy Hunt has warned Britain’s economic watchdog that he will do irreparable damage to his reputation if he backs his controversial claim that Labor has left behind a £22bn ‘black hole’ in the public finances

Jeremy Hunt has warned Britain’s economic watchdog that he will do irreparable damage to his reputation if he backs his controversial claim that Labor has left behind a £22bn ‘black hole’ in the public finances.

Government sources confirmed yesterday that Rachel Reeves plans to publish a study by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) alongside the Budget on Wednesday in a bid to pin the blame for tax rises on the last government.

Ms Reeves first claimed the existence of a £22bn ‘black hole’ shortly after taking office in July, but the Treasury has so far been unable to produce a detailed breakdown. Almost half of the total (£9.5bn) was covered by his decision to give inflation-busting pay rises to millions of public sector workers.

Jeremy Hunt (pictured at the Conservative Party Conference) has warned Britain’s economic watchdog that he will do irreparable damage to his reputation if he backs his controversial claim that Labor has left behind a £22bn ‘black hole’ in the public finances.

Rachel Reeves (pictured) first claimed the existence of a £22bn ‘black hole’ shortly after taking office in July

Ms Reeves asked the OBR to review the claim. But last night Mr Hunt said he had no contact with the watchdog, despite claiming the Chancellor had hid the truth from parliament.

In a letter to OBR chairman Richard Hughes, he said he was a ‘strong supporter’ of the need for ‘an independent financial watchdog’.

But he added: ‘I do not believe that publishing a review containing criticism of the main opposition party on Budget Day is consistent with political impartiality.

We did not do this without obtaining the opinions of the people who assumed political responsibility at that time regarding its content. ‘To proceed in this way would cross a line that is indefensible outside of political intervention.’

Pictured: OBR Chairman, Office for Budget Responsibility, Richard Hughes, Member of the Budget Responsibility Committee, Andy King and Prof. David Miles CBE

A conservative source said it was a “disgrace” that the issue was not even discussed with the ministers serving at the time.

‘It is extremely worrying and serious to see the OBR acting in an overtly political manner, directly undermining Labor’s independence as part of a shameless tactic to justify tax increases they have been planning all along,’ the source said. ‘This political spectacle breaks every precedent in the book.’