Today the Treasury has launched the recruitment campaign to find Robert Chote’s successor as the next Chair of the OBR.
Robert has led the independent fiscal watchdog since 3 October 2010, and is therefore approaching the end of his second and final five-year term.
The chair and other members of the Budget Responsibility Committee (BRC) are appointed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. But, unusually, the appointment requires the formal consent of the Treasury Select Committee. This is one of several important ways in which Parliament safeguards the OBR’s independence from political pressure. Appointments are for 5 years and no member can serve more than two terms.
Robert commented:
“Chairing the OBR has been a huge privilege, not least because of the wonderful colleagues I have had the chance to work with. I set two goals for the OBR at the outset – to bring much greater transparency to the public finances, plus greater recognition of the uncertainties that lie around any forecasts for the future. I hope that we have achieved that, but there is much more for my successor to do.”
For more information about the application process, please visit gov.uk