New business rates regime that is poised to hit pubs and hotels is latest example of hasty decision-making

There is a heavy cloud hanging over Labour’s Christmas celebrations.

The most recent figures show the economy is going backwards and worse, the slide is prompting recession talk in the corridors of City banks.

Treasury committee will examine agency’s forecasting record and discover where it ‘needs to do better’

MPs have launched an inquiry into the role and performance of the Office for Budget Responsibility.

The all-party Commons Treasury committee will spend until the end of next month investigating the independent agency’s forecasting performance and impartiality. The panel will consider whether reforms are needed 15 years after the OBR was set up by George Osborne when he was Tory chancellor.