A leak inquiry into how parts of the Budget were briefed to the media ahead of the November 26 statement is under way with “the full support of the Chancellor”, a Treasury minister has said.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury James Murray told the Commons the investigation by James Bowler, permanent secretary to the Treasury, will review “security processes to inform future fiscal events”.

Rachel Reeves has faced criticism after a number of major policies in her tax-raising Budget were leaked to the press beforehand.

Among them were briefings the Chancellor could raise the headline rate of income tax.

Further leaks then suggested this tax hike would no longer go ahead because of improved forecasting, with Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle branding it the “hokey-cokey Budget” as he critici

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