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β€˜Mortified’ OBR chair hopes inquiry into budget leak will report next week

Reuters news agency says it obtained document after visiting URL it predicted file would be uploaded to

The chair of the Office for Budget Responsibility has said he felt mortified by the early release of its budget forecasts as the watchdog launched a rapid inquiry into how it had β€œinadvertently made it possible” to see the documents.

Richard Hughes said he had written to the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, and the chair of the Treasury select committee, Meg Hillier, to apologise.

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Β© Photograph: Kirsty O’Connor/Treasury

Β© Photograph: Kirsty O’Connor/Treasury

Β© Photograph: Kirsty O’Connor/Treasury

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Starmer to unveil digital ID cards in plan set to ignite civil liberties row

β€˜Brit card’ already facing opposition from privacy campaigners as government looks for ways to tackle illegal immigration

All working adults will need digital ID cards under plans to be announced by Keir Starmer, in a move that will spark a battle with civil liberties campaigners.

The prime minister will set out the measures on Friday at a conference on how progressive politicians can tackle the problems facing the UK, including addressing voter concerns around immigration.

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Β© Photograph: Alberto Pezzali/AP

Β© Photograph: Alberto Pezzali/AP

Β© Photograph: Alberto Pezzali/AP

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Digital ID cards: a versatile and useful tool or a worrying cybersecurity risk?

As Keir Starmer aims to revive ID card system first proposed by Tony Blair, we look at the arguments for and against

It is 21 years since Tony Blair’s government made proposals for an ID card system to tackle illegal working and immigration, and to make it more convenient for the public to access services.

The same issues are on the agenda again as Keir Starmer revives what became one of New Labour’s most controversial policies. He is about to find out if he can defeat the argument that David Cameron’s Conservatives made before scrapping it. They said the ID card approach to personal privacy was β€œthe worst of all worlds – intrusive, ineffective and enormously expensive”.

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Β© Photograph: Amer Ghazzal/Shutterstock

Β© Photograph: Amer Ghazzal/Shutterstock

Β© Photograph: Amer Ghazzal/Shutterstock

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