Jeremy Hunt has warned Britain’s economic watchdog that he will cause irreparable damage to its reputation if he backs Labour’s controversial claim that he has left behind a £22 billion “black hole” in public finances.

Jeremy Hunt has warned Britain’s economic watchdog that he will cause irreparable damage to its reputation if he backs Labour’s controversial claim that he has left behind a £22 billion “black hole” in public finances.

Government sources confirmed yesterday that Rachel Reeves plans to publish an Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) study with Wednesday’s Budget in an attempt to blame the tax rises on the previous government.

Ms Reeves first announced the existence of a £22 billion “black hole” shortly after taking office in July, but the Treasury has yet to provide details.

Almost half the amount (£9.5 billion) comes from her own decision to increase wages for millions of public sector workers, which will lead to inflation.

Jeremy Hunt (pictured at the Conservative Party conference) has warned Britain’s economic body will cause irreparable damage to its reputation if it backs Labour’s controversial claim that he has left behind a £22 billion “black hole” in public finances.

Rachel Reeves (pictured) first claimed the existence of a £22 billion “black hole” shortly after taking office in July.

Ms Reeves has asked the OBR to consider the claim. But last night Mr Hunt said he had had no contact with the watchdog, despite the Chancellor’s claim that he had hidden 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 criticizing the main opposition party on Budget day is consistent with political impartiality.

And at the same time it was impossible to do this without asking the people who at that time had political responsibility for their opinion on its content. To do so would cross a line that could not be defended except by political intervention.”

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

A Conservative Party source said it was “disgraceful” that the issue was not even discussed with ministers serving at the time.

“It is deeply disturbing and serious to see the OBR acting in an overtly political manner, directly undermining their independence as part of a shameless Labor ploy to justify the tax rises they have planned all along,” the source said. “This political stunt destroys every precedent in the book.”