The UK’s statistical landscape is undergoing a significant shift as Sir Robert Chote has resigned from his position as chair of the UK Statistics Authority. The move, announced on , comes after a critical government review highlighted “deep-seated” issues within the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the body overseen by the Authority.
Cabinet Office Minister Pat McFadden stated that “new leadership was critical” to address the identified challenges and restore confidence in the statistics produced by the ONS, which are crucial for government decision-making. While the Cabinet Office maintains the resignation was “by mutual agreement,” it follows months of negative press coverage questioning Chote’s performance and the reliability of the data emanating from the ONS.
The ONS has faced scrutiny from various quarters, including the Bank of England, which has expressed concerns about the reliability of its job market data. This data is a key input for the Bank’s monetary policy decisions – whether to raise or cut interest rates – making its accuracy paramount. The government review, conducted earlier this year, further underscored the need for substantial improvements within the agency.
Catherine Little, the Cabinet Office’s most senior civil servant, indicated in a letter to Parliament’s Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee that a new chair would be “in a more credible position” to implement the findings of the investigation into the ONS’s shortcomings. This suggests a level of dissatisfaction with the progress made under Chote’s leadership, despite the official narrative of a mutually agreed departure.
Chote, who joined the UK Statistics Authority in , is set to take up a new role as president of Trinity College, Oxford, in . A senior Cabinet Office source, speaking anonymously, denied that the government forced Chote to resign, emphasizing that it was his own decision. However, the source acknowledged the importance of data integrity for effective policymaking, stating, “It’s hard to make effective government policy if you don’t have statistics that have integrity.” They added, “If we can’t know the true picture then it’s more difficult to make policy, so that’s why we’re getting on with fixing it.”
This situation unfolds against a broader backdrop of instability within the UK government. Recent months have seen increasing scrutiny of key appointments and a series of resignations and suspensions. In October , attacks on UK Cabinet Secretary Chris Wormald were decried as “political cowardice” by the head of the senior civil servants’ union, the FDA, Dave Penman, as concerns mounted about his performance. This followed Keir Starmer’s selection of Wormald in December of the previous year, a choice that reportedly drew criticism from within Starmer’s own circle.
Further complicating matters, Prime Minister Starmer is currently facing a fresh wave of scrutiny following the suspension of a former communications chief linked to a paedophile. Morgan McSweeney resigned as PM chief of staff over the ambassador scandal, and Lord Matthew Doyle, the former comms chief, was suspended from Labour, marking another high-profile resignation. These events collectively paint a picture of a government grappling with internal challenges and facing mounting public pressure.
The resignation of Susie Wiles, President Trump’s chief of staff, while occurring in a different political sphere, highlights a broader trend of high-level staff turnover and internal strife within major political administrations. Though Wiles’ situation involved a dispute over reporting in Vanity Fair and a swift public defense from the White House, it underscores the intense pressures and scrutiny faced by those in top leadership positions.
The implications of these developments extend beyond personnel changes. The reliability of official statistics is fundamental to informed policymaking, economic forecasting, and public trust. The ONS’s struggles, as highlighted by the government review and the Bank of England’s concerns, raise questions about the quality of data underpinning crucial decisions. The appointment of a new chair will be closely watched, with stakeholders eager to see a clear plan for addressing the identified issues and restoring confidence in the UK’s statistical infrastructure.
The timing of these events is particularly noteworthy. As the UK navigates a complex economic and political landscape, accurate and reliable data is more critical than ever. The government’s commitment to “fixing” the ONS suggests an acknowledgement of the severity of the problem, but the success of this effort will depend on the selection of a capable leader and a sustained commitment to addressing the underlying issues. The departure of Sir Robert Chote marks not just a change in leadership, but a potential turning point for the UK’s statistical authority and its role in shaping the nation’s future.
