UK National Statistician Ian Diamond Resigns Amid Economic Data Crisis

Ian Diamond, the United Kingdom's National Statistician and head of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), has resigned immediately due to ongoing health issues. His departure comes amid significant criticism of the ONS regarding the quality of its labor market and economic data, which are crucial for government and Bank of England policy decisions. Deputy National Statistician Emma Rourke will serve as interim head while a permanent replacement is sought. Diamond expressed that he could no longer fully commit to the role and believed it was the right time for new leadership. The resignation occurs at a challenging moment as the ONS faces a government-ordered inquiry and pressure to address data accuracy problems that have not been seen in comparable international statistics offices. The ONS praised Diamond's leadership during his tenure, which included overseeing the 2021 Census and responses to major events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine conflict.