CITY VIEWS: DOES THE APPOINTMENT OF THE EU’S NEW FINANCE CHIEF MEAN A FRENCH TAKEOVER OF LONDON?
ANTHONY SMITH AJS CONSULTANCY
“I think that if the EU’s finance chief can help stop ‘casino banking’ and have a positive effect against greedy banking practices, then the appointment of Barnier as finance chief could mean good things for London as the city works its way out of the financial crisis.”
JIMI BOLUSIRE QBE INSURANCE
“I think London would be faced with clampdown issues regardless of who was appointed as the EU’s finance chief, because the task of cleaning up after the financial crisis more or less welcomes the risk of additional regulations in London finance .”
TED DOUGLAS MCKENZIE DOUGLAS
“I think the appointment of Michel Barnier will lead to a degree of French control over London expenses. It’s going to take some time to see the effects, but I think it does reveal concerns about the financial impacts of the EU’s extended reach.”