Ousted CMA chair Bokkerink defends tenure February 8, 2025 Marcus Bokkerink, the sacked chairman of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), has given a staunch defence of his tenure at the regulator. Bokkerink was ousted by the government last month in what lawyers described as the “most overtly political” regulatory intervention of recent years. The move, which saw Bokkerink replaced by former Amazon exec [...]
The UK is at a crypto crossroads February 8, 2025 With both the US and EU poised to introduce regulatory regimes for crypto, the UK must urgently establish itself as a hub for innovation, says John Glen During my years in the Treasury, I saw firsthand the transformative power of technology in shaping our economy, and I also witnessed the state building barriers to emerging [...]
CMA and ASA probe Chelsea-linked Vivid Seats over ticket touting February 7, 2025 Consumer group FanFair Alliance has reported Vivid Seats, a company part-owned by Chelsea chair Todd Boehly, to watchdogs for alleged illegal ticket touting. Chelsea fans have described the involvement of Boehly, the highest-profile member of the club’s US ownership group, as a “breach of trust” after it emerged this week. Vivid Seats offers tickets to [...]
CMA boss sacking must signal the end of regulatory overreach February 7, 2025 The CMA has damaged business with its trigger-happy approach to blocking mergers and acquisitions. The appointment of Doug Gurr is a good start, but will a new chairman be enough to turn around an organisation set in its ways? Asks Matthew Lesh In recent years Britain’s competition regulator has enjoyed a surge in taxpayer funding [...]
CMA shake-up set to drive resurgence of UK M&A activity February 5, 2025 Merger and acquisitions (M&A) in the UK are expected to strengthen in 2025, aided by the recent shake-up at the competition regulator
HS2: Key Euston contract faces foul play allegations February 3, 2025 Construction giant Lendlease is leading the £4bn regeneration of Euston but is in the process of exiting its international operations.
FCA has the same ‘red flags’ as the Post Office, MPs say in fresh attack February 3, 2025 A parliamentary group on fairer finance has reignited its row with the Financial conduct Authority (FCA) today, comparing the watchdog to the Post Office and accusing bosses of engaging with criticism in a “disappointing, defensive and dismissive” way. In a new report, the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Investment Fraud and Fairer Financial Service, which counts [...]
Bold action and optimism! Let’s hope the Chancellor’s confidence is contagious February 3, 2025 Promises of bold action from the Chancellor are gratefully heard in the City. Let's not let this opportunity for growth pass, writes Chris Hayward.
AIM and Aquis: London’s junior stock markets under threat without ‘urgent action’ from Reeves January 30, 2025 The government must take “urgent action” to revive London’s junior stock markets AIM and Aquis or risk more firms flooding overseas this year, a top City group has warned. In a new report today, The City UK, a trade body representing the UK’s financial services sector, called on the Chancellor Rachel Reeves and financial regulators [...]
Chancellor Rachel Reeves ‘won’t apologise’ for reforming UK regulation January 29, 2025 Rachel Reeves has said that she “won’t apologise for wanting to reform how regulation works in Britain” after a major economic speech which saw her back a third runway at Heathrow. The Chancellor unveiled a suite of policies the Treasury said would “kickstart” economic growth, including an “action plan” intended to instil a pro-growth approach [...]