Background and context Following its inquiry into the live music industry, the Commons Business and Trade Committee has issued a report calling on the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to launch a full market investigation before the end of 2026. The Committee concludes that Live Nation “and other vertically integrated companies” are harming competition across the supply chain. It points […]
Scotland and Wales will go to the polls in two months to elect new governments. As voters across the UK increasingly reject traditional parties in favour of insurgent challengers such as Reform and the Greens, what does this mean in Scotland, where the SNP has governed for 19 years, and in Wales, where Plaid Cymru […]
Key Takeaways for Businesses Background & Core Proposals On 30 January, D66 (liberal progressive), VVD (liberal conservative) and CDA (Christian democratic) presented a coalition agreement after three months of negotiations. This clears a major hurdle towards forming a minority government, an unusual step in Dutch politics. Titled "Getting to Work", the agreement aims to break […]
In December Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves went searching for growth in an unusual place – among the UK’s regulators. Each received an early Christmas present in the form of a letter asking for pro-growth ideas. Since then, the Government has mounted pressure on regulators to eliminate barriers and go for growth. First with the […]
Financial regulator's independence put to the test
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s suggestion that the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) should reconsider its proposals to name and shame firms under investigation has once again thrust the financial regulator’s independence into the spotlight. Occurring in the lead-up to a high-stakes election, we take a look at the factors fueling the current disagreement, the potential outcomes, and […]
Overview The UK’s new post-Brexit subsidy control regime sits against a backdrop of governments across developed economies pursuing more active industrial policy. The UK’s trade partners, most notably the EU, are watching its subsidy regime and decisions closely. There is significant domestic scrutiny too. Those responsible for scrutinising public spending, such as the National Audit […]
Last week, the Government introduced the Football Governance Bill to Parliament. The culmination of over three years’ work, the Bill addresses concerns about the financial sustainability of English men’s professional football, the probity of individual club owners, and the risk of breakaway leagues (most famously the European Super League) stifling competition. The Bill is an […]
Over 2 billion people – a quarter of the world’s population – will be affected by elections in 2024, including in the US, EU, UK, Taiwan, India and Russia. Some will have significant global implications, though in many cases the full effects will not play through until 2025. This blog explores the upcoming elections and […]
The Bills have been decided and the speech is being drafted - businesses need to be agile if they are to shape government proposals. More weight is resting on the King’s Speech on 7th November than it can possibly bear. How should businesses prepare for this session’s uncertainty? What do we already know about the […]
While the debate on AI regulation continues to grab media headlines and the attention of policymakers worldwide, discussions on virtual worlds have quietly continued. Regulators around the world are trying to find the right balance between introducing or updating policies to mitigate potential harms of virtual worlds while maximising the potential of these technologies for […]
As Parliament starts the Easter recess, the legislative programme is looking ragged, bearing the marks of three Prime Ministers’ very different decisions. The decision to significantly extend the current session until late autumn could mean a very limited fourth session cut short by a General Election in 2024. It also places huge pressure on the […]
The UK must find its global niche in emerging technology industries, as reduced domestic political volatility coincides with an increase in geopolitical tensions. As Labour prepares its policies in this area, the March Budget and the rest of the year will see the UK Government making major decisions with impacts on innovation, R&D and the […]
