London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, Mar 28, 2026

Andrew Bailey: UK reputation 'damaged internationally' but market nearly repaired post-mini-budget

Andrew Bailey: UK reputation 'damaged internationally' but market nearly repaired post-mini-budget

There's been an inflationary effect caused by Brexit as fewer European firms provide competition in UK market, Bank of England interest rate -setter says
The UK's reputation has been damaged internationally, the governor of the Bank of England has said, following the government's mini-budget, the effects of which will take longer to repair than the economic consequences.

The impacts of the revoked unfunded tax cuts and whopper spending announced without Office of Budget Responsibility costings by former-chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng.

"We have damaged our reputation internationally... it will take longer to rebuild that reputation than it will do to correct the gilt curve," Andrew Bailey told the Treasury Committee group of MPs.

However, the market turmoil that followed the budget, that forced the Bank to intervene to prevent a collapse of the pensions market, is "pretty much on the way to having gone", Mr Bailey said.

Mr Kwarteng's replacement, Jeremy Hunt, stepped in and reversed the policy announcements.

Mr Bailey defended the actions of the Bank of England in raising interest rates to bring down inflation amid criticism from MPs the Bank did not hike rates quickly enough, inflation is not much more than the Bank expected, he said.

The Bank of England is aiming to bring inflation to 2% by raising interest rates to make borrowing more expensive and depress economic activity.

But on Wednesday inflation figures showed prices are rising at another high of 11.1% not seen since 1981.

Inflation has worsened due to Brexit, according to members of the interest rate-setting Monetary Policy Committee (MPC).

In response to a question about Brexit, Dr Catherine Mann said fewer European firms were providing competition in the UK market which has pushed prices up.

"It's not just small firms in the UK who want to export [impacted by Brexit], it's also small firms in Europe who were suppliers and provided competition in the UK market, so there is an inflationary effect coming through the competition channel."

When asked if a figure could be put on that inflation, another MPC member, Dr Swati Dhingra, answered saying that in relation to food pricing "6% is the number that is higher than the rest of the world as a result of the Brexit impact".

Questions around wage increases were also raised by MPs. When asked directly about his own salary, Mr Bailey said if he were offered a pay increase he would reject it.

"We want to ensure that our low paid staff actually get more of a larger share of the pay that we're putting that we're offering the share because I think that is the that's the fair way to do it," he said.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Fresh Claims Emerge Over Harry and Meghan’s Australia Visit as Insider Speaks Out
NATO Assessment Indicates UK Defence Spending Has Fallen Below Alliance Average
FTSE 100 Slips as Middle East Tensions Weigh on Investor Sentiment
UK Economy Begins to Feel Early Impact of Iran Conflict as Policy Challenges Intensify
Russian National Jailed in UK After Assault Case Linked to Barron Trump’s Alert
Energy Price Surge Accelerates Shift Away from Fossil Fuels in UK Homes
UK Museums House More Than 260,000 Human Remains, New Report Reveals
Surging UK Gilt Yields Reflect Inflation Pressures and Fiscal Uncertainty
UK Issues Updated Guidance on Children’s Screen Time with Focus on Balance and Wellbeing
UK Migration Figures Show Shifting Trends Across Asylum, Visas and Channel Crossings
UK Watchdog Launches Probe into Five Firms Over Alleged Fake Reviews and Ratings
Jaguar Land Rover Halts Production at UK Plant Amid Supplier Disruption
UK Police Reverse Position, Confirm Arrests Will Resume for Palestine Action Protests
UK Small Businesses Face Europe’s Steepest Cost Pressures, New Survey Reveals
US Envoy Urges UK to Proceed with King’s Visit Amid Diplomatic Sensitivities
FTSE 100 Drops Over One Percent as Middle East Tensions Weigh on Markets
UK CO2 Plant Set to Reopen as Authorities Move to Safeguard Supplies Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Urges Stronger Defence Investment as He Questions Allied Naval Capabilities
New COVID Variant Detected in UK Raises Concerns Over Vaccine Effectiveness
FTSE Russell Moves to Standardise Free-Float Rules for UK and International Listings
HBO Max Launches in UK and Ireland, Marking Major Step in Global Streaming Expansion
UK Signals Readiness to Seize Russian ‘Shadow Fleet’ Vessels in Escalation of Sanctions Enforcement
Escalating Middle East Conflict Seen as Major Threat to UK Economic Stability
Early Challenges Mark Prince Harry and Meghan’s Australia Visit
UK Government Rejects Cover-Up Claims After Theft of Former PM Aide’s Phone
Cyprus Opens Strategic Talks with UK Over Sovereign Base Areas
UK Faces Risk of Sharp Inflation Surge Despite Stable Pre-Crisis Figures
UK Police Arrest Two Over Suspected Antisemitic Arson as Iran Link Investigated
UK Inflation Holds at Three Percent Ahead of Oil Price Shock from Iran Conflict
UK Fuel Prices Face Upward Pressure as Global Oil Trends Raise Cost Outlook
Girlguiding UK Sets September Deadline for Membership Policy Change Affecting Trans Participants
Germany and UK Accelerate Wind Power Expansion to Strengthen Energy Security
UK Moves to Ban Cryptocurrency Donations to Political Parties Over Foreign Influence Concerns
UK and Turkey Finalise Major Air Defence Agreement Worth Billions
Apple Introduces Mandatory Age Verification for iPhone Users in the UK
Diverging Views Emerge Over Meghan Markle’s Planned Australia Appearance
Trump Signals Frustration with UK Leadership Amid Diverging Approaches to Iran Conflict
UK Government Takes Control of Hunterston B as Landmark Nuclear Decommissioning Begins
UK Public Inflation Expectations Jump Sharply in March, Raising Pressure on Bank of England
UK Ministers Warn Expanded North Sea Drilling Would Deepen Exposure to Global Energy Volatility
Delayed UK Defence Investment Plan Leaves Suppliers Under Severe Financial Strain
Can Iran Strike the UK? Assessing the Real Military Threat as Conflict Escalates
Sanctioned Iranian Banker Linked to Luxury Marbella Villa Through UK Corporate Structure
Casey Bloys Navigates HBO Max UK Launch, Paramount Integration and Industry Buzz Over Netflix Meeting
Iran Conflict Sparks Sharp Turbulence in UK Mortgage Market, Reaching Pandemic-Era Disruption Levels
Major Donor Urges University of Kentucky to Reconsider Mitch Barnhart’s Post-Retirement Role
United Kingdom Moves to Lead International Effort to Reopen Strait of Hormuz
UK Police Investigate Targeted Attack on Jewish Ambulance Vehicles
UK Police Investigate Targeted Attack on Jewish Ambulance Vehicles
Senior UK Advocate Criticises Barnhart Retirement Appointment, Calls for Reconsideration
×