London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Friday, Mar 13, 2026

The Treasury issues a clarion call in the City's competitiveness campaign

The Treasury issues a clarion call in the City's competitiveness campaign

Ministers will take another step this week toward requiring regulators to boost the competitiveness of the UK financial services sector.
According to Sky News, the Treasury will issue a request for proposals on Tuesday, seeking suggestions for methods to assess watchdogs' compliance with the new standards.

Some may see the attempt to gather proposals from the financial services sector, one of the biggest in the UK by GDP, regulators, and other stakeholders as laying the scene for a fresh conflict between the government and the City's regulatory authorities.

Officials say City minister Andrew Griffith, a former executive at Sky News' parent company, is determined to embed the new secondary competitiveness and economic growth objectives as quickly and comprehensively as possible within the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority.

According to one person familiar with the document due out this week, it will be a crucial stepping stone toward a new system of accountability for regulators.

"Just as we successfully export our regulatory know-how to the world," the source said, "the government wants to learn from what competitor international financial centre jurisdictions use as yardsticks of success."

During Rishi Sunak's tenure as chancellor, the government pledged to issuing an annual 'State of the City' report, which was first released last year.

The government has agreed to co-author the report's second version with the City of London Corporation.

Mr Griffith is guiding the Financial Services and Markets Bill through parliament, and the UK's post-Brexit Future Regulatory Framework is being developed to provide a more nimble system of supervision that commands worldwide respect.


In recent months, there has been growing concern about the FCA's public company listing process, with a number of firms, like Betfair-owner Flutter Entertainment, announcing intentions to list their shares in the US.

Meanwhile, ARM Holdings, the chip manufacturer, has chosen to list in New York rather than its home market, while the creator of Revolut, the British-based fintech powerhouse, has criticized UK authorities for the speed with which they make decisions in an interview with The Times.

The FCA revealed a long-awaited revision of the London listings framework last week, but there are concerns that it may not go far enough to tip the balance back towards the UK.

Privately, regulators have raised worries about the drive to impose competitiveness goals on them, with some officials noting recent instability in the banking industry in the United States and Europe as proof of the need to stay focused on safeguarding financial stability.

Sky News reported last year that Andrew Bailey, the governor of the Bank of England, was concerned about a 'call-in power' that would have given the Treasury the authority to override banking regulators.

Finally, the Treasury said that the intervention powers will not be used.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Asian Energy Security Tested as Strait of Hormuz Disruption Threatens Oil Supplies
Iran Sets Three Conditions for Ending Regional War as Diplomatic Efforts Intensify
Tesla Secures Approval to Supply Electricity Directly to Homes Across Britain
Prince William Delivers Tribute to Australia’s Naval Alliance Amid Renewed Royal Spotlight on the Country
UK Foreign Secretary Travels to Saudi Arabia to Reinforce Support for Regional Allies
Putin’s ‘Hidden Hand’ May Be Assisting Iran in Conflict With Trump, UK Defence Secretary Warns
UK Sets April Deadline for Tech Platforms to Strengthen Online Protections for Children
Elon Musk Moves Into Britain’s Energy Market as Tesla Wins Licence to Supply Power
UK Watchdog Warns Fuel Retailers Against Profiteering Amid Iran War Price Surge
Report Claims Iran Used UK Charity Network to Expand Influence
United States and United Kingdom Establish Joint Standards for Counter-Drone Technology
Iran May Be Laying Naval Mines in Strait of Hormuz, UK Warns Amid Escalating Gulf Tensions
US Deploys Bunker-Buster Bombs to UK Airbase as Iran Conflict Intensifies
British Troops in Iraq Intercept Iranian Drones Targeting Coalition Base
Release of Mandelson Files Raises Tensions as UK Seeks Stable Relations With Donald Trump
UK Documents Reveal Starmer Was Warned About Mandelson’s Epstein Links Before Ambassador Appointment
Nearly Five Hundred UK Mortgage Deals Withdrawn in Two Days as Market Volatility Forces Lenders to Reprice
Three Cargo Ships Hit Near Iran as Attacks Spread to Strategic Strait of Hormuz
Why British Police Repeatedly Declined to Investigate Jeffrey Epstein’s UK Links
UK Parliament Ends Hereditary Seats in House of Lords, Closing Chapter on Centuries of Aristocratic Lawmaking
EU and UK Urge Israel to Act Against Rising West Bank Settler Violence Amid Regional Tensions
US Senator John Kennedy Says Keir Starmer Should Not Be Trusted for Military Advice Amid Iran War Debate
UK High Court Rejects Attempt to Revive Terrorism Charge Against Kneecap Rapper
Revolut Secures Full UK Banking Licence After Multi-Year Regulatory Wait
Kentucky’s Bench Boost Powers Wildcats Past LSU in SEC Tournament Opener
British Couple Die After Being Pulled From Water at Australian Beach During Family Visit
Global Energy Agency Announces Record Release of 400 Million Barrels to Stabilize Oil Markets Amid Hormuz Disruption
British Airways Suspends UK Repatriation Flights as Middle East Travel Disruption Deepens
US Forces Prepare Ordnance at RAF Fairford as Strategic Bombers Deploy for Middle East Operations
Nigel Farage Faces Criticism After Saying Britain Should Stay Out of Iran War
Landmark UK Trial Begins Over Sony’s PlayStation Store Pricing
UK High Court Rejects Bid to Challenge Britain’s Chagos Islands Agreement With Mauritius
Finnish Duo Triumphs in England’s Annual Wife-Carrying Race, Winning a Barrel of Ale
How U.S. and UK National Security Strategies Are Reshaping the Global Business Landscape
Green Party Gains Momentum as Labour Shifts Toward the Political Centre
Royal Navy Destroyer HMS Dragon Sets Sail for Eastern Mediterranean as Regional Tensions Rise
UK Homebuilder Persimmon Warns Iran Conflict Could Dent Property Buyer Confidence
Roman Abramovich Signals Legal Fight if UK Seeks to Seize Chelsea Sale Funds
UK Ready to Back Emergency Oil Reserve Release as Middle East Conflict Pushes Prices Higher
Study of 40,000 Articles Sparks Debate Over Alleged Anti-Muslim Bias in UK Media
US and UK Army Chiefs Strengthen Cooperation on the Future of Armored Warfare
Britain’s Search for the Next ARM Intensifies as Startups and Investors Target the Semiconductor Frontier
Three US Strategic Bombers Arrive at RAF Fairford as Iran Conflict Intensifies
Cancer Death Rates in the UK Fall to the Lowest Level on Record
UK Government Bond Yields Retreat Slightly After Sharp Spike Triggered by Middle East Conflict
UK Chancellor Warns Middle East War Could Push Inflation Higher
UK Prime Minister Warns Iran Conflict Could Drive Up Prices and Threaten Economic Stability
Trump Declines UK Offer to Deploy Aircraft Carriers to Middle East Amid Iran Conflict
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to Return to Australia After Seven Years for Philanthropic and Business Engagements
UK Government Signals Independence From Washington as Cooper Says Britain Does Not Agree With Trump on Every Issue
×