London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, Jul 18, 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
Ukrainian Drone Barrage Kills Eight and Strikes Russian Logistics Network
Key Trends to Watch
Financial Conduct Authority Warns Cloud and Digital Risks Are Becoming a Financial Priority
Jeffrey Donaldson Appeals Sexual Abuse Conviction as Democratic Unionist Party Opens Review
Welsh Health Authorities Launch Emergency Meningitis Vaccination Programme for Students
Scottish Business Activity Falls for Third Month as Companies Face Rising Costs
Bank of England Regulators Demand Better Access to Digital Banking Services
United Kingdom Cuts Bilateral Aid to Several African Countries by Up to Ninety Per Cent
United Kingdom Introduces Tougher Deportation Rules After Rochdale Exploitation Scandal
NHS England Launches Wearable Technology Plan to Reduce Sepsis Deaths
Amazon Web Services Billing Error Sends Trillion-Dollar Invoices to British Companies
Bank of England Takes Direct Regulatory Role Over Major Global Cloud Providers
Extreme Summer Heat Drives Record Fire Risk and Rising Deaths Across Britain
United Kingdom Nationalisation of British Steel Sparks Diplomatic Dispute With China
United Kingdom Economy Shows Weak Growth Ahead of Major Autumn Budget
Andy Burnham Set to Become United Kingdom Prime Minister After Labour Leadership Victory
The Ten World Cup Finals That Defined Football History
Smartphones Are Getting More Expensive, Sales Are Collapsing, and Even Apple Admits: "Prices Will Rise"
The Monaco Bombing Has Become a Test of Ukraine’s Intelligence Accountability
Leadership Change and Strategic Rivalry Redraw the Political Map
Energy Risk, Uneven Growth and the New Geography of Global Capital
The AI Race Enters Its Infrastructure Era
Security and resilience remain long-term national priorities
Britain balances growth ambitions with public finance pressures
Regional devolution becomes a defining theme of the next Labour era
Industrial strategy returns to the centre of British economic policy
Political Instability Remains a Challenge for UK Investment Confidence
Brexit Economic Debate Continues as Public Concerns Over Long-Term Impact Remain
UK Climate Risks Rise as Met Office Warns Extreme Weather Is Becoming More Common
Housing Shortages and Regional Inequality Become Key Priorities Under Incoming Labour Leadership
National Health Service Reform Remains One of Britain’s Biggest Political Challenges
Bank of England Remains at Centre of UK Economic Debate Over Inflation and Growth
UK Economy Shows Recovery Signs but Households and Businesses Remain Under Pressure
Britain Deepens European Defence Cooperation as NATO Allies Seek Stronger Security Capabilities
United Kingdom Expands Sanctions Against Russian Cyber Networks Over Security Threats
UK Industrial Strategy Faces Test After Government Takes Control of British Steel
British Businesses Seek Policy Clarity as Andy Burnham Prepares to Lead Labour Government
Andy Burnham’s Labour Leadership Signals Major Shift Toward Regional Power and Devolution
British Steel Nationalisation Creates New UK-China Tensions Over Control of Strategic Industry
For 36 Years, He Scammed About 300 Luxury Hotels — Until He Was Caught
England's World Cup Exit Expected to Cost Hospitality and Retail £334 Million
Former ICC Prosecutor Aide Speaks Publicly About Allegations Against Karim Khan
Opposition Raises Questions Over June Heatwave Power Grid Pressures
Mastercard Explores Sale of Majority Stake in UK Payments Operator Vocalink
Boeing Forecasts Global Commercial Aircraft Fleet Will Double by 2045
London GP Surgeries Receive £18 Million to Expand Primary Care Capacity
Health Advisers Recommend Nationwide Meningitis B Vaccination for Teenagers
OECD Warns UK Economy Faces Slower Growth and Weak Productivity
Treasury Places Major Global Cloud Providers Under Direct Financial Oversight
Financial Markets Rally as Shabana Mahmood Emerges as Leading Treasury Candidate
×