UK Moves to Reform Antitrust Regime to Spur Growth and Cut Regulatory Burdens
Government and competition regulator set out plans to modernise competition policy, streamline outdated market rules and strengthen merger controls to support investment and business expansion
The United Kingdom government, in collaboration with the Competition and Markets Authority, is advancing a broad overhaul of the nation’s antitrust framework, signalling a strategic shift aimed at promoting economic growth, improving investor confidence and reducing compliance burdens on businesses.
This initiative reflects years of discussion about updating competition law to fit the UK’s post-Brexit economic priorities and follows recent reforms that expanded the regulatory toolkit available to tackle anti-competitive conduct in digital markets and mergers.
The government has emphasised that the reforms are designed to ensure competitive markets work in a way that facilitates growth and encourages innovation, while maintaining essential protections for consumers and fair competition.
Central to the proposed changes is a review of longstanding market remedies and regulations imposed by the CMA, with plans to scrap a significant portion of outdated obligations that are seen as redundant in today’s commercial environment.
The authority says it will assess historical interventions to determine whether they remain necessary, and remove those that no longer contribute meaningfully to competitive outcomes, a move expected to reduce regulatory costs and free up resources for businesses across sectors including financial services, travel and energy.
The consultation on these proposed changes is open to stakeholders, with the aim of completing review and implementation in the coming months.
Alongside trimming obsolete rules, the UK’s competition landscape has been reshaped by the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act, which came into force in January 2025 and broadened the CMA’s power in merger control and digital market oversight.
The government’s strategic steer to the CMA emphasises alignment with national growth objectives, including greater predictability in merger reviews and clearer guidance for tech and startup sectors seeking investment opportunities.
This includes a focus on streamlining procedures, enhancing transparency and ensuring that enforcement actions support long-term investment and job creation.
The overhaul also considers broader elements of competition policy, such as a review of the UK’s antitrust class action regime and adjustments to procedural guidance, as part of a comprehensive effort to balance robust market enforcement with economic development priorities.
Officials maintain that while competition policy will remain strong, it must adapt to current market realities and investor expectations to foster sustained economic dynamism.
The phase of reform underlines the UK’s intention to remain an attractive destination for business and capital, with regulatory certainty and competitive markets seen as crucial ingredients for growth in an increasingly complex global economy.
This initiative reflects years of discussion about updating competition law to fit the UK’s post-Brexit economic priorities and follows recent reforms that expanded the regulatory toolkit available to tackle anti-competitive conduct in digital markets and mergers.
The government has emphasised that the reforms are designed to ensure competitive markets work in a way that facilitates growth and encourages innovation, while maintaining essential protections for consumers and fair competition.
Central to the proposed changes is a review of longstanding market remedies and regulations imposed by the CMA, with plans to scrap a significant portion of outdated obligations that are seen as redundant in today’s commercial environment.
The authority says it will assess historical interventions to determine whether they remain necessary, and remove those that no longer contribute meaningfully to competitive outcomes, a move expected to reduce regulatory costs and free up resources for businesses across sectors including financial services, travel and energy.
The consultation on these proposed changes is open to stakeholders, with the aim of completing review and implementation in the coming months.
Alongside trimming obsolete rules, the UK’s competition landscape has been reshaped by the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act, which came into force in January 2025 and broadened the CMA’s power in merger control and digital market oversight.
The government’s strategic steer to the CMA emphasises alignment with national growth objectives, including greater predictability in merger reviews and clearer guidance for tech and startup sectors seeking investment opportunities.
This includes a focus on streamlining procedures, enhancing transparency and ensuring that enforcement actions support long-term investment and job creation.
The overhaul also considers broader elements of competition policy, such as a review of the UK’s antitrust class action regime and adjustments to procedural guidance, as part of a comprehensive effort to balance robust market enforcement with economic development priorities.
Officials maintain that while competition policy will remain strong, it must adapt to current market realities and investor expectations to foster sustained economic dynamism.
The phase of reform underlines the UK’s intention to remain an attractive destination for business and capital, with regulatory certainty and competitive markets seen as crucial ingredients for growth in an increasingly complex global economy.
