The UK government has called on its antitrust regulator to support economic growth by acting more quickly and transparently in areas like merger control, digital markets, and consumer protection.
Since coming to power last year, the Labour government has pushed the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) and other regulators to help remove obstacles that slow down growth.
While the CMA operates independently, it follows strategic guidance from the Business Secretary.
“Our economic regulators play a key role in creating the right conditions for growth and investment,” said Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds. He emphasized that the government’s priorities for the CMA include being more proactive and less cautious.
Earlier this year, the CMA gained new powers to oversee major tech companies such as Google, Meta, Apple, and Amazon. These powers also extend to stricter merger controls post-Brexit.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has previously highlighted the need for the CMA to focus more on supporting economic growth. To reinforce this, former Amazon executive Doug Gurr was appointed interim chair of the CMA in January.
CMA CEO Sarah Cardell welcomed the government’s guidance, stating it clearly links competition enforcement to the government’s growth agenda.
“The steer helps us prioritize our work to promote competition and protect consumers while supporting increased investment and economic growth,” she said.
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