Strategic Shift for economic Growth

The government’s initiative is part of a broader effort to ensure regulators bolster investor confidence and support economic growth across the U.K. This strategic steer is designed to reset the CMA’s priorities, emphasizing growth and investment while maintaining fair competition and safeguarding consumer rights.

The new directive also seeks to minimize uncertainty for businesses by encouraging the CMA to be proactive, transparent, timely, predictable, and responsive in its engagement. this approach underpins the government’s forthcoming industrial strategy, which aims to foster a stronger relationship between business and government to boost growth.

CMA’s Proactive Reforms

The CMA has already initiated reforms to address these issues, including a public commitment to improve the pace, predictability, proportionality, and process of its mergers investigations, digital initiatives, and consumer protection efforts.These reforms are intended to provide businesses with greater clarity and confidence in the CMA’s operations. The government hopes other regulators will adopt a similar level of ambition.

this strategic shift is part of a larger commitment to reform the regulatory landscape. Ongoing efforts include improving licensing regulations for businesses, establishing a new regulation innovation office to expedite regulatory decisions, and consolidating the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) into the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

Government Perspectives

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds:

This government believes in promoting and protecting competition – that is essential to our growth mission and Britain’s modern Industrial Strategy. our economic regulators are crucial to creating the conditions for increased growth and investment. This steer sets out the government’s priorities for the CMA.
Jonathan Reynolds, Business Secretary

I am grateful for the positive approach taken by the new Interim Chair and the Chief Executive as they re-focus the work of the CMA, supporting our Plan for Change to drive growth, investment and business confidence while protecting consumers.
Jonathan Reynolds,Business Secretary

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves:

Competitive markets are more important than ever for attracting investment into the UK and driving economic growth,and our new Strategic Steer for the CMA will help us achieve these goals,making Britain the best country to do business.
Rachel reeves, Chancellor of the Exchequer

We fully support the CMA’s independence and welcome the steps it has already taken to act swiftly, predictably, independently, and proportionately to promote competition, protect consumers and strengthen our economy.
Rachel Reeves, Chancellor of the Exchequer

Sarah Cardell, Chief Executive of the CMA:

The Strategic Steer reinforces the importance of a strong, independent competition and consumer protection regime, whilst situating this squarely in the context of the growth mission.
Sarah Cardell, Chief Executive of the CMA

The steer provides helpful clarity on how the CMA should prioritize and go about our work, promoting competition and protecting consumers with a sharp focus on supporting higher levels of investment and economic growth.
Sarah Cardell, Chief Executive of the CMA

It reinforces the approach we have set out in the CMA’s 2025/26 Annual Plan and in the roll out of our 4Ps approach, focused on driving greater pace, predictability, proportionality and an improved process committed to strong stakeholder engagement.
Sarah Cardell, Chief Executive of the CMA

Accountability and Reporting

The government expects the CMA to clearly communicate how it is indeed taking the steer into account and to report on its practical request in its annual report. This measure ensures accountability and openness in the CMA’s efforts to balance growth, competition, and consumer protection.