In a recent opinion piece published in the Financial Times, Meg Hillier, Chair of the UK House of Commons Treasury Select Committee, demands evidence that “stripping away financial services regulations will generate meaningful growth across the UK."
"I do not dismiss the merits of a refined regulatory regime. Our financial services industry should be given all the tools it needs to help grow our economy," Hillier writes. “This may include rebalancing risk-taking. But, as chair of the Treasury select committee, which scrutinises our biggest private and public financial institutions, I must be led by the evidence.”
Hillier argues that politicians are often forced into one of two boxes regarding regulation: creating obstacles or removing them. This obscures the reality of developing responsible policy regarding such complex topics, she argues. Chancellor Rachel Reeves, Hillier laments, has embraced this binary and made clear which box she intends to occupy.
"Political messaging is useful for sending a clear signal of intent but it must not be allowed to force policymakers into a box," she concludes. "The most successful governments have always given themselves the flexibility to think outside of one."
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