On January 20, 2026, the UK Department for Business and Trade (DBT) launched a consultation seeking views on proposals to improve the pace, predictability, proportionality, and process of engagement of the UK’s competition regime.
The most significant proposal is to replace the existing independent panel of decision makers on Phase 2 mergers and market investigations with new sub-committees comprising of senior CMA staff and non-executive members of the CMA’s Board and/or non-CMA staff experts. The aim of this proposal is to improve the CMA’s accountability, predictability and speed of decision-making.
An Econic Partners European team of Gianmarco Calanchi, Kirsten Edwards-Warren, Andy Parkinson, Rameet Sangha, Fabrizio Vasselli, Nadine Watson, Daniel Westrik, and Martin Wickens submitted a response to the DBT, which sets out why the proposal:
- Is unlikely to deliver its stated aims of greater accountability, predictability and increased speed of decision making.
- Risks weakening the CMA’s independence, with long-term consequences for the credibility of the UK competition regime.
The Government should reconsider the proposed reforms and explore alternative ways of achieving its intended objectives.
The views and opinions expressed in this response are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Econic Partners or its clients.
