Incoming CMA chair warns job cuts could make it harder to take on cases that protect consumers from high prices June 28, 2022 The competition watchdog’s ability to get the best deal for British consumers could be endangered by job cuts, the government’s chosen candidate for chair of the body has warned. The government intends to slash 91,000 civil service jobs over the next three years, in an endeavour to bring headcount back to 2016 levels. Ministers’ preferred [...]
UK to take ‘back seat’ as EU leads the way for Big Tech regulation June 20, 2022 Departing chief of the UK competition watchdog has warned that the UK risks falling behind its European cousins after the government backtracked on giving the regulator enhanced powers to hold Big Tech to account. Speaking to the Financial Times, Andrea Coscelli said that the UK will become a “rule taker” rather than leader in this [...]
Truck makers ‘cartel’ to face landmark £2bn opt-in lawsuit over decade long price fixing scheme June 9, 2022 A UK competition tribunal has given a trucking industry trade body the green light to bring forward a more than £2bn opt-in claim against a “cartel” of European truck makers, over allegations they fixed the prices of lorries for more than a decade. The UK’s Road Haulage Association (RHA) trade body’s claim is set to [...]
JD Sports prepares for £2m bill after watchdog finds it broke law by fixing Rangers FC merch prices June 7, 2022 JD Sports may face a hefty penalty after the competition watchdog found it broke rules by fixing retail prices of some Rangers Football Club branded clothes. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it had provisionally found that Elite Sports and JD Sports fixed the retail prices of a number of Rangers-branded replica kits and [...]
UK competition watchdog launches antitrust probe into BT’s Warner Bros Discovery tie-up June 1, 2022 UK competition watchdog has launched an investigation into BT's 50:50 joint venture with US media giant Warner Bros Discovery.
Ex-BCG partner Marcus Bokkerink tipped as next competition watchdog chair May 31, 2022 Retired senior partner at Boston Consulting Group has been named as the next chair of Britain's competition watchdog.
Competition concerns: Morrisons’ takeover of McColl’s probed by CMA May 30, 2022 The competition watchdog is probing Morrisons’ takeover of beleaguered newsagent operator McColl’s, it has been confirmed. The Competitions and Markets Authority (CMA) said on Monday it had launched an inquiry to investigate whether the takeover will impact competition in the UK, with an initial enforcement order. The two businesses will be instructed to compete as [...]
Competition watchdog warns of pastry price rises amid Jus-Rol and Cérélia merger May 30, 2022 The competition watchdog has raised concerns that a merger between two bake-at-home dough producers could lead to higher prices of pastries. The Competition and Market Authority’s (CMA) said it was concerned about a merger between Jus-Rol and Cérélia, with fears prices would rise while the quality of products could suffer. After the deal, Paris-based Cérélia [...]
Competition watchdog probes Google over distortion of digital advertising market May 26, 2022 The competition watchdog has launched a probe into whether Google has behaved illegally by limiting competition in the digital advertising tech market. The Competition and Market Authority (CMA) unveiled a second investigation into the tech giant, after scrutinising an agreement between Google and Meta. Google is a dominant player within advertising tech intermediation – referred [...]
Government’s consumer protection push criticised for moving too slowly May 10, 2022 Despite making grand gestures about protecting consumer and business rights under the draft Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer bill, the government have come under fire from critics for acting too slowly.