India’s push for reform 1

October 2014

Clifford Chance at the UK political party conferences The UK’s position in Europe is a crucial issue for our clients and for our clients’ clients. Any decision to change that relationship would have wide ranging consequences. With our expertise in European regulatory and policy issues we work with clients to help them operate as effectively as possible across the European Union. We sponsored a series of panel debates at the UK political party conferences this autumn, jointly with Citigroup, one of our global strategic clients, to look at these issues entitled, ‘Can Britain Lead in Europe? Will EU reform deliver jobs and growth?’

James Bardrick, Citi’s UK Chief Country The first debate took place at the Labour Europe underlined the fact that they were Officer spoke at the Conservative and conference in , shortly after the the party that would “not put Britain’s Liberal Democrat events and Phillip Souta, Scottish Independence referendum. The membership of the European Union at Clifford Chance’s Head of UK Public ability of events at these conferences to risk.” This was the line of Gareth Thomas Policy, spoke at the Labour event. We also dominate the news agenda and potentially MP, Labour’s Shadow Europe Minister and worked in partnership with the Centre for move the dial on British politics was Lucy Anderson MEP, at our panel European Reform, Business for New shown when the Labour Party Leader Ed debates. and his team Europe, and Business for Britain – three Miliband’s speech-memorising gamble repeatedly said that he did not want the organisations that represent a range of failed. He forgot to mention the deficit and first two years of his premiership to be opinion on Europe. migration – two of the most salient issues dominated by Europe, on an in British politics – and this was kept in the “arbitrary” timetable. The UK season takes news for weeks afterwards by his place over three weeks in September and opponents and may have contributed to a The audience at our debate included October when the House of Commons is shift in the polls against Labour. senior MEPs and NGO representatives in recess. Events are attended by press, such as Richard Corbett MEP and Mark politicians (MPs, MEPs, Peers, councillors, The Scottish referendum campaign also Boleat of the City of London Corporation. parliamentary candidates), party activists, had an impact on Labour’s policy. Until Phillip Souta, our Head of UK Public lobbyists, think-tanks and campaigners, now, they had left themselves some space Policy, highlighted the risk of uncertainty trade unions and businesses. And with a to promise a referendum on the EU. and reduced market access that many of general election next year, this season the However, after the close call of the our clients would face outside the conferences were even more high profile Scottish referendum, everything that European Union. Peter Kellner, the pollster than usual. shadow ministers were saying about president of YouGov, who successfully 2 Clifford Chance at the UK political party conferences

called the result of the Scottish of activists, journalists, business Vince Cable, The Secretary of State for Referendum, highlighted the need for representatives and politicians. Business, Innovation and Skills, said that people to be told the facts about Europe the idea we would get a good deal on and immigration, and that mainstream We had the Europe Minister, David departure from the EU was “an enormous parties had to make an effort to make an Lidington MP; Steve Baker MP, a member leap of faith.” effective emotional case if they were to of the Treasury Select Committee; Vicky beat the UK Independence Party (UKIP). Ford MEP, the chair of the European Tim Montgomerie, founder of leading Jürgen Maier, the chief executive of Parliament’s Internal Market Committee; conservative blog ConservativeHome and Siemens UK, highlighted the reliance of David Buik, a conservative commentator until recently the Comment Editor of The medium and smaller firms in the supply and financial expert, and James Bardrick, Times, said, “The threat to leave has to be chain that also benefited from EU the head of Citi in the UK. The debate was made in order to achieve the of membership by working with larger chaired by Matthew Elliott, Director of EU reform we need.” This sparked off the companies that exported into Europe and Business for Britain and founder of the debate, as it is very rare to have beyond, even if they did not. Taxpayer’s Alliance. Conservative commentators at non- Conservative party political conferences. The second debate in took The debate quickly got into what would place against the backdrop of the happen to financial services in the UK if Scottish businesswoman Amanda Harvie Conservatives closing ranks against UKIP. we left the European Union. Vicky Ford countered that, “The EU is the strongest We now know that with Douglas made the point that the main policy divide possible platform for competition for Carswell’s win in the Clacton by-election, is not between those arguing about the global investment.” On Brexit, James UKIP are going to be a force in the May appropriate level of regulation but Bardrick said, “You don’t need very large 2015 general election and that between left and right. The concern from amounts of extra inefficiency to really alter immigration and Europe will remain at the Steve Baker and David Buik was that the dynamics of businesses’ top of the agenda. Europe is a low-growth fortress that holds competitive position.” Britain back. James Bardrick said, “I don’t Debates on Europe at party conferences want to be a taker of regulation where These events followed on from the widely- tend to be one sided, with panels often there is no representation.” reported work we did for TheCityUK on consisting of just pro Europeans or the UK’s legal relationship with the EU. sceptics. Ours was perhaps one of the At the final debate in , we saw a most balanced panels on this topic at the party – the Liberal Democrats – who are conference. The room audience consisted facing the political fight of their lives. Dr

“You don’t need very large amounts of extra Contacts inefficiency to really alter the dynamics of businesses’ competitive position.” James Bardrick, the Chief Country Officer,

Citigroup UK Phillip Souta Head of UK Public Policy Barrister, qualified in England and Wales T: +44 20 7006 1097 E: [email protected]

© Clifford Chance, October 2014 This publication does not necessarily deal with every important topic or cover every aspect of the topics with which it deals. It is not designed to provide legal Clifford Chance LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and or other advice. Wales under number OC323571. Registered office: 10 Upper Bank Street, London, E14 5JJ. We use the word ‘partner’ to refer to a member of Clifford Chance LLP, or an employee or consultant with equivalent standing and qualifications.

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