The obvious point is that every Prime Minister is extensively lobbied & this one was open to it. Oh & he’s now a multi-millionaire…

The government has launched the 'Pride in Place Programme' under which 339 deprived communities across the country will be entrusted with over £5bn of public funding. Decisions will be made by local people, but what safeguards will be put in place? lnkd.in/eKa9RtrS

Today the North East Combined Authority cabinet met to discuss: - a bid to host the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2035; - the creation of a Mayoral Development Corporation for Newcastle and Gateshead; and - something sufficiently secret to be exempt from disclosure…

Since 2012 only six Mayoral Development Corporations have been created - but that’s about to change with at least five about to be announced. That includes one in Birmingham that’ll help realise Tom Brady’s stadium plans & another co-chaired by Steve Coogan.

There’s a different angle to this story. In the digital economy the value of data is enormous & governments hold large amounts of data. EU State aid rules limit how EU member states can award data to businesses - so was this a meeting to share the spoils of the Brexit initiative?

Has Liz Truss joined Reform yet? Or is that not allowed to happen in case people realise that Reform is basically the Conservative Party right wing from October 2024 plus UKIP’s Nigel Farage?

EU companies (as well as companies from other non-EU countries doing business in the EU) are also subject to EU competition and State aid law. It would be discrimination against *them* to exempt American companies doing business in the EU from these laws.

By Andy Singer

New post just out: "Britain isn't broken" We have our problems but the doomerism is getting out of hand. I look at the real picture on crime, migration, social cohesion and the economy - rather than the dsyoptian fantasies of the radical right. (£/free trial) open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/b...

A year before MPs debate the effectiveness of the UK’s Subsidy Control regime, a case has emerged raising serious questions about whether an enforcement body is needed. The case involves Cambridgeshire County Council “restructuring” a £120m loan into a £60m grant. 🧵 1/6

The US needs better laws to regulate subsidies - the Washington stadium deal is yet another example of this. A $1.1bn taxpayer subsidy has been offered to create a 65,000 stadium. Contrast that with the UK or EU where Subsidy Control / State aid laws stop such wasteful public funding.

Northern voters want greater devolution due to stories like this. In 2021, Ministers in London secretly cancelled plans to dual part of the A1 in Northumberland & kept it from voters. This was at a time when public funding for transport was £1,182 per Londoner but just £486 per Northerner.

The FIFA Club World Cup could be a source of embarrassment for the European Commission. Qatari owned Paris St Germain are still under investigation under the EU Foreign Subsidies Regulation (although there are reports the European Commission is trying to quietly drop La Liga’s complaint).

Airport subsidies are often challenged under EU State aid law. The UK’s Subsidy Control regime is now being used to challenge an enormous £205m subsidy to Cardiff Airport. An article on the case written with Jonathan Branton can be found at: dwfgroup.com/en/news-and-... #News #SubsidyControl #Law

🚨 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐖𝐄 𝐆𝐎! A major Subsidy Control case is about to be listed by the Competition Appeal Tribunal… 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 ✈️

Subsidy Control law aims to drive better decision making by public authorities when it comes to using taxpayer money to support businesses. Therefore it’s pleasing to see this report stating the Treasury was blocked from offering an unlimited guarantee to the Post Office by the Subsidy Control Act.

I’m lucky enough to have worked on a few projects involving the #Space sector. Today I’m at the North East Space Conference 2025 to learn more about this fast growing part of the economy - estimated to be worth £1.45 trillion in ten years' time…. #SpaceTech #Innovation #NEFollowers

Some breaking news for Subsidy Control practitioners - the government has revealed the date on which it plans to increase the referral threshold for subsidies to be reviewed by the CMA from £10m to £25m. If you want to know more, visit - lnkd.in/eWBNfM_V.

This week the UK’s second case under the Subsidy Control Act 2022 will be heard in the Competition Appeal Tribunal. A short 🧵 about the #SubsidyControl case of Weis v Greater Manchester Combined Authority. 1/

Another Subsidy Control case looks to be moving into the arrivals area… Bristol airport has instructed lawyers and appears about to launch a Subsidy Control challenge against the Welsh Government’s plan to use £205m to expand Cardiff Airport. 1/2

Tucked away in this article is a reference to Bristol Airport submitting a ‘Pre-Action Information Request’ under s. 76 of the Subsidy Control Act 2022. This extends the period for a challenge to be brought against the £205m Cardiff Airport subsidy. www.business-live.co.uk/enterprise/b...

Transport for London has excluded a bidder from a public procurement process after finding that it has rowed back on its Diversity, Equality and Inclusion goals. www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk/procurement-...

The Competition and Markets Authority want your views and experiences on the effectiveness of the Subsidy Control regime, ahead of drafting a report for Parliament early next year. For more information visit: tinyurl.com/CMAInpit

The £205m subsidy from the Welsh Government to Cardiff International Airport has been awarded and published on the national transparency database. What this means in practice is that competitors have one month from the date of publication to bring a challenge or be time barred.

The biggest gap in the UK’s Subsidy Control regime is a slick transparency website that places information onto search engines (where competitors are likely to become aware of subsidy awards to their rivals). Until that’s fixed, there will be question marks over the effectiveness of the regime.

The Bus Services (Wales) Bill could put the cat amongst the pigeons in terms of Subsidy Control. Bus subsidies are normally chosen following a procurement, but this draft legislation disapplies this requirement.

The Steel Industry (Special Measures) Bill is: • an example of #Securonomics in action; • step one of a process which is likely to involve nationalisation and subsidies; and • going to cause concern amongst other foreign investors unless handled very carefully. dwfgroup.com/en/news-and-...

If we really are seeing the “end of globalisation” then Subsidy Control law is of greater importance. That’s because it’s a route to give assurance to trade partners (to reduce tariffs) but also a way to ensure hard earned taxpayer funds are directed towards appropriate activities.

The evolution of devolution? Two Mayoral Combined Authorities have teamed up to strike a partnership deal with leading space company. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Several combined authorities have announced plans to take control of buses. It’s tricky from a Subsidy Control perspective (and it’ll be interesting to see if any bus providers do challenge) but if it can be proved to improve services then it’ll popular with voters.

Manchester United’s plans for a new 100,000 seater stadium have kicked off a discussion about the role of public funding in supporting sports stadia. In this article, Jonathan Branton & I review the regeneration benefits of such projects and how to satisfy Subsidy Control law. tinyurl.com/Manustad

Will Manchester United secure public funding for “New Trafford” and, if so, could we see a Subsidy Control challenge brought by a rival team? If I was advising any of the parties this would be a key consideration in any advice…

A big moment in the history of warfare - this week the Ukraine launched an assault with a platoon-sized force of robots against the Russians.

There’s about to be a scramble amongst public authorities across the UK to obtain AI Growth Zone designation and funding. Here’s a quick guide to what being an #AIGZ will involve: dwfgroup.com/en/news-and-in…#AIGrowthZonene

Remember when it was either London or the area around Oxford & Cambridge that got all the public investment? Well this sounds rather similar…

The Welsh Government has published a subsidy scheme that uses £2m of public funds to improve the productivity of Welsh businesses… unless they compete with Toyota. gov.wales/sites/default/…

Plans to reopen Doncaster Sheffield Airport have taken a hit after a highly critical report was published about the proposed £89.7m subsidy by the Competition and Markets Authority. Principles A, B, D, F & G are criticised, whilst 8 letters of concern were submitted, including from local airports.

The Bulb case is being heard in the Court of Appeal today. The relevant subsidy law has been superseded, but this remains an important case because a decision made on 7th Nov couldn’t be judicially reviewed due to “undue delay” (proceedings being launched on 28th & 29th Nov) which seems v harsh…

AI Growth Zones will be dedicated sites to encourage tech firm investment in the UK. The first AI Growth Zone will be in Culham, Oxfordshire. Expect a quick roll out of other AI Growth Zones in less prosperous areas in the coming months (Blyth and Cumbria seem likely locations).

Twelve days into January and the Word of the Year 2025 has already been decided - it’s ‘Gammonomics’…

Greater Manchester Combined Authority has approved the 2 loans to the developer Renaker, which are expected to be the subject of the second case under the Subsidy Control Act 2022. My views on the likely outcome of that case are below. www.placenorthwest.co.uk/gmca-approve...

Very well said. The man's a hypocrite. Musk’s war on America’s allies on.ft.com/4fLUf2Y

Yesterday Westminster’s Delegated Legislation Committee touched upon an issue which is likely to undermine how subsidies are regulated in the coming years. Schemes under Subsidy Control law are not time limited, so we have 7 current schemes lasting over 7,970 years and 49 of unlimited timescale.

Tomorrow is the 2 year anniversary of the UK’s Subsidy Control regime coming into effect. The government is currently consulting on improvements, so what have we learned in that time…

The biggest problem I have with Labour’s policy of charging VAT on school fees is inconsistency. Why are trade union subscriptions VAT exempt?

Using the weather to reflect the tone of a scene in a film is called Pathetic Fallacy - it’s looked down upon by critics. However it seems apt for New Year’s Eve to be a washout given 2025 will see Trump return to the White House alongside an even more eccentric supporting cast.

In 2025, one of the main talking points will be housing. New towns are needed, but creating them will be disruptive. Expect to hear a lot of discussion about the interplay between the need for new housing and its relationship with immigration.

This morning it was true to say that no President born in a hospital had ever died. No longer. Rest in Peace Jimmy Carter.

Merry Christmas to you

The commercial space sector is forecast to be worth £1.45 trillion within 10 year's time. The UK economy could benefit from that growth, but it’s not a given. Well targeted public funding may determine whether the UK seizes - or misses out on - this opportunity. tinyurl.com/ym625yd2