Finance Law and Banking Law

Sir Keir Starmer's unexpected resignation as Prime Minister in June 2026 has triggered a Labour leadership contest with Andy Burnham as the overwhelming frontrunner. The transition raises questions about the future direction of UK financial services regulation, fiscal policy, and relations with the European Union. While the Leeds Reforms and Growth and Competitiveness Strategy remain on track, a Burnham government may introduce additional expectations around governance and consumer outcomes.

Ireland's upcoming EU Council Presidency from July to December 2026 will prioritize financial services competitiveness through advancing capital markets integration, the Savings and Investments Union, and regulatory simplification. The six-month term arrives amid geopolitical uncertainty and sustained debate about Europe's international competitiveness, positioning Ireland to shape the pace of critical legislative files including the digital euro, securitisation reform, and cross-border market supervision.

The Financial Conduct Authority has published its final policy position on how cross-cutting FCA rules will apply to regulated cryptoasset activities under the new UK crypto regime launching in 2026. This comprehensive framework extends key regulatory sourcebooks including COBS, SYSC, DISP, SUP and CASS to cryptoasset firms, while introducing targeted disapplications and bespoke requirements for digital assets. The policy statement clarifies how consumer duty, SMCR, operational resilience and financial crim