The City of London Corporation’s Policy Chairman, Chris Hayward, pledged to support the City in “building a bridge into the future” as he today [25 May 2023] marks one year in office.

In a speech to the City Corporation’s Court of Common Council, the Policy Chairman said he is committed to maintaining London’s competitive edge as a global financial centre amid unique global and domestic challenges.

An extract from the Policy Chairman’s speech is found below. Please check against delivery.

“A year ago, we launched Destination City, to celebrate the Square Mile’s unrivalled history and heritage, champion its world-class arts and culture, and promote its outstanding leisure offers. We have made historic progress on moving our famous Markets and we unveiled the foundation stone of the new Justice Hub in Farringdon Without. We launched the Centre for Financial Innovation and Technology to maintain the UK’s dominant position in fintech. And just yesterday, we hosted the second Net Zero Delivery Summit, which has become the platform to help business and government translate their climate commitments into action.

“If we want our City to thrive, if we want financial and professional services to remain the engine in the national economy, and if we want the United Kingdom to remain a global powerhouse; we must act.

“To overcome our shared challenges, we have launched Finance For Growth. Bringing together the most influential figures from across the sector, Finance for Growth will advance major reforms, ‘big moves’, that will shift the dial on growth. This is crucial as economic growth will inevitably be the key driver for whichever party forms our next government. Because the time for tinkering around the edges is over.

“Our shared aim must be for our financial and professional services sector to be the best-in-class, driving UK businesses, creating the wealth and jobs that support the economy and support public services for the remainder of this decade and beyond."