Consultation on a Power to Block Listings on National Security Grounds
This initial consultation asks for views on the scope of a proposed new targeted power to allow the Government to block a company’s listings, if a listing presents a risk to national security.
As the Economic Secretary announced in Nov 2020, the Government believes that there are remote but possible scenarios in which a company listing in the UK could present a risk to the nation’s security. We intend to take a power to address this. In designing this power, the Government will take full account of the fact that companies from all over the world come to the UK, as a world-leading financial centre, to raise capital. They are attracted by the depth, breadth and openness of our markets as well the UK’s reputation for clean and transparent markets. This power will reinforce that reputation and help us maintain the UK’s status as a world-class destination for listings.