Brexit trigger has helped London: Finance chief
The outlook for London’s financial sector has improved since Brexit was triggered, insists the man charged with its policy, even as banks remain set to move some jobs abroad.
Mark Boleat, who spoke on Thursday to AFP after British Prime Minister Theresa May activated the process for Britain’s EU exit, nevertheless urged speedy trade talks to minimize disruption. The signing of Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty late last month has kickstarted a two-year countdown to Brexit. “On the whole, I think things are looking rather better,” Boleat said when asked about the impact on London’s financial sector, otherwise known as the City. “We would hope that the negotiations go quickly and go well,” he said. If early agreement could be reached on the terms for exit and on the rights of EU nationals, “there will be the minimum of disruption to business and consumers in this country-and in Europe,” said Boleat, who steps down next month as policy chairman of the City of London Corporation.
Bank of England chief Governor Mark Carney on Friday warned of sector-wide consequences of leaving without a trade deal, but was optimistic for an agreement.
London to lose bank jobs
In the run-up to last year’s Brexit referendum, the business community threw its weight behind the failed Remain campaign, arguing it would prompt largescale City job losses. So far, HSBC has stated it would likely shift 1,000 jobs to Paris, where the banking titan already has a significant operation. US player Goldman Sachs will meanwhile move 1,000 staff from London to Frankfurt. Boleat sought, however, to calm jitters over banks shifting jobs to other major European hubs.
“Banks have had contingency plans since before the Brexit referendum in some cases. They have known there is a possibility that Britain will not be in the single market-that has now been confirmed.” Many banks “will need to restructure what they are doing-perhaps cease doing a few things, in some cases build up business elsewhere in the European Union. They are getting on and doing that.”
And he cited US investment bank JPMorgan’s chief executive Jamie Dimon, who stated this week that he did not foresee shifting many staff from Britain over the next two years because of Brexit. “I don’t think businesses are going to announce what they are doing in a great fanfare,” Boleat said.
As executives such as Jamie Dimon had pointed out, “we are going to need to build up our resources in other EU member states.” A few people would be moved, but “no one is going to say: we are closing down in London,” he said. Historic insurance market Lloyd’s of London was the first group to respond to the Brexit trigger, announcing it will open a Brussels subsidiary in early 2019.
The market, which insures against catastrophes such as earthquakes, shipwrecks and revolutions, is seeking to ensure its continued access across the bloc. —AFP