Politics and regulation

Independently regulated industries – such as electricity, water, rail, aviation and communications – are under constant scrutiny, with issues like high prices, security of supply and access for all consumers rising up the political agenda. Governments and opposition parties often promise action on tariffs, taxes and subsidies, blurring the boundaries between the worlds of electoral politics and independent regulation. This leads to the legitimacy and accountability of independent regulators being called into question. How do our regulatory and political models need to evolve to better serve the public interest? Is this a real problem? And if so, for what reasons?

The Institute for Government, in partnership with the City of London Corporation, organised a seminar that brought together regulators and politicians to discuss the interplay between politics and regulation. The three discussants were:

• Rt Hon Edward Davey, former Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change and Liberal Democrat MP for Kingston and Surbiton
• Ed Richards, Managing Partner of Flint Global, Independent Chair of the Financial Services Trade Associations Review, and former Chief Executive of the Office of Communications
• Sir Thomas Winsor, Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary, and former Rail Regulator and International Rail Regulator

The event was chaired by Anna Walker, former Chair of the Office of Rail and Road, who also has previous regulatory experience in communications, water, energy and healthcare.

We would like to thank the City of London Corporation for supporting the Government and Regulators series.

Read our analysis of the event on our blog – Politics and regulation: recipe for conflict or constructive partnership?