Speech by Mary Starks, FCA, at the Social Market Foundation on February 27 2018.

Written by: Amy Clair, ESRC Research Centre for Micro-Social Change, Institute for Social and Economic Research, University of Essex

The SMF hosted a speech and discussion with Marcus Bokkerink, Chair of the CMA, on 28th February 2023. This is the speech in full, on the importance of competition, misconceptions about it, and on the implications for the CMA's work and for policymakers.

In this essay, SMF Director James Kirkup reflects on the merits and failures of markets, whilst looking forward towards work we’re doing with Citizens Advice, exploring what we can do when markets don’t deliver the social benefits we expect of them.

A falling price cap, given worsened weather and global supply chain shocks, won't be enough to households in need with the respite on bills that they need. With both main parties promising cheaper energy bills, whoever wins in July should be bold on addressing our failing energy bill support schemes and fix the roof while the sun shines.