UK ISA plans in limbo after Sunak’s election call

The government’s key reform initiatives, including the rollout of the UK ISA and the Pisces private market, face uncertainty following Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s decision to call a snap election in July.

Over the past two years, ministers have sought significant changes to the city’s policies, but consultation on these groundbreaking plans is now in jeopardy as the political focus shifts to the upcoming elections.

Treasury sources confirmed that the government has already suspended the long-awaited retail sale of its stake in NatWest, which was previously touted as a means to revive retail investment in Britain. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt had announced plans for a UK ISA to encourage UK investors to support the stock market through tax breaks. However, the response to the consultation, which was due to run until June 6, will be postponed until after the elections.

Labor has not yet commented on Britain’s ISA plans, and it remains unclear whether the party will support the reforms if elected. A source from the Ministry of Finance indicated that “everything is under review.”

Other measures in place include the Pisces Market, a proposed hybrid public-private securities exchange designed to provide private companies with better access to the UK capital markets. The market, developed in partnership with the London Stock Exchange, is due to launch later this year. City Minister Bim Afolami highlighted the platform’s potential to bridge the gap between public and private markets. However, a consultation on the plans ended on April 17 and the Treasury has not yet published a response. Labor has not formally supported the initiative and the Treasury has not commented on its future.

The snap election has disrupted the government’s broader legislative agenda, pushing Parliament into a so-called wash-up period, in which a limited number of bills are prioritized before being postponed. This situation casts doubt on several key parts of the reform package, including an expected update from Jeremy Hunt on pension investment plans at the Mansion House summit in July.

While some reforms, such as changes to listing rules, will go ahead as planned this summer, many of the government’s ambitious urban reform efforts now hang in the balance. This uncertainty poses a potential setback to the Conservative Party’s business strategy and its appeal to investors and stakeholders in the financial sector.