As the Chancellor prepares the Spring Statement which will take place on 3 March, UK Finance has set out the decisions that will be particularly important this year for financial services to play a fuller role in supporting the Government’s growth mission and efforts to improve living standards across the UK.

This year UK Finance is calling for a decisive shift from strategy to implementation. Following the 10-year vision set out last year by HM Treasury through the Financial Services Growth and Competitiveness Strategy, we now look forward to working with government on delivery.

Specifically, UK Finance is calling for:

• Unlocking Lending Capacity: We are urging the FPC’s capital review to be translated into tangible financing capacity. Clear and timely action can empower our sector to support more UK businesses and households.
• Swift Redress Reform: We need swift reform of the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS). By modernising dispute resolution rules and ensuring predictable outcomes, we can give firms the confidence to invest and innovate.
• Leading in Payments Innovation: From tokenised deposits to digital gilts, we are championing the modernisation of the UK’s payment infrastructure to ensure we remain a global leader in digital finance.
• Proportionate Regulation: We are pushing for a more proportionate regulatory environment, including through a clearer application of the Consumer Duty to wholesale markets.
• Enhancing international connectivity: We are calling for growth and competitiveness to be supported through fostering the UK’s international financial relationships.

UK Finance looks forward to working with members and policymakers throughout 2026 to turn strategy into sustained economic impact.