Racing for the exit? How the EU has influenced Britain’s competition policy

Although competition policy is one of the key competences of the European Union, it has received little attention in the discussions about Brexit. Philip Kessler argues that if we left, British competition policy – which is largely inspired by the EU – would be cut off from its strong continental ties and be marginalised. The effects of a Brexit on EU competition policy would be less dramatic, but there is a danger of Britain leaving a gap that would be filled with demands for a European industrial policy by Southern European member states.