Nick French, Commercial Director

The Chancellor’s annual Mansion House speech set out the Leeds Reforms which the Treasury proclaimed aim to, “rewire the financial system to attract investment, create good skilled jobs across the country and put more money into people’s pockets.”

Here’s a summary of the key points and what they might mean for you and your clients.

Encouraging retail investment

Rachel Reeves spoke about the need to encourage more people to switch from cash to investing. The supporting press release highlighted the fact that over 29 million UK adults have cash in accounts offering around 1% interest. From April 2026, as part of the rollout of targeted support, banks will be able to notify customers with significant cash balances about the benefits of switching to stocks and shares and alert them to specific investment opportunities. The campaign encouraging consumers to invest should also be good news for the advice sector, prompting more people to think seriously about their finances and long-term wealth. While some may choose to do it themselves, others will hopefully be motivated to seek professional advice.

The Chancellor confirmed that Long-Term Asset Funds will be eligible for inclusion in stocks and shares ISAs from next April. She also stated that she is considering further changes to ISAs. Given recent speculation over potential reductions to the cash ISA limits, this is unlikely to reassure those concerned about changes in that direction. However, her commitment to engage widely before making any concrete decisions should give the industry some comfort.

Streamlining regulation

The Chancellor also promised to slash red tape by:

• Simplifying mortgage lending rules.
• Reforming the ringfencing regime which separates banks’ retail and investment banking activities.
• Making changes to the Financial Ombudsman Service.
• Streamlining of the Senior Managers & Certification Regime.
• Reviewing Consumer Duty rules.

On Consumer Duty, Reeves said she had “tasked the FCA with assessing the impact of the Consumer Duty and whether it unduly affects wholesale activity to ensure that regulators are really regulating for growth.”

Separately, the Treasury said that the rules were “intended to raise standards in how finance companies treat retail consumers but today affect the way businesses interact with other businesses.” These comments mark a shift in tone as the government aims to boost the financial services sector, with the balance between protecting consumers and allowing firms to innovate and grow appearing to be moving slightly in favour of the latter.

A broader focus on fintech growth

The Mansion House speech also included plans for a new concierge service within the Office for Investment to encourage international financial services companies into the UK. Reeves also announced greater support for innovation and skills to make the UK the fintech capital of the world.

What next?

The Leeds Reforms are evolution, not revolution, and echo similar rhetoric we’ve heard in the past. But they make clear that the government is seeking to use financial services to boost the wider economy.

For financial advisers, the announcements signal a renewed push to bring retail investors into the market and streamline regulatory obligations. While much of the detail is still to come, there are clear opportunities to engage clients who are holding excess cash and review how accessible your proposition is to first-time investors. We’ll need to watch this space to see whether any softening of Consumer Duty and SMCR rules eases compliance pressures. In the meantime, the fundamentals remain the same: staying focused on delivering good outcomes for clients.