A recent decision to water down key climate targets has led to the collapse of the governing agreement between the SNP and the Scottish Greens that was struck in 2021. This leaves the SNP as a minority administration, posing significant challenges over what can be achieved in Parliament. It also raises questions on the future direction of policy, particularly on areas that are already politically challenging for the SNP, such as oil and gas. The travails facing the SNP bolster the Scottish Labour Party’s chances of making significant inroads in Scotland, making a Labour majority government ever more likely.

In this latest episode, Flint experts analyse how the current situation has evolved and what it all means for the business community both North and South of the border.
 
This podcast is chaired by Flint Partner, Josh Buckland previously a senior adviser in the UK government, and joined by Liz Lloyd, former Chief of Staff to Nicola Sturgeon and Sam White, former Chief of Staff to Keir Starmer.

As part of our coverage of the EU’s 2024 transition, our latest episode features Flint experts discussing energy priorities and challenges, in the context of the upcoming elections in the EU and the UK.

The European single market withstood an unprecedented energy crisis after Russia invaded Ukraine. While some parts of the Green Deal have been accelerated, it has also faced a strong backlash. Europe’s industry is under pressure due to the worsening security, geopolitical and economic context. Many are wondering what the EU elections in June and the next mandate will mean for the sustainability and energy agenda. The key question will be how to adapt the EU industry to the EU’s decarbonisation objectives in a volatile geopolitical environment while preserving its competitiveness.  

In the UK, energy and climate policy remain a key political issue, something that is unlikely to change whatever the electoral outcome. Although the pace of the transition will come under further scrutiny, a potential Labour government would inject further momentum in the agenda, including on the wider sustainability side. 

To shed light on the key debates that will define the future policy and regulatory agenda on energy in the EU and the UK, Flint Manager Ivana Bartolac will host a discussion between Flint’s experts:   

• Gregor Kreuzhuber, Partner and Managing Director for Europe, formerly a European Commission official
• Josh Buckland, Partner supporting clients on energy, climate and sustainability issues, based in London, formerly an Energy Advisor in the UK Government
• Sir Julian King, Specialist Partner, formerly UK’s EU Commissioner, responsible for EU policy on security, cyber and other important aspects of tech and data. 

While the upcoming European Parliament elections will have more of an indirect impact on policymaking in general, the EU environment for the financial services industry will also be shaped by external factors such as competitiveness, macro-economic and fiscal pressures, geopolitical tensions, and the challenges and opportunities of new technologies. In the context of the Letta and Draghi reports, the need to revive the Capital Markets Union (CMU) and to mobilise private funding to deliver on the digital and environmental “twin transitions” is already emerging as a key priority.  

To shed light on what this entails for the next Commission’s agenda, Flint Partner and Managing Director Europe Gregor Kreuzhuber hosts a discussion between Flint’s financial services experts:  

• David Wright, Flint Senior Adviser, Chair of Eurofi and former Deputy Director General at DG FISMA
• Fiona Wright, Flint Partner

In this podcast, our experts discuss the Budget and its implications in greater depth, what it means for the Conservative and Labour parties and the political and economic impacts on the business community.

Flint Partner Kiran Horwich hosts a discussion between:  

• Flint Specialist Partner and former Special Adviser to Prime Minister Theresa May on economic and industrial policy, Giles Wilkes  
• Flint Specialist Partner and former senior executive at the UK’s Office for Budget Responsibility, Andy King  
• Flint Partner and former Political Adviser to Labour’s Shadow Cabinet, James Kilmartin

In this podcast, our experts discuss the prospects ahead in 2024 as the military position of Ukraine worsens and the challenges to European security grow starker.

We examine the situation on the ground, the military and political drivers of the conflict in 2024, how Western support will be affected by the US and EU elections and how the rest of the world is reacting.

In particular, we ask whether the response of governments in Europe is sufficiently urgent, including in financial support and military equipment and spending - and what this means for the business environment.

Partner Katie Whitting heads the discussion with:   

• Sir Simon Fraser, Managing Partner, a former Permanent Secretary at the UK Department for Business and Head of the UK Foreign Office and Diplomatic Service
• Sir Julian King, Specialist Partner, former British Ambassador and former EU Commissioner for security
• Alex White, Partner, former Chief Political Analyst at JP Morgan

In our first episode, we discuss the outcomes of the NATO summit that was held on 11 and 12 July in Vilnius, Lithuania. Flint Director and former French diplomat Francois-Joseph Schichan hosts the discussion between this month’s guests: 

• Sir Simon Fraser, Flint Managing Partner and former head of the UK Foreign Office and Diplomatic Service and;
• Sir Julian King, Specialist Partner and the last British EU Commissioner.

In the second instalment of Geopolitics for Business, Flint director and former Australian diplomat Katie Whitting chairs a panel of Flint experts to discuss the outcome of the recent BRICS summit. They debate the significance of enlargement of the BRICS, whether China can succeed in turning this group into a counterweight to the G7, and what these changes could mean for business.

Katie is joined by: 

• Sir Simon Fraser, Flint managing partner and former head of the UK Foreign Office and Diplomatic Service and  
• Hayfa Matar, Flint partner and former Bahraini diplomat 
• Francois-Joseph Schichan, Flint director and former French diplomat.

In this episode, our experts review Labour’s Business Conference which was held on the 1st of February.

They examine the key announcements from Labour Leader Keir Starmer and the Shadow Cabinet. Our experts also look at Labour’s policy programme, its strategy for the general election, and what all of this means for a potential future Labour government. 

Finally, our specialists discuss why this matters for business and the key points to watch in the weeks and months ahead.

Partner Kiran Horwich chairs a discussion with:   

• Simon Fraser, Managing Partner, a former Permanent Secretary at the UK Department for Business and Head of the UK Foreign Office and Diplomatic Service. 
• James Kilmartin, Partner, a former political adviser to Labour’s Shadow Cabinet, who worked on several Labour election campaigns.  
• Siôn Simon, Specialist Partner, a former Labour MP, MEP, Metro Mayor candidate and minister in the last Labour government. 

The second episode of the EU 2024 series, sheds light on the political and policy dynamics that shape the EU’s political transition. Our experts discuss the main scenarios that can be anticipated for the next European Parliament, Commission and Council – and how these could impact business.

Hosted by Flint Director Anna Abela, the discussion will feature:  

• Flint Specialist Partner and former EU Commissioner, Sir Julian King
• Flint Senior Adviser and former Danish Diplomat, Claus Grube
• Flint Senior Adviser and former French member of Parliament, Philip Cordery

In this new podcast mini-series, Flint Global’s experts will shed light on the political dynamics and policy debates that will influence the outcome of the European Parliament elections and shape the EU’s post-2024 agenda.

Hosted by Flint Director Anna Abela, the discussion features:  

• Flint Partner and former Chair of the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets, Chris Fonteijn 
• Flint Senior Adviser and former Deputy President of Poland’s Office of Electronic Communications, Lidia Kozlowska 
• Flint Senior Adviser and former Secretary of State for Telecommunications in the Spanish Government, Carlos Lopez Blanco