内容摘要："We very quickly went from being lifesavers to just another part of the system that no-one trusted in some spheres."

"We very quickly went from being lifesavers to just another part of the system that no-one trusted in some spheres."

The CMA's primary responsibility is to ensure consumers are well served by effective and fair competition.It was criticised by Microsoft's vice chair and president, Brad Smith, in 2023 after it initially blocked the tech giant's planned takeover of the gaming giant Activision Blizzard.

At the time, he said the UK was "bad for business" and that confidence in the country had been "severely shaken".The CMA went on to approve the $69bn (£56bn) deal, which, after Microsoft restructured its offer.

Mr Smith later said the CMA was "tough and fair".Commenting on the change of chair, Ms Cardell said: "The CMA has a critical role to play supporting the government's growth mission."

She thanked Mr Bokkerink for "his leadership and support over the last two years".

Mr Bokkerink was apppointed by former Conservative business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng in the role which carries a five-year term.Conservative Richard Roberts said he still believed a single, unitary council delivering all local services "would serve the best interests" of residents but acknowledged more time was needed "to jointly explore all options with district and borough [council] partners".

In a joint statement the leaders of the county's 10 district councils said they "do not support the creation of one unitary council for Hertfordshire".Hertfordshire has retained a two-tier local governance system, but in September 2024 the Conservative-led county council submitted an "expression of interest" in a devolution deal that would have seen that system scrapped.

At the time Roberts said any arrangement would include its district and borough councils that provide services alongside the county council for about 1.2 million people.Neighbouring Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire both have single-tier unitary systems of local government, when one council provides all local services in their area.