Transparency data

Consumer Forum meeting notes: 2 June 2026

Published 3 July 2026

Meeting date: 2 June 2026

Venue: In The Cabot, London, and by videoconference

CMA representatives

• Sarah Cardell (Chair), Chief Executive Officer 
• Doug Gurr, Chair 
• Emma Cochrane, Executive Director for Consumer Protection 
• Juliette Enser, Executive Director for Competition Enforcement and Markets 
• Anthony Wright, Senior Director of Engagement and Communication 
• Vlada Aikman, Director of Stakeholder Engagement 
• Paul Kellaway, Assistant Director of Stakeholder Engagement 
• Krishna Mistry, Deputy Head of Events 
• Sorcha O’Carroll, Senior Director – Consumer Protection 
• Kenneth Watt, Head of Devolved Nations (present for items 3 and 5)
• Johanna Pemberton, Deputy Head of Stakeholder Engagement 
• Andrew Hadley, Assistant Director – Policy and Practice 
• Fred Houwen, Project Director (present for item item 2)
• David Perry, Legal Director (present for item 4)
• Hannah Riches, Project Director (present for item 5)
• Mairi Budge, Director – Market Research (present for item 5)
• James Waugh, Project Director (present for item 5)

Members present

• Ruwani Purcell, Director of External Affairs, Citizens Advice 
• Brian Semple, Head of External Affairs, Money and Mental Health Policy Institute  
• Sam Ghibaldan, Chief Executive, Consumer Scotland 
• Noyona Chundur, Chief Executive, Consumer Council for Northern Ireland  
• Brendan Morrisey, Director of Consumer Engagement, Consumer Council for Northern Ireland 
• Rocio Concha, Director of Policy and Advocacy, and Chief Economist, Which?

Apologies

• Derek Mitchell, Chief Executive, Citizens Advice Scotland

Agenda

Agenda item 1: Welcome, introductions, and opening remarks by the Chair

The Chair welcomed attendees and outlined the agenda. 

The Chair reflected on the importance of the CMA Consumer Forum noting the value of bringing together a range of perspectives on the consumer experience in a single forum during a period of intense pressure when many individuals and businesses are facing challenging economic circumstances.

Agenda item 2: Consumer regime - one year on

The CMA set out its approach in the first year of the new regime, which included providing clear guidance to businesses to support compliance before taking targeted enforcement action where it identifies egregious breaches. 

Members strongly supported the CMA’s first-year impact before discussing what the CMA’s approach would be for the subsequent years and they welcomed its engagement with partners and stakeholders across the UK.  

Members discussed the CMA’s future enforcement priorities, including pipeline management, and the possibility of pursuing more complex and more standalone cases as the regime becomes established. Members wanted the CMA to continue to advocate for consumers and support business compliance, consumer awareness and education. 

The CMA shared initial analysis of the impact of advisory and warning letters, including comparisons between online reviews and drip pricing, and the forum discussed how this evidence might shape the CMA’s approach to future cases. The CMA confirmed its plan to follow up on its advisory and warning letter work and to assess whether there is ongoing non-compliance that warrants opening cases.

Agenda item 3: Middle East crisis and impact on consumers

The CMA set out its approach to monitoring and intervening in response to events in the Middle East and how they were unevenly felt across the UK, with continuing price spikes affecting consumers, sole traders, microbusinesses and supply chains with a knock-on effect on wider living costs. 

The CMA explained how it used its tools in different situations – for example in relation to road fuel, it has specific information-gathering powers to monitor the market, unlike in heating oil where equivalent information could only be obtained through a market study or voluntary disclosure by businesses. 

Members encouraged the CMA to continue to set expectations for businesses, explain the causes of price changes as well as identifying harmful practices. Members noted the importance of ensuring any interventions are clear and accessible to those most affected, particularly given the lasting effects of previous energy spikes and their potential impact on food pricing.

Agenda item 4: Agentic AI and consumers

The CMA outlined its work to date on agentic AI. The CMA noted the potential to deliver consumer benefits alongside risks where decisions are made on consumers’ behalf or businesses use the technology to engage with consumers. 

Members raised concerns about transparency in AI-assisted search, the presentation of information to different individuals, the effect of agentic AI on legal rights where it acts for both consumers and suppliers, the need for safeguards in high-risk transactions, and the importance of cross-sector regulatory coordination. 

Members emphasised the importance of cross-sector regulatory coordination, and the CMA noted this was in train through the DRCF.

Agenda item 5: Childcare

The CMA set out its approach to a potential review of the early years childcare sector and that the CMA’s Board would be considering whether to undertake formal work in this area.  

Members highlighted several issues including ‘childcare deserts’ in rural areas and access to childcare for people on low incomes. While the scope of any review was likely to be directly focused on England members agreed that any insights could inform policy discussion in individual nations.

Agenda item 6: Chair’s summary and close

The Chair thanked attendees for their contributions and the constructive dialogue.