Goldman Sachs’ chief executive has emerged as a thorn in the side of UK prime minister Theresa May, warning that European financial centres could challenge London unless her government gives more priority to the City in Brexit negotiations.
The stance was evident when Mrs May met Wall Street bosses at the World Economic Forum in Davos 10 days ago to discuss her strategy for leaving the EU, according to several people briefed on the closed-door meeting.
Lloyd Blankfein, head of the US investment bank for over a decade, asked Mrs May where financial services ranked in her top three priorities for Brexit, according to the people.
“Blankfein talked tough,” said one of the people. “He said there was no reason why European financial centres can’t set up as effective rivals.”
The Goldman boss mostly asked questions of Mrs May, and delivered them in a light-hearted way, the people said. Despite the cordial mood, some Wall Street bosses in the room detected a deeper concern about the UK’s position in Mr Blankfein’s comments. “There was a particular exchange between them,” said one person. [...]
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