Government announces consultation on ‘modernising corporate reporting’
The government has opened a near 3 month long consultation period, with the publication of a 70 page document titled ‘Modernising corporate reporting’. The government is inviting responses across 60 questions bridging several areas, preferring to receive these via online survey rather than email.
Two areas of particular concern given C4DG’s four immediate priorities:
James Sherwin-Smith post on LinkedIn (8th Sep 2026)
- Virtual-only AGMs – the government appears committed to clarifying that a virtual location is a meeting “place”, clearing the way for online-only AGMs, and is only asking what safeguards should accompany this change. (We will need several to protect against what otherwise become highly stage-managed affairs.)
- Reduced transparency and accountability into directors’ remuneration – removing the requirement for an annual vote on the remuneration report, and simple elements such as CEO-employee pay ratio, amongst many others. (Protecting compensation arrangements from owner scrutiny is wrong, and an odd look for a Labour government.)
The immediate press coverage is aligned with C4DG’s concerns:
- Votes on directors’ pay could go in company reporting overhaul (Alex Ralph, The Times, 7th Sep 2026) – including a quote from Luke Hildyard (ShareAction)
- Too much red tape is being torn up by reform of corporate reporting (Ben Martin, The Times, 7th Sep 2026)
- Retail investors push back against virtual annual meetings (Alex Ralph, The Times, 8th Sep 2026) – including a quote from Mark Northway (ShareSoc)
- Government criticised over plans to allow online-only shareholder meetings (Nick Reeve, Pensions Expert, 7th Sep 2026) – including quotes from Luke Hildyard (ShareAction) and Caroline Escott (GGIC)
- Yes, cut red tape. But shareholder votes on boardroom pay are not ‘pointless admin’ (Nils Pratley, The Guardian, 8th Sep 2026)
While most organisations are still digesting the far reaching consultation, before responding or completing the associated survey, some have issued a holding statement, e.g. this from Pensions & Investment Research Consultants (PIRC).
C4DG will work with member organisations to prepare a robust response.