By Alistair Smout
LONDON -British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak met Blackstone Inc Chief Govt Stephen Schwarzman on Thursday, receiving one in every of Wall Avenue’s most distinguished figures at his Downing Avenue workplace forward of subsequent week’s Davos summit.
A Reuters reporter noticed Schwarzman enter Downing Avenue, the positioning of the Prime Minister’s official residence, accompanied by a colleague who stated they had been there to satisfy Sunak.
Sunak was made Britain’s third prime minister in as many months in October final yr because the tax-cutting fiscal plans of predecessor Liz Truss spooked markets, pushed up borrowing prices and despatched traders fleeing.
In his first few months, Sunak – himself a former hedge fund supervisor – and his authorities have reversed Truss’ fiscal plans, restoring a few of Britain’s credibility and calming markets.
However Britain faces different crises, from widespread strikes, excessive inflation, sluggish progress and a well being system beneath pressure.
Downing Avenue has stated Sunak won't go to Davos, a Swiss resort which hosts the World Financial Discussion board (WEF) of enterprise and authorities leaders, as he focuses on home challenges, however on Thursday morning he hosted a veteran of the occasion.
A co-founder of the world’s largest non-public fairness agency, Schwarzman has been one in every of Wall Avenue’s largest donors to Donald Trump’s election campaigns, though he has stated he won't again the previous U.S. president in 2024.
Schwarzman is an everyday attendee of Davos and is anticipated to go once more this yr, because it returns to its winter slot following the COVID-19 pandemic.
The discussion board has been criticised by some as a speaking store for the jet set that merely provides to the world’s carbon footprint, however the discussion board insists it has the facility to deliver decision-makers collectively in a world going through a number of crises.
The assembly between Sunak and Schwarzman had not been publicised. Requested about Sunak on Thursday earlier than he left London for a visit to Scotland, his spokesperson advised reporters he had “conferences all day” however declined to say who with.
Requested by Reuters later what the prime minister mentioned with Schwarzman, a Downing Avenue spokesperson stated it didn't touch upon conferences the prime minister might or might not have had.
Blackstone weren't instantly out there for remark.
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