No 10 says UK ‘extremely attractive’ for business after Microsoft broadside

Microsoft’s president, Brad Smith, said the CMA ruling would make companies think twice about investing and growing their businesses in the UK. Photograph: Dado Ruvić/Reuters

Downing Street has defended the UK as an “extremely attractive” place for tech startups after Microsoft’s president said Brexit Britain was worse for business than the EU, in a stinging attack on the UK’s decision to block a $69bn (£55bn) deal to take over Activision Blizzard.

Microsoft rounded on the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) on Thursday after a surprise decision to block its planned takeover of the Call of Duty games developer, with its president, Brad Smith, describing it as the “darkest day in our four decades in Britain”.