The Financial Times’ lead editorial today says that a global financial transactions tax is a non-starter, and then goes on to explain all the problems with a global bank levy – almost all of which would be solved by a global financial transactions tax. It ends, spilling the beans, by attributing to cynics the idea that the banks “have calculated that if they must concede something, insurance is the least-worst option.” I must be a cynic then, because that’s precisely what I wrote when bank levy fever swept Davos last month! And the Robin Hood Tax campaign launched this week (covered by almost every major news outlet apart from the Financial Times) will ensure that a financial transactions tax is anything but a non-starter. Read more »
In the UK we call it the Robin Hood Tax. In Germany, it’s the Tax Against Poverty. And in the US it’s the financial speculation tax. But in all those countries – and many more – popular campaigns are building support for a financial transactions tax to raise money for public services, combating poverty and tackling climate change. Existing groups like Americans for Financial Reform and Europeans for Financial Reform (the latter set up by the ETUC and the Party of European Socialists) are also backing these campaigns. Read more »
Mervyn King is at it today in the Financial Times, endorsing a global bank levy rather than splitting up the banks or a financial transactions tax. He describes the latter as the least likely outcome of global discussions and he may be right. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t, or won’t, get such a tax. Read more »
Minister of State for Business, Innovation and Skills Pat McFadden gives a keynote speech to Beyond Crisis, the TUC/Guardian conference on a progressive response to the financial crisis. 16 November 2009. Read more »
TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber gives a keynote speech to Beyond Crisis, the TUC/Guardian conference on a progressive response to the financial crisis. 16 November 2009. Read more »
Presentations from a panel discussion at the TUC/Guardian Beyond Crisis conference. Monday 16 November 2009. Speakers are Lord Richard Layard (LSE), Andrew Simms (NEF), Glenis Wilmott MP. Chaired by Larry Elliot.
Presentations from a workshop session at Beyond Crisis, the TUC/Guardian conference on a progressive response to the financial crisis. 16 November 2009. Ann Pettifor and Richard Murphy, with Adam Lent chairing.
Presentations from a panel discussion at Beyond Crisis, the TUC/Guardian conference on a progressive response to the financial crisis. 16 November 2009. Speakers were John Kay (Financial Times columnist), Ann Pettifor (Advocacy International), Gillian Tett (Financial Times) and Dave Prentis (UNISON), with the TUC’s Frances O’Grady chairing.
Come the Minister, come the announcement: at the TUC’s Beyond Crisisconference today, Business Minister Pat McFadden announced the creation and first meeting of the new Forum for a Just Transition, the stakeholder body to oversee delivery of the Government’s low carbon industry strategy.
Brendan Barber told the 400 delegates that, ”The balance of power within the employment relationship – for so long tilted in favour of the employer – urgently needs recalibrating. And recognising that unions have a key role to play in leveling the playing field - an intelligent engagement between government, business and unions needs to become part of the political mainstream.”
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, gives a keynote speech to Beyond Crisis, the TUC/Guardian conference on a progressive response to the financial crisis. 16 November 2009.
