Saturday 4 September 2010

Robin Hood Debate in Parliament | The Robin Hood Tax

Robin Hood Debate in Parliament

March 12th, 2010 by Robin Hood

Posted in: Campaign updates, Latest

On Wednesday 10th March, Graham Allen MP (Nottingham North), secured a debate this week on the Robin Hood Tax in  Parliament. The debate happened in Westminster Hall. This type of debate allows MPs to raise issues that matter to them and have a government minister respond.

Hear what Graham Allen thought of the debate

Graham Allen MP called for the introduction of a Robin Hood Tax (Financial Transaction Tax), saying that this was a fair way of raising the money we desperately need to tackle poverty at home and abroad.  ‘It will be one of those things that people will say ‘why didn’t we do this earlier?” he said.  Mr Allen then drew on the legend of Robin Hood,  ‘the government of today is a little more sympathetic than in the days of St John.’

MPs from all parties joined in the debate, many adding their support for a tax. The public support the campaign has enjoyed was a key point of the debate. The Treasury Minister, Stephen Timms MP, responded and said he commended the Robin Hood Tax campaign. The Minister was impressed by the public support for the campaign – and he said that the high number of MPs who supported the idea was a direct result of this public support (that’s you and that’s because of your work if you contacted your MP – it’s making a real difference).

The Minister agreed that we need to see reform of the financial sector and that the Treasury was working with the IMF and with other European countries to see what kind of international regulation would work best. Some of the MPs present urged the government to take this opportunity to show leadership on the global stage.

So we got an OK response from the Government but they need to go further – we want to see them come out in full support of a financial transaction tax – watch this space to find out how you can help push them further.

Read the full transcript of the debate >>

Parliamentary officer, Jonny Tench, with a message from outside the House of Commons

Posted in: Campaign updates, Latest

  • trevorwatling
    Has anything appeared in the national press or tV news?

  • WELL DONE, merry men and women!!!

    A debate with only 119 MPs having signed, and only two from the Conservative Party!...

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