Unilateral Bank Levy.

[Green Mango]

And Conservatives are super friendly to the business with that "massive" 1% NI removal? They are all unfriendly to all taxpayers - business or individual until they start cutting down massively on public spending - none of the main parties dare to propose that.

1% NI makes fook all difference when real inflation is much more than that.

Well there is going to be plenty of financial pain to pass around after the election, but if
the Lib-LAbs load it on to business that will damage the jobs recovery.

It would be better to cut the public sector as the Tories intend and remove the burden that
Labour have placed on UK jobs....

[AtW]

So the conclusion has got to be the Labour-Liberals are more business unfriendly....

And Conservatives are super friendly to the business with that "massive" 1% NI removal? They are all unfriendly to all taxpayers - business or individual until they start cutting down massively on public spending - none of the main parties dare to propose that.

1% NI makes fook all difference when real inflation is much more than that.

[Green Mango]

This is potentially the most disastrous policy proposed by any political party. Amazingly enough it's the Conservative Party who are proposing this. Have we all gone mad?

I think we'd have to say that the Liberals and Labour are both supporting the TAX on jobs or business if you prefer.

The Liberals have also raised the spectre of more business taxes in their manifesto.

So the conclusion has got to be the Labour-Liberals are more business unfriendly....

[AtW]

If they are finding ways around it fix the system...

System is too complex to get fixed, it needs to be simplified and that is impossible politically as no party in the UK has got guts to do simple stuff like flat rate income tax.

I don't like current complex system but I like even less banks screwing everyone including those people (like myself) who did not get into debts - wtf banks are allowed to pay 0% interest rate on savings and lend out money at 5-20%?

Instead of levy though I'd prefer to see strict regulation with bank execs going to jail on a regular basis - 20 years to life would be fitting punishment for any crime damage of which greatly exceeds lifetime earnings of an average person.

Banks will certainly have to be paying for the bailout, well - customers of banks will pay for it, ie taxpayers paid indirectly (via money printing) now they will pay directly via taxes, higher prices on bank services and inflation.

[vetran]

State aid anyone?

[d000hg]

I really don't get all this. Banks are taxed like other businesses already. If they are finding ways around it fix the system... how do you introduce a special tax on certain types of company, and how do you define which companies are included?

[MrMark]

I heard Brown talk about introducing a bank levy if it's agreed internationally. It was obvious that he was using this as an excuse not to introduce it. Brown is copping out of this one for his own self interest. Prime ministers do not receive bribes directly; they get their pay-off when then retire just like Blair. Once Brown goes; you will see him sitting one day a month on some bank board for a large fee.

It is incredibly stupid of any party if they bring in a levy because in reality it’s the banks that control the country, not the government.

FTFY

They certainly need more regulation and/or control. If the Tories had stuck to their other policy of reverting control to the BoE then fine, but the unilateral levy is so obviously the wrong thing to do, I'm surprised Ken Clark hasn't taken George and Dave to one side and pointed this out.

[Green Mango]

I heard Brown talk about introducing a bank levy if it's agreed internationally. It was obvious that he was using this as an excuse not to introduce it. Brown is copping out of this one for his own self interest. Prime ministers do not receive bribes directly; they get their pay-off when then retire just like Blair. Once Brown goes; you will see him sitting one day a month on some bank board for a large fee.

It is brave of any party if they bring in a levy because in reality it’s the banks that control the country, not the government.

I was shocked to hear that Blair has squirreled away at least £20 million and possibly as much as £50 million.

I can't see Gordo being quite as commercial, but then I was suprised to hear him call a concerned life long labour supporter a biggot.
I thought Gordo at least had some integrity till then.

[OwlHoot]

This is potentially the most disastrous policy proposed by any political party. Amazingly enough it's the Conservative Party who are proposing this. Have we all gone mad?

Have they said how much it will be? If not, the policy could be quite crafty, and actually beneficial to the banks: Crafty because all the chippy proles who blame solely the banks for the crisis will approve, and beneficial (relatively) if it is smaller than levies other countries impose on their banks. (Maybe the Tories have already had a quiet word with the banks to reassure them about this.)

[Paddy]

Apparently not, from all the news stories and political debates. Labour (wonder of wonders!!!) actually have the most sensible policy, and will only introduce this levy if it's agreed internationally - so banks won't take their business elsewhere for this reason. The Lib Dems too don't have this policy, but they do intend to ban "bonuses" which I fear will be nearly as bad as the unilateral levy policy.

I heard Brown talk about introducing a bank levy if it's agreed internationally. It was obvious that he was using this as an excuse not to introduce it. Brown is copping out of this one for his own self interest. Prime ministers do not receive bribes directly; they get their pay-off when then retire just like Blair. Once Brown goes; you will see him sitting one day a month on some bank board for a large fee.

It is brave of any party if they bring in a levy because in reality it’s the banks that control the country, not the government.

[MrMark]

I believe Labour/Lib Dems are doing this as well.

Apparently not, from all the news stories and political debates. Labour (wonder of wonders!!!) actually have the most sensible policy, and will only introduce this levy if it's agreed internationally - so banks won't take their business elsewhere for this reason. The Lib Dems too don't have this policy, but they do intend to ban "bonuses" which I fear will be nearly as bad as the unilateral levy policy.

[Green Mango]

This is potentially the most disastrous policy proposed by any political party. Amazingly enough it's the Conservative Party who are proposing this. Have we all gone mad?

I believe Labour/Lib Dems are doing this as well.

[Gonzo]

This is potentially the most disastrous policy proposed by any political party.

Why?

In some countries the population actually likes being relatively poor but stress-free and happy. The British could quite like it.

[MrMark]

This is potentially the most disastrous policy proposed by any political party. Amazingly enough it's the Conservative Party who are proposing this. Have we all gone mad?