Hearing back from politicians

Dear Mr Hughes

Thank you for contacting me about the Robin Hood Tax.

I agree with the sentiment behind the Robin Hood Tax campaign and you may be interested to know that, before the General Election, the Chancellor, the Rt. Hon. George Osborne MP, met with the campaign’s representatives in order to discuss our common objectives.

The Chancellor has announced plans to place a levy on banks’ balance sheets from 1 January 2011. This will raise more than £2 billion, paying for the risks the banks potentially pose to the economy and resulting in a rebalancing of the burden of taxation between banking and other sectors. The Government is also working with international partners to explore the costs and benefits of a Financial Activities Tax, as proposed by the IMF, on profits and remuneration.

In spite of other pressures on public spending caused by the last Government’s years of fiscal irresponsibility, government spending on international development should continue to be a priority. The Government is committed to increasing aid spending 0.7 per cent of GNI, because we believe that overseas aid can save lives, combat diseases such as malaria and HIV/AIDS, and help to create bring new jobs, universal education and other opportunities for people living in the poorest countries.

In addition, I recognise that climate change is already hitting some of the poorest people in the world, and urgent action is needed to cut emissions and help protect people from the impact of rising temperatures. The Prime Minister has made this his top priority.

Yours sincerely

Liam Fox
(MP for North Somerset)

I am still awaiting a response from my MP. As soon as I get it I will post it here. Keep up the great work.

This is the reply received from the office of David Cameron:

I am writing on behalf of David Cameron to thank you for contacting us during this important election about the ‘Robin Hood’ campaign. The e-mail you sent as part of this campaign was copied to David Cameron as Conservative Party Leader.



The Conservative Party is supportive of the sentiment behind the campaign. You may be interested to know that our Shadow Chancellor, George Osborne, has met with Richard Curtis and members of the Robin Hood campaign team to discuss our common objectives.



As you will be aware, the Robin Hood campaign is calling for a levy on the banks. Unlike Labour, we have said that we will introduce a levy on banks in the UK. There is already international support for such a levy. In America, President Obama has announced plans for a ‘responsibility fee’, designed to recover over $100 billion of public money paid out under the Troubled Asset Relief Programme (TARP). In Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel is in the process of putting in place a similar levy. And in Sweden, banks and other credit institutions have been paying a ‘stability fee’ since 2009.



The idea is supported by the Bank of England and we have discussed our proposal with international partners, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Indeed, the IMF recently published a report on proposals for an international bank tax. We are anxious to consider this report, which will be voted on by the G20 in June, and will consult widely on the exact design of our levy.



We also agree with the Robin Hood campaign that, in spite of other pressures on public spending, government spending on international development should continue to be a priority. We are therefore committed to increasing aid spending to 0.7 per cent of GNI, because we believe that overseas aid can save lives, combat diseases such as malaria and HIV/AIDS, and help to create bring new jobs, universal education and other opportunities for people living in the poorest countries. It is a shame that Vince Cable has broken the consensus on international development, when he said that the Liberal Democrats would not protect international development spending.



In addition, we recognise that climate change is already hitting some of the poorest people in the world. Urgent action is needed to cut emissions and help protect people from the impact of rising temperatures. David has made this a personal priority of his. We have signed up to the 10:10 campaign, and are committed to cutting UK government emissions by 10 per cent within 12 months of the General Election, if we are elected. As we have repeatedly stated, we also support international negotiations on new mechanisms to provide additional funding for this important issue.



I hope you find our approach reassuring. Thank you, again, for getting in touch.



Yours sincerely,



James





James Bull

Office of David Cameron

Many thanks for your message concerning the above and I am pleased to inform you that I was a signatory to Early Day Motion 913 in the previous Parliament which welcomed the Robin Hood Tax Campaign. It can be viewed at

http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=40522&SESSION=903

Earlier this year I also raised the matter with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on behalf of a constituent and attach a copy of the response. I hope that you find this informative and reassuring and, needless to say, should I be successfully returned again as your local MP on Thursday then I would continue to do all I can to support the campaign.

Thanks again for contacting me.

Best Wishes

Jim Dowd
Former MP Lewisham West and now
Labour Candidate Lewisham West and Penge

Thank you for your email. I agree with you completely. I am so ashamed that we live in luxury while around the world children are dying for want of a few pence, and I agree, we must do something. The Green Party pledge to bring in a Tobin Tax in our manifesto.

In my personal view the entire financial system is corrupt and unsound, and is ripe for radical reform. The Green Party believe we should start again, with local community banks, and even local currencies. In the meantime, a Tobin Tax is one step towards bring the financial sector to heel.

Best wishes,

Tim Glover
Ipswich Green Party.

I am writing on behalf of David Cameron to thank you for contacting us during this important election about the ‘Robin Hood’ campaign. The e-mail you sent as part of this campaign was copied to David Cameron as Conservative Party Leader.

The Conservative Party is supportive of the sentiment behind the campaign. You may be interested to know that our Shadow Chancellor, George Osborne, has met with Richard Curtis and members of the Robin Hood campaign team to discuss our common objectives.

As you will be aware, the Robin Hood campaign is calling for a levy on the banks. Unlike Labour, we have said that we will introduce a levy on banks in the UK. There is already international support for such a levy. In America, President Obama has announced plans for a ‘responsibility fee’, designed to recover over $100 billion of public money paid out under the Troubled Asset Relief Programme (TARP). In Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel is in the process of putting in place a similar levy. And in Sweden, banks and other credit institutions have been paying a ‘stability fee’ since 2009.

The idea is supported by the Bank of England and we have discussed our proposal with international partners, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Indeed, the IMF recently published a report on proposals for an international bank tax. We are anxious to consider this report, which will be voted on by the G20 in June, and will consult widely on the exact design of our levy.

We also agree with the Robin Hood campaign that, in spite of other pressures on public spending, government spending on international development should continue to be a priority. We are therefore committed to increasing aid spending to 0.7 per cent of GNI, because we believe that overseas aid can save lives, combat diseases such as malaria and HIV/AIDS, and help to create bring new jobs, universal education and other opportunities for people living in the poorest countries. It is a shame that Vince Cable has broken the consensus on international development, when he said that the Liberal Democrats would not protect international development spending.

In addition, we recognise that climate change is already hitting some of the poorest people in the world. Urgent action is needed to cut emissions and help protect people from the impact of rising temperatures. David has made this a personal priority of his. We have signed up to the 10:10 campaign, and are committed to cutting UK government emissions by 10 per cent within 12 months of the General Election, if we are elected. As we have repeatedly stated, we also support international negotiations on new mechanisms to provide additional funding for this important issue.

I hope you find our approach reassuring. Thank you, again, for getting in touch.



Yours sincerely,

James Bull

Office of David Cameron

david.cameron@conservatives.com


David Cameron and the Shadow Cabinet would like to stay in touch with you. Sign up here to receive exclusive e-mail updates: www.conservatives.com/signup/

I am writing on behalf of David Cameron to thank you for contacting us during this important election about the ‘Robin Hood’ campaign. The e-mail you sent as part of this campaign was copied to David Cameron as Conservative Party Leader.

 

The Conservative Party is supportive of the sentiment behind the campaign. You may be interested to know that our Shadow Chancellor, George Osborne, has met with Richard Curtis and members of the Robin Hood campaign team to discuss our common objectives.

 

As you will be aware, the Robin Hood campaign is calling for a levy on the banks. Unlike Labour, we have said that we will introduce a levy on banks in the UK. There is already international support for such a levy. In America, President Obama has announced plans for a ‘responsibility fee’, designed to recover over $100 billion of public money paid out under the Troubled Asset Relief Programme (TARP). In Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel is in the process of putting in place a similar levy. And in Sweden, banks and other credit institutions have been paying a ‘stability fee’ since 2009.

 

The idea is supported by the Bank of England and we have discussed our proposal with international partners, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Indeed, the IMF recently published a report on proposals for an international bank tax. We are anxious to consider this report, which will be voted on by the G20 in June, and will consult widely on the exact design of our levy.

 

We also agree with the Robin Hood campaign that, in spite of other pressures on public spending, government spending on international development should continue to be a priority. We are therefore committed to increasing aid spending to 0.7 per cent of GNI, because we believe that overseas aid can save lives, combat diseases such as malaria and HIV/AIDS, and help to create bring new jobs, universal education and other opportunities for people living in the poorest countries. It is a shame that Vince Cable has broken the consensus on international development, when he said that the Liberal Democrats would not protect international development spending.

 

In addition, we recognise that climate change is already hitting some of the poorest people in the world. Urgent action is needed to cut emissions and help protect people from the impact of rising temperatures. David has made this a personal priority of his. We have signed up to the 10:10 campaign, and are committed to cutting UK government emissions by 10 per cent within 12 months of the General Election, if we are elected. As we have repeatedly stated, we also support international negotiations on new mechanisms to provide additional funding for this important issue.

 

I hope you find our approach reassuring. Thank you, again, for getting in touch.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

James

 

 

James Bull

Office of David Cameron

 

I very quickly received comments from my Lib Dem and Labour candidates then yesterday comment from my Conservative candidate.
Dear K.Paylor,

Thank you for contacting me about the Robin Hood tax campaign.

The concept of a financial transaction tax is a good idea in principle and is something which the Liberal Democrats would be happy to pursue. Although I am told that it would be technically possible to levy a small transaction tax on sterling transactions alone, it would be much better to have a common approach by leading financial centres including the US, German, French and Swiss governments. The proceeds from such a tax could provide a modest source of revenue to be used for funding overseas development.

The ‘Tobin Tax’ concept has been advocated for many years and progress has been hampered by a number of issues. These have included technical problems with its implementation as well as competing and sometimes conflicting claims from its proponents over how to use the revenue raised. Demonstrating that the tax can work, by securing the co-operation of Europe and the US, should have priority over elaborate plans which are unlikely to be realised.

Meantime the Liberal Democrats have proposed creating an immediate new levy on bank profits at a rate of 10%. This would be a direct recognition of the beneficial and explicit taxpayer support which banks have received: the UK banks owe their very existence to the British taxpayer. Some banks such as RBS, Lloyds-HBOS and Northern Rock have received direct taxpayer bailouts. However, all have benefited from the explicit guarantee that none of them will be allowed to fail.

The Governor of the Bank of England has estimated that the UK banks have received the equivalent of £1 trillion in taxpayer support. But it does not stop there. The banking industry is unique in having the taxpayer acting as its safety net and the Liberal Democrats believe that this should be recognised. Our banking levy would be expected to yield around £2bn next year and this revenue would be used for the moment to tackle the UK structural deficit – thus ensuring that the banking sector helps to pay for the problems it has in part created.

Thanks again for taking the time to contact me. Best wishes. Helen

Helen Flynn
Liberal Democrat Prospective MP for Skipton & Ripon

helen@helenlibdem.org.uk
01423 781 186
Thank you for your email about the Robin Hood Tax. I do support this tax, and your points are very valid about the reasons for needing it - when so many people still struggle throughout the world in poverty, we should do what we can to try and level the playing field.

I hope this is helpful.

Kind Regards,

Claire Hazelgrove
Labour PPC Skipton and Ripon
Dear K Paylor

Thank you for getting in touch about the ‘Robin Hood’ campaign.
The Conservative Party is supportive of the sentiment behind the campaign. You may be interested to know that George Osborne, the shadow Chancellor, has met with Richard Curtis and members of the Robin Hood campaign team to discuss our common objectives.

Unlike Labour, we have said that we will introduce a levy on banks in the UK.
There is already international support for such a levy. In America, President Obama has announced plans for a ‘responsibility fee’, designed to recover over $100 billion of public money paid out under the Troubled Asset Relief Programme (TARP). In Germany, Angela Merkel is in the process of putting in place a similar levy. And in Sweden, banks and other credit institutions have been paying a ‘stability fee’ since 2009.

The idea is supported by the Bank of England and we have discussed our proposal with international partners, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Indeed, the IMF recently published a report on proposals for an international bank tax. We are anxious to consider this report, which will be voted on by the G20 in June, and will consult widely on the exact design of our levy.

We also agree that, in spite of other pressures on public spending, government spending on international development should continue to be a priority. We are therefore committed to increasing aid spending to 0.7 per cent of GNI, because we believe that overseas aid can save lives, combat diseases such as malaria and HIV/AIDS, and help to create bring new jobs, universal education and other opportunities for people living in the poorest countries. It is a shame that Vince Cable has broken the consensus on international development, when he said that the Liberal Democrats will not increase aid spending to 0.7 per cent of GNI.

And, we recognise that climate change is already hitting some of the poorest people in the world. Urgent action is needed to cut emissions and help protect people from the impact of rising temperatures. David has made this a personal priority of his. We have signed up to the 10:10 campaign, and are committed to cutting UK government emissions by 10 per cent within 12 months of the general election, if we are elected. As we have repeatedly stated, we also support international negotiations on new mechanisms to provide additional funding for this important issue.

Please let me know if you have any further queries or questions you would like to raise.

Best wishes

Julian Smith


Julian Smith (Conservative Candidate)
Skipton and Ripon Conservative Association Churchill House
19 Otley Street
Skipton
North Yorkshire
BD23 1DY
Telephone: 01756 792092

I received the following comments from the constituency candidates in Hackney North (and also received the standard responses from the three main parties nationally)

DIANE ABBOTT
Member of Parliament for Hackney North and Stoke Newington
HOUSE OF COMMONS, LONDON SW1A 0AA


5 May 2010

Dear Constituent

Thank you for your letter regarding plans for the introduction of a Robin Hood Tax.

The economic downturn, of which we are only now beginning to see the end of, had a devastating effect on people up and down the country. The bank bailouts were a practical yet unpopular solution to the economic troubles the Government faced and it was hoped that banks would be discouraged from returning to their old ways.

However it seems this may not be the case, so I could see how a Robin Hood Tax would be appropriate in this sense. I can assure you that I do support the idea of a Robin-Hood tax and I have signed an Early Day Motion on this issue.

Thank you once again for raising this issue. You may also be interested to learn more about the work I do in Parliament for the people of Hackney North and Stoke Newington, please visit www.dianeabbott.org.uk to find out more.


Yours sincerely,


Diane Abbott MP

Dear Elizabeth,

I am glad to be able to confirm that the Green Party has supported a Tobin Tax (or Robin Hood Tax, as it is now more commonly known) for many years, and that it is included within our manifesto.

Best wishes,

Matt Sellwood
--
Green Party Parliamentary Candidate
Hackney North & Stoke Newington
..............................................................................
Lib dems:
I know - it's a difficult one but a transaction tax such as this could be avoided by banks if the UK were lone players - banks could carry out their international transactions in their European or US operations and avoid paying it if we took a unilateral approach.

I do, however, support the principle of such a tax, and wholeheartedly support the Lib Dem approach on putting an immediate 10% levy on bank profits in the meantime.

Best wishes


Keith

--- On Tue, 4/5/10, Elizabeth Welch <wrote: <br="">

From: Elizabeth Welch
Subject: Re: I support a Robin Hood Tax to help the poorest people here and abroad. Do you?
To: keith@keithangus.com
Date: Tuesday, 4 May, 2010, 19:39


Dear Keith
Thank you for this response. I'm glad to hear about the 10% tax on bank profits.

I do feel a little disappointed however at the thought that this country might need to wait for other countries to come on board before taking an initiative. I realise that there are a variety of economic pressures at work here, but I would hope that there are still times when this country could be seen to be taking an initiative rather than waiting for an international consensus.

Best wishes

Elizabeth Welch

----- Original Message -----
From: Keith Angus
Subject: Re: I support a Robin Hood Tax to help the poorest people here and abroad. Do you?


Dear Ms Welch

Thanks for your email on this issue.

The banking crisis has highlighted just how much of an unsustainable economy we have. Seeing billions of taxpayers' money - our money - poured into the banking system to prop it up while thousands were losing their jobs was a disgrace and should never have happened if the government had put a solid regulatory framework in place.

A 'Robin Hood' transaction tax would go some way to helping the situation. It would, however, need agreement from other nations so needs to be pursued in line with other nations in order to work effectively (and ensure it can't be avoided). In the meantime the Lib Dems would implement a new 10% tax on bank profits, given they benefit from taxpayer guarantees should they fail.


I hope this has answered your question however if you'd like any other info then please don't hesitate to drop me a line.


Best wishes



Keith


Keith Angus

Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate

Hackney North and Stoke Newington






</wrote:>

Southampton Test
I am writing on behalf of David Cameron to thank you for contacting us during this important election about the ‘Robin Hood’ campaign. The e-mail you sent as part of this campaign was copied to David Cameron as Conservative Party Leader.

The Conservative Party is supportive of the sentiment behind the campaign. You may be interested to know that our Shadow Chancellor, George Osborne, has met with Richard Curtis and members of the Robin Hood campaign team to discuss our common objectives.

As you will be aware, the Robin Hood campaign is calling for a levy on the banks. Unlike Labour, we have said that we will introduce a levy on banks in the UK. There is already international support for such a levy. In America, President Obama has announced plans for a ‘responsibility fee’, designed to recover over $100 billion of public money paid out under the Troubled Asset Relief Programme (TARP). In Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel is in the process of putting in place a similar levy. And in Sweden, banks and other credit institutions have been paying a ‘stability fee’ since 2009.

The idea is supported by the Bank of England and we have discussed our proposal with international partners, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Indeed, the IMF recently published a report on proposals for an international bank tax. We are anxious to consider this report, which will be voted on by the G20 in June, and will consult widely on the exact design of our levy.

We also agree with the Robin Hood campaign that, in spite of other pressures on public spending, government spending on international development should continue to be a priority. We are therefore committed to increasing aid spending to 0.7 per cent of GNI, because we believe that overseas aid can save lives, combat diseases such as malaria and HIV/AIDS, and help to create bring new jobs, universal education and other opportunities for people living in the poorest countries. It is a shame that Vince Cable has broken the consensus on international development, when he said that the Liberal Democrats would not protect international development spending.

In addition, we recognise that climate change is already hitting some of the poorest people in the world. Urgent action is needed to cut emissions and help protect people from the impact of rising temperatures. David has made this a personal priority of his. We have signed up to the 10:10 campaign, and are committed to cutting UK government emissions by 10 per cent within 12 months of the General Election, if we are elected. As we have repeatedly stated, we also support international negotiations on new mechanisms to provide additional funding for this important issue.

I hope you find our approach reassuring. Thank you, again, for getting in touch.

Yours sincerely,

James


James Bull
Office of David Cameron

I am writing on behalf of David Cameron to thank you for contacting us during this important election about the ‘Robin Hood’ campaign. The e-mail you sent as part of this campaign was copied to David Cameron as Conservative Party Leader.

The Conservative Party is supportive of the sentiment behind the campaign. You may be interested to know that our Shadow Chancellor, George Osborne, has met with Richard Curtis and members of the Robin Hood campaign team to discuss our common objectives.

As you will be aware, the Robin Hood campaign is calling for a levy on the banks. Unlike Labour, we have said that we will introduce a levy on banks in the UK. There is already international support for such a levy. In America, President Obama has announced plans for a ‘responsibility fee’, designed to recover over $100 billion of public money paid out under the Troubled Asset Relief Programme (TARP). In Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel is in the process of putting in place a similar levy. And in Sweden, banks and other credit institutions have been paying a ‘stability fee’ since 2009.

The idea is supported by the Bank of England and we have discussed our proposal with international partners, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Indeed, the IMF recently published a report on proposals for an international bank tax. We are anxious to consider this report, which will be voted on by the G20 in June, and will consult widely on the exact design of our levy.

We also agree with the Robin Hood campaign that, in spite of other pressures on public spending, government spending on international development should continue to be a priority. We are therefore committed to increasing aid spending to 0.7 per cent of GNI, because we believe that overseas aid can save lives, combat diseases such as malaria and HIV/AIDS, and help to create bring new jobs, universal education and other opportunities for people living in the poorest countries. It is a shame that Vince Cable has broken the consensus on international development, when he said that the Liberal Democrats would not protect international development spending.

In addition, we recognise that climate change is already hitting some of the poorest people in the world. Urgent action is needed to cut emissions and help protect people from the impact of rising temperatures. David has made this a personal priority of his. We have signed up to the 10:10 campaign, and are committed to cutting UK government emissions by 10 per cent within 12 months of the General Election, if we are elected. As we have repeatedly stated, we also support international negotiations on new mechanisms to provide additional funding for this important issue.

I hope you find our approach reassuring. Thank you, again, for getting in touch.

Yours sincerely,

James


James Bull
Office of David Cameron

david.cameron@conservatives.com

David Cameron and the Shadow Cabinet would like to stay in touch with you. Sign up here to receive exclusive e-mail updates: www.conservatives.com/signup/




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Promoted by Alan Mabbutt on behalf of the Conservative Party, both at 30 Millbank, London, SW1P 4DP

I have received positve comments from both Bob Blizzard MP Waveney, and Peter Aldous Con.PPC: Waveney, by email & letter; in each case.

Dear Duisg

Alberto Costa has asked me to respond to your email on his behalf.

As you can appreciate he is very busy with his campaign at the moment, but he promises to contact you personally after the election.

Kind regards
Julie


Julie Smith
Constituency Organiser
Angus Conservative Association


--- On Wed, 4/28/10, Bacata@hotmail.co.uk <bacata@hotmail.co.uk> wrote:


From: Bacata@hotmail.co.uk <bacata@hotmail.co.uk>
Subject: I support a Robin Hood Tax to help the poorest people here and abroad. Do you?
To: alberto.costa@scottishconservatives.com
Cc: "David Cameron" <david.cameron@conservatives.com>, "Nick Clegg" <nick@libdems.org.uk>, "Gordon Brown" <privateoffice@no10.x.gsi.gov.uk>
Date: Wednesday, April 28, 2010, 7:04 PM




Alberto Costa
Angus
Conservative Parliamentary Candidate

Dear 2010 election candidate / Party Leader

As the election nears I am considering my voting intentions, my challenge to you is this:

As the big banks return to profit, and you look at how to tax them, I would urge you to put the needs of the poorest people at the front of your mind.

The banking crisis hit the poorest people in the UK hard. Jobs and homes are being lost, while crucial services are at risk.

In the UK 1.7 million children live in severe poverty while 8.8 million children die because of it around the world every year. And the chance of finding enough money to fight climate change is disappearing fast.

Can this continue? Not on our watch!

These shocking figures need bold solutions and we're challenging you, the British leaders, to share our vision.

Hundreds of thousands of people across the UK and me are calling for a Robin Hood Tax on banks.

We're not just talking about insuring the banks against a future crisis - lets impose a bank tax that will insure the future for humanity.

Size matters, any tax on the banks has to raise tens of billions of pounds in the UK to tackle poverty at home, and must raise hundreds of billions globally to end global poverty and tackle climate change.

We're challenging you to not only believe in our vision - we're challenging you to be ambitious with yours.

When you tax the banks keep your hands in your pockets, remember the world's poor are counting on you and think BIG.

I look forward to hearing your views.


* Responses from party leaders will be made public to supporters online and in a public space in London. Supporters of the campaign will also publish responses from their local candidates as they are received on the website at: http://robinhoodtax.org.uk/your-action



Yours sincerely,

Duisg Insegall




cc:
David Cameron
Leader of the Conservative Party

cc:
Nick Clegg
Leader of the Liberal Democrat Party

cc:
Gordon Brown
Leader of the Labour Party </privateoffice@no10.x.gsi.gov.uk></nick@libdems.org.uk></david.cameron@conservatives.com></bacata@hotmail.co.uk></bacata@hotmail.co.uk>

David Griffin, Alliance Party candidate for south down

"I fully support a fairer tax system-the wealthy avoid tax payments too easily!Yes to a Robin Hood tax.
David.Griffin"

Cadogen Enright, Green Party candidate for south Down

"see http://www.downgreens.com/people/cadogan-enright/cllr-cadogan-enright-backs-robin-hood-tax-on-banks"

I posted margeret richies reply a few days ago and haven't recieved a reply from Jim Wells (DUP), Catriona Ruane (Sinn Fein) or John McCallister(UUP). I also recieved the standardised Nick Clegg reply but none from Gordon Brown or David Cameron

Dear John,


Thanks for contacting me about the Robin Hood Tax. I am a supporter of this and my support is registered with the campaign and displayed on its website at: http://e-activist.com/ea-campaign/clientcampaign.do

I'd also support returning Northern Rock to mutual status and encouraging more, smaller mutuals in the banking (and other) sectors. I believe that with more, smaller, enterprises instead of a few giants, the results of one or two getting into difficulties would not be the catastrophic near-collapse of the entire system that we have seen.

Green Party policy also supports a special tax on bankers’ bonuses, though would make it permanent. We'd also like to cap bonuses in wholly or partly state-owned banks so that no-one in those concerns would get a bonus of more than £25,000.

Thanks again for taking the trouble to contact me about this. I hope I've answered your question.

All the best,
Barry




Barry Bolton
Green Party candidate
Southend West
http://www.barryboltonmp.com

Many thanks for contacting Nick Clegg. I'm replying to letters and emails on his behalf.


You may be interested to know that Nick and the Liberal Democrats support the principle of a financial transactions tax. We would work with other countries to establish new sources of development financing, including bringing forward urgent proposals for such a tax – as well as a cap and trade system for carbon emissions from aviation and shipping. Although we understand that it would be technically possible to levy a small transaction tax on sterling transactions alone, it would be much better to have a common approach by leading financial centres including the US, German, French and Swiss governments – so that we can ensure that the levy does indeed raise revenue and isn’t simply avoided. The proceeds from such a tax could provide a modest source of revenue to be used for funding overseas development.



Only we take a radical approach to fixing our broken banking system so it works for you. If a bank (or other institution) is too big to fail, this means it is simply too big. We’d split up the banks, so that British taxpayers are never again left footing the bill for banking failure. This would mean that banks become small enough to fail and more competition is restored.



But until the process of breaking up the banks is complete, we believe that banks should pay an insurance premium – in the form of a 10% levy on supplementary profits for registered banks in the UK (excluding mutuals). This would recognise the unprecedented taxpayer support which banks have received – and to which British banks owe their very existence. Given an estimated £1 trillion’s worth of taxpayer support and a unique taxpayer guarantee, we believe it’s right that banks should contribute to repairing the public finances. Our banking levy would be expected to yield around £2bn next year, which would be used to tackle the UK structural deficit – thus ensuring that the banking sector helps to pay for the problems it has in part created.



The Liberal Democrats have consistently been more ambitious on climate change and international development than the other major parties. A key part of this is ensuring that the developing world is prepared to deal with the challenges they face as a result of threats such as climate change. We’d work to make sure that adaptation and mitigation measures are financed by industrialised nations, on top of existing aid commitments. We also support a Global Fund to help developing countries build viable welfare systems and would prioritise health and education programmes aimed at promoting gender equality, reducing maternal and infant mortality and restricting the spread of major diseases like HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria.



Labour has let down the millions of people who wanted Britain to be a fairer place in 1997 and we know the Conservatives won’t provide the solutions we need. Liberal Democrats will take concrete action to make Britain fairer. In particular, our unfair tax system in which the poorest 20% of people pay more of their income in tax than the richest 20% is completely unjust – and it’s actually got worse under Labour. Only we would make our tax system fairer, helping the vast majority of people in Britain by making sure the very wealthy and polluters pay their fair share. Under the Liberal Democrats, there would be no income tax on the first £10,000 you earn – meaning 3.6 million working people and low income pensioners will no longer have to pay any income tax at all, while millions more will get an income tax cut of £700. We would pay for this by introducing a mansion tax, closing loopholes that benefit the wealthy and making sure airlines pay for the pollution they cause.



Thank you once again for contacting us.

Best wishes,

Bess Mayhew
General Election Response Team
Liberal Democrats

Dear Dominic,

Thank you for your email in support of the Robin Hood tax campaign.

The Scottish Green Party fully supports a tax on financial transactions, and we have committed to it in our manifesto. My colleague Patrick Harvie MSP lodged a motion in Parliament supporting the tax earlier this year. You can see the motion here
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/business/motions/Default.aspx?motionid=18339

Many opponents of a Robin Hood Tax argue that the cost will simply be passed on to consumers, but as you know the aim is to focus on a distinct area of bank operations - the high-frequency, large-volume, trading of financial institutions in the ‘casino economy’. The UK should not only be taking this action immediately, it should also be putting pressure on other G20 nations to tax the banking sector globally.

The Scottish Green Party also supports keeping retail and investment banking separate, and we would ensure that banks bailed out with public funds are used for public good, banning investment in damaging projects like tar sands and the arms trade, in favour of low carbon technologies, small business and ethical trade.

We are committed to tackling poverty both at home and abroad, and if elected as a Green MP I can assure you that I will fight for a truly progressive tax system, and the introduction of a Robin Hood tax will be at the top of my agenda, because more equal societies are better for all.

yours

Kate Joester
Scottish Green Party candidate for Edinburgh North and Leith

Surely Brown has had a chance to do something before now? Or has it completely passed him by that some of us fortunately received an education before Labour passed laws and dictates that have made some of our schools no-go areas for many who wish to learn. But then Labour promised 'education, education, education', so what else can we expect. And by the way, I'm not a bigot either.

Not sure whether to wear my green tights to the polls on Thursday. Any advice from Robin Himself?

I also received a copy of Bess Mayhew's comment (below).

Comments received from the Office of Nick Clegg, Lib Dems.

Many thanks for contacting Nick Clegg. I'm replying to letters and emails on his behalf.


You may be interested to know that Nick and the Liberal Democrats support the principle of a financial transactions tax. We would work with other countries to establish new sources of development financing, including bringing forward urgent proposals for such a tax – as well as a cap and trade system for carbon emissions from aviation and shipping. Although we understand that it would be technically possible to levy a small transaction tax on sterling transactions alone, it would be much better to have a common approach by leading financial centres including the US, German, French and Swiss governments – so that we can ensure that the levy does indeed raise revenue and isn’t simply avoided. The proceeds from such a tax could provide a modest source of revenue to be used for funding overseas development.



Only we take a radical approach to fixing our broken banking system so it works for you. If a bank (or other institution) is too big to fail, this means it is simply too big. We’d split up the banks, so that British taxpayers are never again left footing the bill for banking failure. This would mean that banks become small enough to fail and more competition is restored.



But until the process of breaking up the banks is complete, we believe that banks should pay an insurance premium – in the form of a 10% levy on supplementary profits for registered banks in the UK (excluding mutuals). This would recognise the unprecedented taxpayer support which banks have received – and to which British banks owe their very existence. Given an estimated £1 trillion’s worth of taxpayer support and a unique taxpayer guarantee, we believe it’s right that banks should contribute to repairing the public finances. Our banking levy would be expected to yield around £2bn next year, which would be used to tackle the UK structural deficit – thus ensuring that the banking sector helps to pay for the problems it has in part created.



The Liberal Democrats have consistently been more ambitious on climate change and international development than the other major parties. A key part of this is ensuring that the developing world is prepared to deal with the challenges they face as a result of threats such as climate change. We’d work to make sure that adaptation and mitigation measures are financed by industrialised nations, on top of existing aid commitments. We also support a Global Fund to help developing countries build viable welfare systems and would prioritise health and education programmes aimed at promoting gender equality, reducing maternal and infant mortality and restricting the spread of major diseases like HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria.



Labour has let down the millions of people who wanted Britain to be a fairer place in 1997 and we know the Conservatives won’t provide the solutions we need. Liberal Democrats will take concrete action to make Britain fairer. In particular, our unfair tax system in which the poorest 20% of people pay more of their income in tax than the richest 20% is completely unjust – and it’s actually got worse under Labour. Only we would make our tax system fairer, helping the vast majority of people in Britain by making sure the very wealthy and polluters pay their fair share. Under the Liberal Democrats, there would be no income tax on the first £10,000 you earn – meaning 3.6 million working people and low income pensioners will no longer have to pay any income tax at all, while millions more will get an income tax cut of £700. We would pay for this by introducing a mansion tax, closing loopholes that benefit the wealthy and making sure airlines pay for the pollution they cause.



Thank you once again for contacting us.

Best wishes,

Bess Mayhew
General Election Response Team
Liberal Democrats

Reply from Ruth Coleman, Leeds West:
I support the idea of a financial transaction tax but I think that for it to be effective it is important that it is introduced internationally.

What we can do immediately is implement the Liberal Democrats proposal for a 10% levy on bank profits. This would be a direct recognition of the beneficial and explicit taxpayer support which banks have received: the UK banks owe their very existence to the British taxpayer.

You can read my responses on a range of issues on the Leeds West Lib Dem website, where you can also find the Liberal Democrat Manifesto. If you want to read about the national campaign, please go to the Liberal Democrats website.

I have had a response from the Liberal Democrats (East Riding of Yorkshire). It is the exact same as the other Lib Dem responses below.

In my area at least, it would seem that there is only one party that uses these exact words "We support the "Robin Hood Tax"". That is the Green Party. The others are using watery language.

Dear Scott,

I support the idea of a bank transaction tax in principal, but we cannot unilaterally impose one in the UK and not internationally. IF we did that, the banks would simple up and leave, paying no tax to the UK at all, and we'd be in a worse position financially.

Kind regards,
Greg Williams

Dear M? Davies,

Thank you for your email.

Plaid Cymru has been calling publicly for the introduction of a tax on inter-bank financial transactions since 2001 when we passed a party conference motion calling for “the introduction of a Tobin tax on international currency exchanges, with the proceeds of that tax diverted directly to international sustainable development”.



It has been a manifesto commitment ever since, including in 2010, along with campaigns to press the Westminster government to abandon its Trident renewal programme; to honour its commitment to delivering 0.7% of GDP as international aid; the cancellation of developing countries' unaffordable debts; increased resources to help developing countries adapt to the effects of climate change; and essential governance reform of international organisations to ensure that they take into account human rights, the environment and workers' rights.



We will continue to campaign for this ‘Robin Hood Tax’, as we have done for almost a decade, during the next Parliament. It’s good to know that finally some of the other parties are jumping – if belatedly! – on the bandwagon!



I attach our 2010 manifesto in case you would like to know more.



Thank you again, and best wishes,

From Nick Cleggs team

Many thanks for contacting Nick Clegg.  I'm replying to letters and emails on his behalf.

 

You may be interested to know that Nick and the Liberal Democrats support the principle of a financial transactions tax.  We would work with other countries to establish new sources of development financing, including bringing forward urgent proposals for such a tax – as well as a cap and trade system for carbon emissions from aviation and shipping.  Although we understand that it would be technically possible to levy a small transaction tax on sterling transactions alone, it would be much better to have a common approach by leading financial centres including the US, German, French and Swiss governments – so that we can ensure that the levy does indeed raise revenue and isn’t simply avoided.  The proceeds from such a tax could provide a modest source of revenue to be used for funding overseas development.
 
Only we take a radical approach to fixing our broken banking system so it works for you. If a bank (or other institution) is too big to fail, this means it is simply too big.  We’d split up the banks, so that British taxpayers are never again left footing the bill for banking failure.  This would mean that banks become small enough to fail and more competition is restored. 
 
But until the process of breaking up the banks is complete, we believe that banks should pay an insurance premium – in the form of a 10% levy on supplementary profits for registered banks in the UK (excluding mutuals).  This would recognise the unprecedented taxpayer support which banks have received – and to which British banks owe their very existence.  Given an estimated £1 trillion’s worth of taxpayer support and a unique taxpayer guarantee, we believe it’s right that banks should contribute to repairing the public finances.  Our banking levy would be expected to yield around £2bn next year, which would be used to tackle the UK structural deficit – thus ensuring that the banking sector helps to pay for the problems it has in part created.
 
The Liberal Democrats have consistently been more ambitious on climate change and international development than the other major parties. A key part of this is ensuring that the developing world is prepared to deal with the challenges they face as a result of threats such as climate change.  We’d work to make sure that adaptation and mitigation measures are financed by industrialised nations, on top of existing aid commitments.  We also support a Global Fund to help developing countries build viable welfare systems and would prioritise health and education programmes aimed at promoting gender equality, reducing maternal and infant mortality and restricting the spread of major diseases like HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria.
 
Labour has let down the millions of people who wanted Britain to be a fairer place in 1997 and we know the Conservatives won’t provide the solutions we need. Liberal Democrats will take concrete action to make Britain fairer. In particular, our unfair tax system in which the poorest 20% of people pay more of their income in tax than the richest 20% is completely unjust – and it’s actually got worse under Labour.  Only we would make our tax system fairer, helping the vast majority of people in Britain by making sure the very wealthy and polluters pay their fair share.  Under the Liberal Democrats, there would be no income tax on the first £10,000 you earn – meaning 3.6 million working people and low income pensioners will no longer have to pay any income tax at all, while millions more will get an income tax cut of £700.  We would pay for this by introducing a mansion tax, closing loopholes that benefit the wealthy and making sure airlines pay for the pollution they cause.
 

Thank you once again for contacting us.
 
Best wishes,
 
Bess Mayhew
General Election Response Team
Liberal Democrat

 

I got exactly the same response.

Here is the only response I have received in two days:

Many thanks for your message concerning the above and I am pleased to inform you that I was a signatory to Early Day Motion 913 in the previous Parliament which welcomed the Robin Hood Tax Campaign. It can be viewed at

http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=40522&SESSION=903

Earlier this year I also raised the matter with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on behalf of a constituent and attach a copy of the response. I hope that you find this informative and reassuring and, needless to say, should I be successfully returned again as your local MP on Thursday then I would continue to do all I can to support the campaign.

Thanks again for contacting me.

Best Wishes

Jim Dowd
Former MP Lewisham West and now
Labour Candidate Lewisham West and Penge

Many thanks for contacting Nick Clegg. I'm replying to letters and emails on his behalf.


You may be interested to know that Nick and the Liberal Democrats support the principle of a financial transactions tax. We would work with other countries to establish new sources of development financing, including bringing forward urgent proposals for such a tax – as well as a cap and trade system for carbon emissions from aviation and shipping. Although we understand that it would be technically possible to levy a small transaction tax on sterling transactions alone, it would be much better to have a common approach by leading financial centres including the US, German, French and Swiss governments – so that we can ensure that the levy does indeed raise revenue and isn’t simply avoided. The proceeds from such a tax could provide a modest source of revenue to be used for funding overseas development.



Only we take a radical approach to fixing our broken banking system so it works for you. If a bank (or other institution) is too big to fail, this means it is simply too big. We’d split up the banks, so that British taxpayers are never again left footing the bill for banking failure. This would mean that banks become small enough to fail and more competition is restored.



But until the process of breaking up the banks is complete, we believe that banks should pay an insurance premium – in the form of a 10% levy on supplementary profits for registered banks in the UK (excluding mutuals). This would recognise the unprecedented taxpayer support which banks have received – and to which British banks owe their very existence. Given an estimated £1 trillion’s worth of taxpayer support and a unique taxpayer guarantee, we believe it’s right that banks should contribute to repairing the public finances. Our banking levy would be expected to yield around £2bn next year, which would be used to tackle the UK structural deficit – thus ensuring that the banking sector helps to pay for the problems it has in part created.



The Liberal Democrats have consistently been more ambitious on climate change and international development than the other major parties. A key part of this is ensuring that the developing world is prepared to deal with the challenges they face as a result of threats such as climate change. We’d work to make sure that adaptation and mitigation measures are financed by industrialised nations, on top of existing aid commitments. We also support a Global Fund to help developing countries build viable welfare systems and would prioritise health and education programmes aimed at promoting gender equality, reducing maternal and infant mortality and restricting the spread of major diseases like HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria.



Labour has let down the millions of people who wanted Britain to be a fairer place in 1997 and we know the Conservatives won’t provide the solutions we need. Liberal Democrats will take concrete action to make Britain fairer. In particular, our unfair tax system in which the poorest 20% of people pay more of their income in tax than the richest 20% is completely unjust – and it’s actually got worse under Labour. Only we would make our tax system fairer, helping the vast majority of people in Britain by making sure the very wealthy and polluters pay their fair share. Under the Liberal Democrats, there would be no income tax on the first £10,000 you earn – meaning 3.6 million working people and low income pensioners will no longer have to pay any income tax at all, while millions more will get an income tax cut of £700. We would pay for this by introducing a mansion tax, closing loopholes that benefit the wealthy and making sure airlines pay for the pollution they cause.



Thank you once again for contacting us.

Best wishes,

Bess Mayhew
General Election Response Team
Liberal Democrats

A response from the Conservative Party rep

Zakia

Thank you for getting in touch about the 'Robin Hood' campaign.
The Conservative Party is supportive of the sentiment behind the campaign. You may be interested to know that George Osborne, the shadow Chancellor, has met with Richard Curtis and members of the Robin Hood campaign team to discuss our common objectives.
Unlike Labour, we have said that we will introduce a levy on banks in the UK.
There is already international support for such a levy. In America, President Obama has announced plans for a 'responsibility fee', designed to recover over $100 billion of public money paid out under the Troubled Asset Relief Programme (TARP). In Germany, Angela Merkel is in the process of putting in place a similar levy. And in Sweden, banks and other credit institutions have been paying a 'stability fee' since 2009.
The idea is supported by the Bank of England and we have discussed our proposal with international partners, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Indeed, the IMF recently published a report on proposals for an international bank tax. We are anxious to consider this report, which will be voted on by the G20 in June, and will consult widely on the exact design of our levy.
We also agree that, in spite of other pressures on public spending, government spending on international development should continue to be a priority. We are therefore committed to increasing aid spending to 0.7 per cent of GNI, because we believe that overseas aid can save lives, combat diseases such as malaria and HIV/AIDS, and help to create bring new jobs, universal education and other opportunities for people living in the poorest countries. It is a shame that Vince Cable has broken the consensus on international development, when he said that the Liberal Democrats will not increase aid spending to 0.7 per cent of GNI.
And, we recognise that climate change is already hitting some of the poorest people in the world. Urgent action is needed to cut emissions and help protect people from the impact of rising temperatures. David has made this a personal priority of his. We have signed up to the 10:10 campaign, and are committed to cutting UK government emissions by 10 per cent within 12 months of the general election, if we are elected. As we have repeatedly stated, we also support international negotiations on new mechanisms to provide additional funding for this important issue.

Kind Regards

Alex Williams

Hello Zakia

Thanks for your email. You may be aware that the Green Party does support this tax and it has been included in our manifesto. We would like to see it ideally imposed internationally and believe it would help stabilise financial markets as well as raise as much as £250 billion. We favour dedicating the revenues from a international financial transactions tax to pay for the development of renewable energy technologies and climate change adaption in poorer countries.

Best wishes
margaret westbrook
Green Party PPC for Stretford and Urmston

*** Another response, this time from Lib Dem rep ***



Many thanks for contacting Nick Clegg. I'm replying to letters and emails on his behalf.


You may be interested to know that Nick and the Liberal Democrats support the principle of a financial transactions tax. We would work with other countries to establish new sources of development financing, including bringing forward urgent proposals for such a tax – as well as a cap and trade system for carbon emissions from aviation and shipping. Although we understand that it would be technically possible to levy a small transaction tax on sterling transactions alone, it would be much better to have a common approach by leading financial centres including the US, German, French and Swiss governments – so that we can ensure that the levy does indeed raise revenue and isn’t simply avoided. The proceeds from such a tax could provide a modest source of revenue to be used for funding overseas development.



Only we take a radical approach to fixing our broken banking system so it works for you. If a bank (or other institution) is too big to fail, this means it is simply too big. We’d split up the banks, so that British taxpayers are never again left footing the bill for banking failure. This would mean that banks become small enough to fail and more competition is restored.



But until the process of breaking up the banks is complete, we believe that banks should pay an insurance premium – in the form of a 10% levy on supplementary profits for registered banks in the UK (excluding mutuals). This would recognise the unprecedented taxpayer support which banks have received – and to which British banks owe their very existence. Given an estimated £1 trillion’s worth of taxpayer support and a unique taxpayer guarantee, we believe it’s right that banks should contribute to repairing the public finances. Our banking levy would be expected to yield around £2bn next year, which would be used to tackle the UK structural deficit – thus ensuring that the banking sector helps to pay for the problems it has in part created.



The Liberal Democrats have consistently been more ambitious on climate change and international development than the other major parties. A key part of this is ensuring that the developing world is prepared to deal with the challenges they face as a result of threats such as climate change. We’d work to make sure that adaptation and mitigation measures are financed by industrialised nations, on top of existing aid commitments. We also support a Global Fund to help developing countries build viable welfare systems and would prioritise health and education programmes aimed at promoting gender equality, reducing maternal and infant mortality and restricting the spread of major diseases like HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria.



Labour has let down the millions of people who wanted Britain to be a fairer place in 1997 and we know the Conservatives won’t provide the solutions we need. Liberal Democrats will take concrete action to make Britain fairer. In particular, our unfair tax system in which the poorest 20% of people pay more of their income in tax than the richest 20% is completely unjust – and it’s actually got worse under Labour. Only we would make our tax system fairer, helping the vast majority of people in Britain by making sure the very wealthy and polluters pay their fair share. Under the Liberal Democrats, there would be no income tax on the first £10,000 you earn – meaning 3.6 million working people and low income pensioners will no longer have to pay any income tax at all, while millions more will get an income tax cut of £700. We would pay for this by introducing a mansion tax, closing loopholes that benefit the wealthy and making sure airlines pay for the pollution they cause.



Thank you once again for contacting us.

Best wishes,

Bess Mayhew
General Election Response Team
Liberal Democrats

Comments received from Malcolm Bruce, Scottish Liberal Democratic Party Candidate - Aberdeen Area.

Thank you for contacting me about the Robin Hood tax campaign. Please accept my apologies for the delay in responding to you.

The concept of a financial transaction tax is a good idea in principle and is something which the Liberal Democrats would be happy to pursue. Although I am told that it would be technically possible to levy a small transaction tax on sterling transactions alone, it would be much better to have a common approach by leading financial centres including the US, German, French and Swiss governments. The proceeds from such a tax could provide a modest source of revenue to be used for funding overseas development.


The ‘Tobin Tax’ concept has been advocated for many years and progress has been hampered by a number of issues. These have included technical problems with its implementation as well as competing and sometimes conflicting claims from its proponents over how to use the revenue raised. Demonstrating that the tax can work, by securing the co-operation of Europe and the US, should have priority over elaborate plans which are unlikely to be realised.

That is why we have made a manifesto commitment to work with other countries to establish new sources of development financing, including bringing forward urgent proposals for a financial transaction tax.


In the meantime, Liberal Democrats have proposed creating an immediate new levy on bank profits at a rate of 10%. This would be a direct recognition of the beneficial and explicit taxpayer support which banks have received: the UK banks owe their very existence to the British taxpayer. Some banks such as RBS, Lloyds-HBOS and Northern Rock have received direct taxpayer bailouts. However, all have benefited from the explicit guarantee that none of them will be allowed to fail.

The Governor of the Bank of England has estimated that the UK banks have received the equivalent of £1 trillion in taxpayer support. But it does not stop there. The banking industry is unique in having the taxpayer acting as its safety net and the Liberal Democrats believe that this should be recognised. Our banking levy would be expected to yield around £2bn next year and this revenue would be used to partially fund a one year economic and jobs stimulus package in the first year of the new parliament and then to tackle the UK structural deficit – thus ensuring that the banking sector helps to pay for the problems it has in part created.

Thanks again for taking the time to contact me.

Yours sincerely


Rt Hon Malcolm Bruce PPC
Scottish Liberal Democrat PPC for Gordon

Dear Mhairi Strauss
Thank you for your enquiry. I do indeed support the Robin Hood Tax and have signed the online pledge to that end. The Green Party is committed to reducing inequality which has grown under recent Labour governments as well as under previous Conservative ones. It is an imbalance that has lead to low pay, poverty, increased crime rates, threats to public services and far more problems. We are committed to redressing this and have a radical manifesto geared up to achieve our objectives.
Our manifesto is available at:
http://www.greenparty.org.uk/assets/files/resources/Manifesto_web_file.pdf
Taxation is covered from page 14 though other sections may be of interest to you also.
Short notice I know, but we have the Green Party Speaker on Economics speaking to us at the Old Bell, Southgate Street, Gloucester from 8pm this evening. If you have further questions it may be a good opportunity to voice them.
Regards
Bryan Meloy



Bryan Meloy
Green Party Parliamentary Candidate for Gloucester
Gloucester Green Party
8 Nelson Street
Gloucester
GL1 4QX
0845 456 2602
07941 304764
Facebook Group: 'Green MP for Gloucester'


I also had the Nick Clegg reply, but looks like quite a few have posted it already.

Many thanks for contacting Nick Clegg. I'm replying to letters and emails on his behalf.


You may be interested to know that Nick and the Liberal Democrats support the principle of a financial transactions tax. We would work with other countries to establish new sources of development financing, including bringing forward urgent proposals for such a tax – as well as a cap and trade system for carbon emissions from aviation and shipping. Although we understand that it would be technically possible to levy a small transaction tax on sterling transactions alone, it would be much better to have a common approach by leading financial centres including the US, German, French and Swiss governments – so that we can ensure that the levy does indeed raise revenue and isn’t simply avoided. The proceeds from such a tax could provide a modest source of revenue to be used for funding overseas development.



Only we take a radical approach to fixing our broken banking system so it works for you. If a bank (or other institution) is too big to fail, this means it is simply too big. We’d split up the banks, so that British taxpayers are never again left footing the bill for banking failure. This would mean that banks become small enough to fail and more competition is restored.



But until the process of breaking up the banks is complete, we believe that banks should pay an insurance premium – in the form of a 10% levy on supplementary profits for registered banks in the UK (excluding mutuals). This would recognise the unprecedented taxpayer support which banks have received – and to which British banks owe their very existence. Given an estimated £1 trillion’s worth of taxpayer support and a unique taxpayer guarantee, we believe it’s right that banks should contribute to repairing the public finances. Our banking levy would be expected to yield around £2bn next year, which would be used to tackle the UK structural deficit – thus ensuring that the banking sector helps to pay for the problems it has in part created.



The Liberal Democrats have consistently been more ambitious on climate change and international development than the other major parties. A key part of this is ensuring that the developing world is prepared to deal with the challenges they face as a result of threats such as climate change. We’d work to make sure that adaptation and mitigation measures are financed by industrialised nations, on top of existing aid commitments. We also support a Global Fund to help developing countries build viable welfare systems and would prioritise health and education programmes aimed at promoting gender equality, reducing maternal and infant mortality and restricting the spread of major diseases like HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria.



Labour has let down the millions of people who wanted Britain to be a fairer place in 1997 and we know the Conservatives won’t provide the solutions we need. Liberal Democrats will take concrete action to make Britain fairer. In particular, our unfair tax system in which the poorest 20% of people pay more of their income in tax than the richest 20% is completely unjust – and it’s actually got worse under Labour. Only we would make our tax system fairer, helping the vast majority of people in Britain by making sure the very wealthy and polluters pay their fair share. Under the Liberal Democrats, there would be no income tax on the first £10,000 you earn – meaning 3.6 million working people and low income pensioners will no longer have to pay any income tax at all, while millions more will get an income tax cut of £700. We would pay for this by introducing a mansion tax, closing loopholes that benefit the wealthy and making sure airlines pay for the pollution they cause.



Thank you once again for contacting us.

Best wishes,

Bess Mayhew
General Election Response Team
Liberal Democrats

Many thanks for contacting Nick Clegg. I'm replying to letters and emails on his behalf.


You may be interested to know that Nick and the Liberal Democrats support the principle of a financial transactions tax. We would work with other countries to establish new sources of development financing, including bringing forward urgent proposals for such a tax – as well as a cap and trade system for carbon emissions from aviation and shipping. Although we understand that it would be technically possible to levy a small transaction tax on sterling transactions alone, it would be much better to have a common approach by leading financial centres including the US, German, French and Swiss governments – so that we can ensure that the levy does indeed raise revenue and isn’t simply avoided. The proceeds from such a tax could provide a modest source of revenue to be used for funding overseas development.



Only we take a radical approach to fixing our broken banking system so it works for you. If a bank (or other institution) is too big to fail, this means it is simply too big. We’d split up the banks, so that British taxpayers are never again left footing the bill for banking failure. This would mean that banks become small enough to fail and more competition is restored.



But until the process of breaking up the banks is complete, we believe that banks should pay an insurance premium – in the form of a 10% levy on supplementary profits for registered banks in the UK (excluding mutuals). This would recognise the unprecedented taxpayer support which banks have received – and to which British banks owe their very existence. Given an estimated £1 trillion’s worth of taxpayer support and a unique taxpayer guarantee, we believe it’s right that banks should contribute to repairing the public finances. Our banking levy would be expected to yield around £2bn next year, which would be used to tackle the UK structural deficit – thus ensuring that the banking sector helps to pay for the problems it has in part created.



The Liberal Democrats have consistently been more ambitious on climate change and international development than the other major parties. A key part of this is ensuring that the developing world is prepared to deal with the challenges they face as a result of threats such as climate change. We’d work to make sure that adaptation and mitigation measures are financed by industrialised nations, on top of existing aid commitments. We also support a Global Fund to help developing countries build viable welfare systems and would prioritise health and education programmes aimed at promoting gender equality, reducing maternal and infant mortality and restricting the spread of major diseases like HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria.



Labour has let down the millions of people who wanted Britain to be a fairer place in 1997 and we know the Conservatives won’t provide the solutions we need. Liberal Democrats will take concrete action to make Britain fairer. In particular, our unfair tax system in which the poorest 20% of people pay more of their income in tax than the richest 20% is completely unjust – and it’s actually got worse under Labour. Only we would make our tax system fairer, helping the vast majority of people in Britain by making sure the very wealthy and polluters pay their fair share. Under the Liberal Democrats, there would be no income tax on the first £10,000 you earn – meaning 3.6 million working people and low income pensioners will no longer have to pay any income tax at all, while millions more will get an income tax cut of £700. We would pay for this by introducing a mansion tax, closing loopholes that benefit the wealthy and making sure airlines pay for the pollution they cause.



Thank you once again for contacting us.

Best wishes,

Bess Mayhew
General Election Response Team
Liberal Democrats

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Still a no response from Labour!!!!

Many thanks for contacting Nick Clegg. I'm replying to letters and emails on his behalf.


You may be interested to know that Nick and the Liberal Democrats support the principle of a financial transactions tax. We would work with other countries to establish new sources of development financing, including bringing forward urgent proposals for such a tax – as well as a cap and trade system for carbon emissions from aviation and shipping. Although we understand that it would be technically possible to levy a small transaction tax on sterling transactions alone, it would be much better to have a common approach by leading financial centres including the US, German, French and Swiss governments – so that we can ensure that the levy does indeed raise revenue and isn’t simply avoided. The proceeds from such a tax could provide a modest source of revenue to be used for funding overseas development.



Only we take a radical approach to fixing our broken banking system so it works for you. If a bank (or other institution) is too big to fail, this means it is simply too big. We’d split up the banks, so that British taxpayers are never again left footing the bill for banking failure. This would mean that banks become small enough to fail and more competition is restored.



But until the process of breaking up the banks is complete, we believe that banks should pay an insurance premium – in the form of a 10% levy on supplementary profits for registered banks in the UK (excluding mutuals). This would recognise the unprecedented taxpayer support which banks have received – and to which British banks owe their very existence. Given an estimated £1 trillion’s worth of taxpayer support and a unique taxpayer guarantee, we believe it’s right that banks should contribute to repairing the public finances. Our banking levy would be expected to yield around £2bn next year, which would be used to tackle the UK structural deficit – thus ensuring that the banking sector helps to pay for the problems it has in part created.



The Liberal Democrats have consistently been more ambitious on climate change and international development than the other major parties. A key part of this is ensuring that the developing world is prepared to deal with the challenges they face as a result of threats such as climate change. We’d work to make sure that adaptation and mitigation measures are financed by industrialised nations, on top of existing aid commitments. We also support a Global Fund to help developing countries build viable welfare systems and would prioritise health and education programmes aimed at promoting gender equality, reducing maternal and infant mortality and restricting the spread of major diseases like HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria.



Labour has let down the millions of people who wanted Britain to be a fairer place in 1997 and we know the Conservatives won’t provide the solutions we need. Liberal Democrats will take concrete action to make Britain fairer. In particular, our unfair tax system in which the poorest 20% of people pay more of their income in tax than the richest 20% is completely unjust – and it’s actually got worse under Labour. Only we would make our tax system fairer, helping the vast majority of people in Britain by making sure the very wealthy and polluters pay their fair share. Under the Liberal Democrats, there would be no income tax on the first £10,000 you earn – meaning 3.6 million working people and low income pensioners will no longer have to pay any income tax at all, while millions more will get an income tax cut of £700. We would pay for this by introducing a mansion tax, closing loopholes that benefit the wealthy and making sure airlines pay for the pollution they cause.


Thank you once again for contacting us.

Best wishes,

Bess Mayhew
General Election Response Team
Liberal Democrats

The response below, in quotation marks, is what I received from Tessa Jowell MP. Am I missing something? I still do not know if she supports a Robin Hood Tax or not!

'Thank you for your email in relation to tax justice and the introduction of the 'Robin Hood Tax'. I have received a large amount of correspondence on this issue and you may have already received a similar response on this matter.

I have attached a link below to a further response I recently received from the Chancellor Alistair Darling on this subject. http://www.tessajowell.net/uploads/11ec2581-cc88-d004-2d4e-edf7d81e45e3.pdf

The international banking system played a key role in fueling the most severe global recession since the Second World War and it is right that banks should make a contribution to society given what has happened. This is something Gordon Brown has been calling for for some time. There must be no return to the excesses of the past and banks will face tighter regulation. As well as being a major employer and wealth creator the banking system must support domestic businesses, including start-ups and entrepreneurs as well as mortgages. The Government has agreed lending targets with those banks in which it has a stake and there will be consequences for executive remuneration if targets are not met. Labour will give the FSA additional powers if necessary to constrain and quash executive remuneration where it is a source of risk and instability.

Turning more specifically to the issue of a bank levy (‘robin hood tax’) I welcome the report the IMF announced just last week. I fully support the fund's preference for a global deal. The IMF said: "International co-operation would be beneficial, particularly in the context of cross-border financial institutions. Countries' experiences in the recent crisis differ widely and so do their priorities as they emerge from it. But none is immune from the risk of a future – and inevitably global – financial crisis. Unilateral actions by governments risk being undermined by tax and regulatory arbitrage".

The global downturn was caused, in part, by the lack of internationally agreed regulation of financial institutions. It is clear that to avoid such difficulties in the future international agreements are vital. That is why Gordon Brown has been pushing so hard with other world leaders to encourage a deal. The last thing we want is for a competition to develop that would effectively create whole countries as the equivalent to off shore tax havens.

I hope this is helpful.

With best wishes,
Tessa Jowell'

I agree with the sentiment behind the 'Robin Hood' campaign.
That is why Conservatives have been calling for an internationally-agreed tax on banks, which could raise billions of pounds to fund domestic and international policies, including action to help the most vulnerable at home and abroad. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is producing a report on what form such a tax might take. They are considering the practicality of a transaction tax, alongside other options like a levy, a form of which President Obama has proposed and the Swedish government has implemented.
I also agree that, in spite of other pressures on public spending caused by the recession, government spending on international development should continue to be a priority. We are therefore committed to increasing aid spending to 0.7% of GNI, because we believe that overseas aid can save lives, combat diseases such as malaria and HIV/AIDS, and help bring new jobs, universal education and other opportunities to people living in the poorest countries.
In addition, we recognise that climate change is already hitting some of the poorest people in the world, and urgent action is needed to cut emissions and help protect people from the impact of rising temperatures. David Cameron has made this a personal priority of his. We have signed up to the 10:10 campaign, and committed to cutting UK government emissions by 10% within 12 months of the general election. And as we have repeatedly stated, we also support international negotiations on new mechanisms to provide additional funding for this important issue.
You may be interested to know that the Conservative Shadow Chancellor George Osborne has met with the Robin Hood campaign in order to discuss our common objectives.


Kind Regards

Simon Kirby
Conservative Parliamentary Candidate
Brighton Kemptown & Peacehaven

I heard back from my conservative MP and he is in full agreement. Furthermore he said that in the last week of Parliment, the goverment declined the chance to debate the Rovbin Hood Tax. Typical! The Conservative Shadow Chancellor George Osborne has met with the Robin hood campaign to discuss their common objectives.

Heard back from Mike McKenzie (SNP) who simply states that he agrees totally with all our points.

Copy of reply from Alan Reid MP (Lib Dem) from Lomond North.

Dear Ali

Thank you for contacting me about the Robin Hood tax campaign.

The concept of a financial transaction tax is a good idea. It would work
best if we have a common approach by leading financial centres including the
US, German, French and Swiss governments. The proceeds from such a tax could
provide a source of revenue to be used for funding overseas development and
combating climate change. So I signed a House of Commons motion which reads,

"That this House supports the Robin Hood tax campaign which calls for the
introduction of a financial transaction tax; notes that by taking an average
of 0.05 per cent. from speculative banking transactions, hundreds of
billions of pounds could be raised every year to tackle poverty and climate
change, at home and abroad; believes that banks, which had a large role in
causing the economic crisis, should do more than just pay back the bailouts
or insure against future crises; further believes that a Robin Hood tax
would be an effective and popular response, with a recent poll finding that
80 per cent. of respondents supported the introduction of a Robin Hood tax;
commends the work of all those organisations backing this campaign who have
mobilised their supporters to increase the pressure for such change;
believes that this tax is an idea that has come of age; and urges the
Government to do all possible to ensure that the Robin Hood tax becomes a
reality."

Thank you for letting me know your views and if there is anything further
you wish to raise with me, please do not hesitate to get back in touch.

Yours sincerely


Alan Reid

alison Comment from conservative candidate Desmond Swayne New Forest West :- "Many thanks, I agree that the banks must cough up, but I believe you to be misguided in your apparent belief that poverty at home and internationally can be addressed by taxation. Rather it is enterprise and initiative (which are often restrained by taxation) that liberate people from poverty. DS"

Liberal Democrat Parlimentary Candidate Mike Plummer from New Forest West Alison "I have already signed the pledge" The rest of the E mail was all positive with leaflets attached

The Green Party Janet Richards :- Dear Alison "I fully support the idea of this tax - infact there is a commitment in the green party manifestoto introduce such a tax" The rest of this e-mail was also encouraging and positive.

So far no reply from Labour.

Hope this feedback is useful.






Hope this feedback is of value.

Comments received from Ross Thomson, Consevative Candidate

Thank you very much for taking the time to get in touch with me
regarding a Robin Hood tax. I really do appreciate you doing so. I do
agree with the sentiment behind the 'Robin Hood' campaign.

The Conservatives also share that sentiment which is why we have been
calling for an internationally-agreed tax on banks, which could raise
billions of pounds to fund domestic and international policies,
including action to help the most vulnerable at home and abroad. The
International Monetary Fund (IMF) is producing a report on what form
such a tax might take. They are considering the practicality of a
transaction tax, alongside other options like a levy, a form of which
President Obama has proposed and the Swedish government has
implemented.

I also agree that, in spite of other pressures on public spending
caused by the recession, government spending on international
development should continue to be a priority. We are therefore
committed to increasing aid spending to 0.7% of GNI, because we believe
that overseas aid can save lives, combat diseases such as malaria and
HIV/AIDS, and help bring new jobs, universal education and other
opportunities to people living in the poorest countries.

In addition, we recognise that climate change is already hitting some
of the poorest people in the world, and urgent action is needed to cut
emissions and help protect people from the impact of rising
temperatures. David Cameron has made this a personal priority of his.
We have signed up to the 10:10 campaign, and committed to cutting UK
government emissions by 10% within 12 months of the general election.
And as we have repeatedly stated, we also support international
negotiations on new mechanisms to provide additional funding for this
important issue.

You may be interested to know that the Conservative Shadow Chancellor
George Osborne has met with the Robin Hood campaign in order to discuss
our common objectives.

Thank you for your email. If I can ever be of any help please do get
in touch with me at any time.

All the very best,

Ross Thomson
Conservative Candidate for Gordon

Comments received from Gordon Thomson, SNP Candidate

Thank you for your email. I recognise the merits of the various ideas for levies on financial transactions that have been put forward, including the Robin Hood Tax. I also welcome the Robin Hood Tax Campaign’s proposal to use any financial transaction levy to tackle global warming, supporting the Scottish Government’s world-leading climate change targets.



However, I am concerned that the practicalities of any global deal would prove problematic and prevent any deal being forthcoming in the near future. If only one major financial centre opted out, the proposals would be unworkable and ultimately unsuccessful. Safeguards would also be necessary to prevent the banks simply passing on any costs incurred to the customers themselves.




Clearly, this is an idea of some merit but, as always, the devil would be in the detail.




Yours sincerely,




Richard Thomson

SNP Westminster Candidate - Richard Thomson

croydon (4 days after i sent e mails)

- fast "standard" reply from the lib. dems.(as in other comments, see below)

- fast reply from green party

- no replys yet from labour or conservative (they are SO not getting my vote!)

GREEN PARTY REPLY
Many thanks for taking the time to contact me about a Robin Hood Tax.

The Green Party have long supported a financial transaction tax and are delighted that momentum is growing behind the campaign for this most recent version of the tax. At its 2010 Spring conference, the Green Party pledged to back the introduction of such a tax and it is in our general election manifesto.



Many opponents of a Robin Hood Tax argue that the cost will simply be passed on to consumers, but as you know the aim is to focus on a distinct area of bank operations - the high-frequency large-volume trading of financial institutions in the ‘casino economy’. I also think that the UK can go it alone immediately with eg a currency transaction levy, as well as put pressure on other G20 nations to adopt taxing the banking sector globally. During the general election campaign the Green Party's key message has been about fighting for fairness. We think that a Robin Hood tax is an important part of making taxation fairer because it helps redistribute wealth. You can find out about our other ideas on the Green Party website at www.greenparty.org.uk



Please be assured that if elected to represent you and others in Croydon Central I will put pushing for a Robin Hood tax at the top of my agenda. Thank you for getting in touch and please do let me know if you need any further information.



Kind regards,

Bernice Golberg

Green Party candidate for Croydon Central

I emailed my local representatives and got this response from the Green Party candidate within the hour... :)

Thank you for your email.

The Green Party has long supported a financial transaction tax and is delighted that momentum is growing behind the campaign for this most recent version of the tax. At its recent Spring conference, the Green Party pledged to back the introduction of such a tax in our general election manifesto, as has been the case for decades.

Many opponents of a Robin Hood Tax argue that the cost will simply be passed on to consumers, but as you know the aim is to focus on a distinct area of bank operations - the high-frequency large-volume trading of financial institutions in the ‘casino economy’.

I also think that the UK can go it alone immediately with eg a currency transaction levy, as well as put pressure on other G20 nations to adopt taxing the banking sector globally.

During the general election campaign, the Green Party's key message has been about fighting for fairness. We think that a Robin Hood tax is an important part of making taxation fairer because it helps redistribute wealth.

You can find out about our other ideas in our manifesto:

http://www.greenparty.org.uk/assets/files/resources/Manifesto_web_file.pdf

Regards

Claire Smith
Green Parliamentary candidate for Gosport

The only response I've had was from the Lib Dems which is encouraging but still a little vague on the commitment to when.

So far only one of the candidates in my area has responded to my e-mail. Mags MacLaren (SNP) wrote to say that she was in favour of the Robin Hood Tax.

So far only one of the candidates in my area has responded. mags maclaren (SNP) e-mailed to say that she supported the Robin Hood Tax.

Dear Neil,



Thank you for contacting me about the Robin Hood tax campaign.



The concept of a financial transaction tax is a good idea in principle and is something which the Liberal Democrats would be happy to pursue. Although I am told that it would be technically possible to levy a small transaction tax on sterling transactions alone, it would be much better to have a common
approach by leading financial centres including the US, German, French and Swiss governments. The proceeds from such a tax could provide a modest source of revenue to be used for funding overseas development.



The ‘Tobin Tax’ concept has been advocated for many years and progress
has been hampered by a number of issues. These have included technical problems with its implementation as well as competing and sometimes conflicting claims from its proponents over how to use the revenue raised. Demonstrating that the tax can work, by securing the co-operation of Europe and the US, should have priority over elaborate plans which are unlikely to be realised.



That is why we have made a manifesto commitment to work with other countries
to establish new sources of development financing, including bringing forward urgent proposals for a financial transaction tax.



In the meantime, Liberal Democrats have proposed creating an immediate new levy on bank profits at a rate of 10%. This would be a direct recognition of
the beneficial and explicit taxpayer support which banks have received: the UK banks owe their very existence to the British taxpayer. Some banks such as RBS, Lloyds-HBOS and Northern Rock have received direct taxpayer bailouts. However, all have benefited from the explicit guarantee that none of them will be allowed to fail.



The Governor of the Bank of England has estimated that the UK banks have received the equivalent of £1 trillion in taxpayer support. But it does not
stop there. The banking industry is unique in having the taxpayer acting as its safety net and the Liberal Democrats believe that this should be recognised. Our banking levy would be expected to yield around £2bn next year and this revenue would be used to partially fund a one year economic and jobs stimulus package in the first year of the new parliament and then to tackle the UK structural deficit – thus ensuring that the banking
sector helps to pay for the problems it has in part created.



Thanks again for taking the time to contact me.




Regards,



David Chappell,

Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate for Bury St Edmunds

Dear Neil,

Thank you for your message. I am very much in favour of a global 'Tobin' tax on financial transactions and it is something I will make as a central personal campaigning priority if I am elected.

I wish you luck with your message to the party leaders - please tell me if you get a response and what it says.

Yours sincerely,

Kevin Hind

Dear Mr Lowndes,



Thank you for contacting me about the Robin Hood tax campaign. I appreciate you taking the time to contact me during this General Election campaign.



I believe the idea of a financial transaction tax is a one and is something which the Liberal Democrats would be happy to pursue. Although I am told that it would be technically possible to levy a small transaction tax on sterling transactions alone, it would be much better to have a common approach by leading financial centres including the US, German, French and Swiss governments. The proceeds from such a tax could provide a modest source of revenue to be used for funding overseas development.



The ‘Tobin Tax’ concept has been advocated for many years and progress has been hampered by a number of issues. These have included technical problems with its implementation as well as competing and sometimes conflicting claims from its proponents over how to use the revenue raised. Demonstrating that the tax can work, by securing the co-operation of Europe and the US, should have priority over elaborate plans which are unlikely to be realised.



That is why we have made a manifesto commitment to work with other countries to establish new sources of development financing, including bringing forward urgent proposals for a financial transaction tax.



In the meantime, Liberal Democrats have proposed creating an immediate new levy on bank profits at a rate of 10%. This would be a direct recognition of the beneficial and explicit taxpayer support which banks have received: the UK banks owe their very existence to the British taxpayer. Some banks such as RBS, Lloyds-HBOS and Northern Rock have received direct taxpayer bailouts. However, all have benefited from the explicit guarantee that none of them will be allowed to fail.



The Governor of the Bank of England has estimated that the UK banks have received the equivalent of £1 trillion in taxpayer support. But it does not stop there. The banking industry is unique in having the taxpayer acting as its safety net and the Liberal Democrats believe that this should be recognised. Our banking levy would be expected to yield around £2bn next year and this revenue would be used to partially fund a one year economic and jobs stimulus package in the first year of the new parliament and then to tackle the UK structural deficit – thus ensuring that the banking sector helps to pay for the problems it has in part created.



Thanks again for taking the time to contact me.




With best wishes,

Kevin



Kevin Lang
Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate
Edinburgh North & Leith

To find out more visit www.northandleithlibdems.org.uk

response from Lib-Dem candidate:
Hi, Margaret.

Thank you for your email re taxing Bank's profits.

A Robin Hood tax would be a "one off" take from them. I prefer the Lib Dem approach of a Banking Levy so that they continually pay for the financial support they have received. I also want to see them split so that the "High Street" banking is not put at risk by the "Casino Bankers"but tax them separately we must.

Hope this gives you some comfort that I am happy to support a tax on the Big Banks who, by their cavalier attitude almost brought this country to it's knees.

Regards,
John Love

Response from Ann McKechin, Labour candidate and current MP for Glasgow North:

I have noted your support in your email for the “Robin Hood” campaign advocating a currency transaction tax.



I also very much welcome the Prime Minister’s recent statements about a possible Currency Transaction Tax and how this could be used to assist essential funding to developing nations. Prior to my appointment as a Government minister in autumn 2008, I served for three years on the International Development select committee and was Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Debt, Aid and Trade. The All Party group produced a report two years ago, on how we could use such a tax and to show it was technically feasible. Given the recent interest in this idea, I have taken the opportunity to forward a copy of the Report directly to the P.M.



Like you, I very much hope that it will be actively considered by other nations in the coming weeks and months. Internationally, there has also been considerable debate this year on creating a global banking levy which could create a separate reserve to protect taxpayers from the effects of any future bank collapse. Earlier this month, the IMF following pressure from the UK Labour Government has recommended such a levy be introduced together with much tougher conditions on pay and rewards across the financial sector.



The effects of the international recession have hit many poorer nations very hard and it is important that we live up to our obligations to provide effective support and financial assistance. The Labour Government remains committed to reaching the 0.7% target for international aid despite the downturn. I fully support an open debate on the value of these new innovative measures.



Thank you for taking the time to write to me about your concerns.

I have had positive responses from Oli de Botton (Labour) and Richard Wise (Green) candidates. Peter Lilley's secretary (Conservative) has asked for my full address. Rosemary Ross, Hitchin & Harpenden

A response from the Labour MP for Middlesbrough:

I am referring to your e mail.

In relation to banking, Labour has made it plain that there should be a global
levy on financial services so that banks across the world contribute fairly to
the society in which they are based.

You mention child poverty in our country. Nochild should have to grow up in
poverty. We have an historic goal of ending child poverty by 2020, building on
the 2010 Child Poverty Act.

In relation to severe global poverty affecting children, we believe tackling
poerty and injustice is both morally right and in our common interest. Labour
will not turn its back on global injustice and poerty but will continue working
to meet the Millennium Development Goals.

In terms of climate change, we will continue to build on the Copenhagen accords
to go much further and demand greater ambition to fight climate change and
tackle its impact on the world's most vulnerable people.

Stuart Bell

RE: I support a Robin Hood Tax to help the poorest people here and abroad. Do you?‏
From: Bill Aitch (bill-aitch@aitchtech.org)
Sent: 30 April 2010 18:52:45
To: edward@edwardkeating.org.uk
Hi there Edward,

Many thanks for your timely response, we believe that the culture of bonusses for bank & other admin personnel should be completely stopped, also their fat cat salaries, in favour of a fair hourly rate, possibly at twice the level of Unemployment Benefit. All expenses & commuting by these creatures should also be terminated. It would put so many £trillion/annum back into the world economy, & slowly bring a much better, & fairer distribution of wealth.

What Right do these, oft completely unskilled creatures, have to live in such oppulence, & arrogance, while the vast majority have to live on, or below the breadline, without adequate education, health service, housing, or nutrition, please?

Those who constantly live on or below the breadline, despite some being highly skilled, in such deprivation & depravity, are not much use to any form of industry, economy, or ecology. The unskilled fat cats, who have no industrial or Trade experience, are even less use to the community, or society as a whole. They simply rule by fear, using any, & every form of intimidation, protection, etc., in order to force their many victims into "compliance".

What concrete positive action would you, or your party, take to rectify this problem if you came to power next week, please?

Kindest regards,

Bill Aitch.
********************


> Date: Fri, 30 Apr 2010 10:12:45 +0100
> From: edward@edwardkeating.org.uk
> To: bill-aitch@aitchtech.org
> Subject: Re: I support a Robin Hood Tax to help the poorest people here and abroad. Do you?
>
> Hi Bill,
>
> Thanks for getting in touch about this important issue.
>
> Liberal Democrats are committed to work with other countries to
> establish new sources of development financing, including bringing
> forward urgent proposals for a financial transaction tax. Although I am
> told that it would be technically possible to levy a small transaction
> tax on sterling transactions alone, it would be much better to have a
> common approach by leading financial centres including the US, German,
> French and Swiss governments.
>
> Meantime the Liberal Democrats have proposed creating an immediate new
> levy on bank profits at a rate of 10%. This would be a direct
> recognition of the beneficial and explicit taxpayer support which banks
> have received: the UK banks owe their very existence to the British
> taxpayer. Some banks such as RBS, Lloyds-HBOS and Northern Rock have
> received direct taxpayer bailouts. However, all have benefited from the
> explicit guarantee that none of them will be allowed to fail.
>
> The Governor of the Bank of England has estimated that the UK banks have
> received the equivalent of £1 trillion in taxpayer support. But it does
> not stop there. The banking industry is unique in having the taxpayer
> acting as its safety net and the Liberal Democrats believe that this
> should be recognised. Our banking levy would be expected to yield around
> £2bn next year and this revenue would be used for the moment to tackle
> the UK structural deficit – thus ensuring that the banking sector helps
> to pay for the problems it has in part created.
>
> Thanks again for taking the time to contact me.
>
> Edward
>
> bill-aitch@aitchtech.org wrote:
> >
> >
> > Edward Keating
> > Warley
> > Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate
> >

I signed the Vote Global pledge many months ago when this issue was first raised, and a Robin Hood Tax was one of a range of measures it covered, including action of climate change, and an end to trade regulations that result in poverty in emerging countries.

There are variants of how this tax should be imposed. I find it obscene that anyone should 'make money' out of a financial transaction that takes place at the click of a computer button - whether it be £100 or £1 Million to cost of carrying out that transaction is the same, and for the 'banks' to help themselves to a small % for doing almost nothing is unacceptable. I would like to see a tax on all such financial transactions, to be used for 1) creating a stabilisation fund to protect us from their avarice in the future and 2) to be used to support development in emerging countries.

Thank you for contacting me

Best regards

Eric Goodyer
Prospective Labour MP for Charnwood

DearTim,

A Robin hood Tax on bank transactions to help poor is a novel idea and i fully support the compaign.

Regards,
Zulfiqar Ali
Lib Dems
Stoke South

Dear Mr McLaverty,
I have already signed the pledge.
Yours sincerely,
Peter Krakowiak
Green Party PC Enfileld Southgate.

Neil Hughes, Lib Dem candidate for the EDEN VALLEY CUMBRIA, supports 'the Robin Hood Tax' on the banks. I never got a reply from the outgoing Tory MP, David McClean - so I take it that's a 'no'!?

Dear Joe,

The Green Party have long supported a financial transaction tax and we
are delighted that momentum is growing behind the campaign for this
most recent version of the tax. At its Spring conference in Finchley,
the Green Party pledged to back the introduction of a Robin Hood Tax
in our forthcoming general election manifesto, as has been the case
for decades. This motion was adopted unanimously.

I also think that the UK can go it alone immediately with eg a
currency transaction levy, as well as put pressure on other G20
nations to adopt taxing the banking sector globally.

If you like my views on this and other issues (More at
http://camden.greenparty.org.uk/localsites/camden/candidates/Natalie-Bennett-profile.html),
would you consider helping my campaign, perhaps by displaying a window
poster?

Regards,
Natalie Bennett
Green Party candidate,
Holborn and St Pancras

The conservative party already seems to have a common response, and weirdly enough, it is from them that I received the first answer!

"Thank you for your email.

I agree with the sentiment behind the 'Robin Hood' campaign.

That is why Conservatives have been calling for an
internationally-agreed tax on banks, which could raise billions of
pounds to fund domestic and international policies, including action to
help the most vulnerable at home and abroad. The International Monetary
Fund (IMF) is producing a report on what form such a tax might take.
They are considering the practicality of a transaction tax, alongside
other options like a levy, a form of which President Obama has proposed
and the Swedish government has implemented.

I also agree that, in spite of other pressures on public spending caused
by the recession, government spending on international development
should continue to be a priority. We are therefore committed to
increasing aid spending to 0.7% of GNI, because we believe that overseas
aid can save lives, combat diseases such as malaria and HIV/AIDS, and
help bring new jobs, universal education and other opportunities to
people living in the poorest countries.

In addition, we recognise that climate change is already hitting some of
the poorest people in the world, and urgent action is needed to cut
emissions and help protect people from the impact of rising
temperatures. David Cameron has made this a personal priority of his. We
have signed up to the 10:10 campaign, and committed to cutting UK
government emissions by 10% within 12 months of the general election.
And as we have repeatedly stated, we also support international
negotiations on new mechanisms to provide additional funding for this
important issue.

You may be interested to know that the Conservative Shadow Chancellor
George Osborne has met with the Robin Hood campaign in order to discuss
our common objectives.

With best wishes

Sean Sullivan

Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Tottenham"

I got a quick response from the Green party = positive comments. 48 hours later... none of the other six or so candidates my email was sent to have replied. I guess they think that they've got other, more important things to do than caring about what their constituents think?

Thanks for your email. Lib Dems think that the concept of a Robin Hood tax
is a good idea in principle and it is something we want to pursue. My
understanding is that it would be technically possible to levy a small
transaction tax on sterling transactions alone, but that it would be much
better to have a common approach by leading financial centres including the
US, German, French and Swiss governments. The proceeds from such a tax could
provide a modest source of revenue to be used for funding overseas
development.

Best wishes
Richard Grayson

Thank you for your email about the Robin Hood tax campaign.

The concept of a financial transaction tax is a good idea in principle and is something which the Liberal Democrats would be happy to pursue. Although I am told that it would be technically possible to levy a small transaction tax on sterling transactions alone, it would be much better to have a common approach by leading financial centres including the US, German, French and Swiss governments. The proceeds from such a tax could provide a source of revenue to be used for funding overseas development
.
The ‘Tobin Tax’ concept has been advocated for many years and progress has been hampered by a number of issues. These have included technical problems with its implementation as well as competing and sometimes conflicting claims from its proponents over how to use the revenue raised. Demonstrating that the tax can work, by securing the co-operation of Europe and the US, should have priority and we will work for that international agreement.

Meantime the Liberal Democrats have proposed creating an immediate new levy on bank profits at a rate of 10%. This would be a direct recognition of the beneficial and explicit taxpayer support which banks have received: the UK banks owe their very existence to the British taxpayer. Some banks such as RBS, Lloyds-HBOS and Northern Rock have received direct taxpayer bailouts. However, all have benefited from the explicit guarantee that none of them will be allowed to fail.

The Governor of the Bank of England has estimated that the UK banks have received the equivalent of £1 trillion in taxpayer support. But it does not stop there.
The banking industry is unique in having the taxpayer acting as its safety net and the Liberal
Democrats believe that this should be recognised. Our banking levy would be expected to yield around £2bn next year and this revenue would be used for the moment to tackle the UK structural deficit – thus ensuring that the banking sector helps to pay for the problems it has in part created.

Thanks again for taking the time to contact me.
Yours Sincerely

Dominic Hannigan,
Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate
Cardiff South and Penarth

Dear Tralfamaorean, (Sorry for such an odd address, but you didn't sign your name!

The Tobin Tax, or Robin Hood tax, is a key part of our way of tackling climate change. The idea is that it is an international tax to go into an international fund, UNFCCC. This fund is to help the poorest countries cope with climate change, as subsistence agriculture becomes increasingly difficult. This is the developed world's way of paying for the damage we have caused, and are causing to the developing world. The American reckon we need £150 billion a year in this fund just to stand still. This would be on top of our international aid commitment of 1% of GDP.

UK poverty we have to tackle separately. We think, firstly, that public service cuts are a bad idea. You can't use poverty to create jobs, you need education, investment, health, and so on. We would reform the welfare system to simplify it, for example by giving pensioners £170 per week, and removing all the top up benefits. We could increase child benefits by 50%.
To pay for this we would increase tax on large businesses, and wealthy individuals. A more equal society is a better society, healthier in every way.

To answer your email directly, specifically, I agree with all your points, and so do the Green Party. You could almost have quoted from our manifesto. I hope people vote for policies, and for a vote they believe in.


One encouraging thing came out recently. www.voteforpolicies.org.uk sidesteps bias and traditional loyalty by getting voters to pick their favoured political policies without knowing which political party the policies have originated from.

After almost a quarter of a million votes, the Greens have surprised political commentators as runaway leaders with over 25% of the vote. By contrast, the establishment political parties fare less well. The Liberal Democrats were on 18%, Labour on 19%, and Conservatives on 16%. Minority parties UKIP and the BNP lagged behind with 11% and 10%.

The scope of the Green lead has given many real food for thought as voters prepare to decide which party will become the next government after the May 6 election.



If you feel strongly about the issues in this election, and would like to be involved, I'd love your help.

We desperately need to get some of these problems across. We need to explain to people how their lives are affected. We need to remind people to vote for their children's future.

Here is my boiled down manifesto...

The Green Party is suddenly being taken seriously.
Recent polls show we are more trusted on conservative values. We want the countryside to be looked after for our children. We support farmers, post offices and better buses and trains, and a cleaner environment. We want to help people get their bills down with free insulation for everybody, and with locally grown food. We are for quality, stability, and for a long-term future.
But we are also the only party who doesn’t think the deficit is solved by cuts to local services. Blame deregulation, and throwing borrowed money at banks to keep greed on track. Sacking nurses and cutting pensions is not the solution.
We need to think about people and small businesses. Cut the tax billions given to huge foreign businesses like EDF, and instead simplify pensions so that nobody falls below the official poverty line, £170 a week.
We can’t trust the Tories not to favour big business profits - they pay for the Tory Party. And who knows what the Lib Dems stand for!?
We need to send a strong clear message: WE CARE. WE CARE ABOUT THE FUTURE.
If you want your vote to really count, vote Green. That’ll show them!

Matt Townsend, Green Party Candidate for Cardiff South and Penarth

Dear Jason

Thank you very much for your email. I personally agree with your views on the Robin Hood Tax and I believe the Green Party gives some of the strongest support to this campaign of any of the main political parties.

For example, here is a comment on it from Caroline Lucas, Green Party Leader and MEP: http://www.carolinelucas.com/cl/blog/good-news-bad-news-and-a-step-in-the-right-direction.html

On poverty, the Green Party believes that "Fair is worth fighting for" and as such we need to close the gap between the rich and the poor to get rid of poverty both within Wales and abroad.

On climate change I belive the Green Party has far stronger policies than any of the other parties. We believe that countries need to bring their emissions down immediately, especially the wealthiest countries. I would like to see Wales lead the way in developing sustainable technologies, homes and making massive improvements to our public transport.

thanks again for getting in touch,

Matt Townsend
www.matttownsend.co.uk

The Plaid Cymru candidate for Cardiff South and Penarth:

Dear Jason,

You're preaching to the converted.

Plaid Cymru was one of the first to put forward the idea of a 'Robin Hood' tax, which has since attracted much international support. Though Plaid is often caricatured by other parties as inward looking, our actual viewpoint is very much the reverse. We are a small nation which is part of a wider global family and we take our responsibilities for that seriously. We reject the xenophobic triumphalism and hearkening back to an imperial past which even today besmirches so much of British politics. We are in Britain, but a part of Europe, and are also citizens with responsibilities for the wider world. Within Britain itself also, we consider that many of the steps to protect the vulnerable also demand more equitable taxation and better distribution of wealth.

If you read more of my electoral address you'll see that a 'Robin Hood' tax is also another of its most prominent features. I quote directly from it.

"An ethical policy -I'm backing a 'Robin Hood' tax on financial transactions to raise funds to fight poverty, give every child an education and make the world a fairer and safer place"

I hope this clarifies my position

I look forward to your support.

Yours sincerely

Farida Aslam

Jeremy Corbyn MP for Islington North says:

Thanks for your email about the ‘Robin Hood’ financial transaction tax. This is an excellently run campaign because my inbox is full to bursting with emails on the subject.

You will be pleased to hear that I am a supporter of the Robin Hood tax, and before Parliament was dissolved I signed the ‘Robin Hood Tax Campaign’ EDM (number 913), calling on the Government to do all it can to make the tax a reality.

The economic crisis was caused by free market obsessions, in which the banks had a major role. It is only right therefore that the banks should do more than just pay back the bailouts or insure against future crises, and just a small tax on speculative banking transactions could raise hundreds of billions of pounds a year to tackle poverty at home and abroad.

Public support for the Robin Hood tax shows that there are many people who appreciate the real causes of poverty and inequality, and if re-elected, I will continue to speak up for the tax in Parliament.


Yours sincerely


Jeremy Corbyn

I received this reply from Nick Boles today;
Thanks for taking the trouble to get in touch.

I agree with the sentiment behind the 'Robin Hood' campaign.

That is why Conservatives have been calling for an internationally-agreed tax on banks, which could raise billions of pounds to fund domestic and international policies, including action to help the most vulnerable at home and abroad. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is producing a report on what form such a tax might take. They are considering the practicality of a transaction tax, alongside other options like a levy, a form of which President Obama has proposed and the Swedish government has implemented.
I also agree that, in spite of other pressures on public spending caused by the recession, government spending on international development should continue to be a priority. We are therefore committed to increasing aid spending to 0.7% of GNI, because we believe that overseas aid can save lives, combat diseases such as malaria and HIV/AIDS, and help bring new jobs, universal education and other opportunities to people living in the poorest countries.

In addition, we recognise that climate change is already hitting some of the poorest people in the world, and urgent action is needed to cut emissions and help protect people from the impact of rising temperatures. David Cameron has made this a personal priority of his. We have signed up to the 10:10 campaign, and committed to cutting UK government emissions by 10% within 12 months of the general election. And as we have repeatedly stated, we also support international negotiations on new mechanisms to provide additional funding for this important issue.

You may be interested to know that the Conservative Shadow Chancellor George Osborne recently met with the Robin Hood campaign in order to discuss our common objectives.
With best wishes,

Nick Boles

Got the Standard Response from Denise Hawksworth Lib dem candidate for Bolsover:

Dear xxxx,
Thank you for contacting me about the Robin Hood tax campaign.

The concept of a financial transaction tax is a good idea in principle and is something which the Liberal Democrats would be happy to pursue. Although I am told that it would be technically possible to levy a small transaction tax on sterling transactions alone, it would be much better to have a common approach by leading financial centres including the US, German, French and Swiss governments. The proceeds from such a tax could provide a modest source of revenue to be used for funding overseas development.



The ‘Tobin Tax’ concept has been advocated for many years and progress has been hampered by a number of issues. These have included technical problems with its implementation as well as competing and sometimes conflicting claims from its proponents over how to use the revenue raised. Demonstrating that the tax can work, by securing the co-operation of Europe and the US, should have priority over elaborate plans which are unlikely to be realised.



Meantime the Liberal Democrats have proposed creating an immediate new levy on bank profits at a rate of 10%. This would be a direct recognition of the beneficial and explicit taxpayer support which banks have received: the UK banks owe their very existence to the British taxpayer. Some banks such as RBS, Lloyds-HBOS and Northern Rock have received direct taxpayer bailouts. However, all have benefited from the explicit guarantee that none of them will be allowed to fail.



The Governor of the Bank of England has estimated that the UK banks have received the equivalent of £1 trillion in taxpayer support. But it does not stop there. The banking industry is unique in having the taxpayer acting as its safety net and the Liberal Democrats believe that this should be recognised. Our banking levy would be expected to yield around £2bn next year and this revenue would be used for the moment to tackle the UK structural deficit – thus ensuring that the banking sector helps to pay for the problems it has in part created.



Thanks again for taking the time to contact me.


Yours truly,

Denise

Cllr Denise Hawksworth
Lib Dem PPC for Bolsover

Received this from Nick Milton, the Labour candidate for Kenilworth and Southam:

Yes I support a Tobin or Robin Hood Tax and I've encouraged others to sign up via Facebook and Twitter.

Thanks for writing.

Received the standard Lib Dem response below from Alice Humphreys, prospective Lib Dem parliamentary candidate for Mole Valley. May be standardised but hers was the only reply, which counts for something!

Thank you for contacting me about the Robin Hood tax campaign.

The concept of a financial transaction tax is a good idea in principle
and is something which the Liberal Democrats would be happy to pursue.
Although I am told that it would be technically possible to levy a
small transaction tax on sterling transactions alone, it would be much
better to have a common approach by leading financial centres
including the US, German, French and Swiss governments. The proceeds
from such a tax could provide a modest source of revenue to be used
for funding overseas development.

The ‘Tobin Tax’ concept has been advocated for many years and progress
has been hampered by a number of issues. These have included technical
problems with its implementation as well as competing and sometimes
conflicting claims from its proponents over how to use the revenue
raised. Demonstrating that the tax can work, by securing the
co-operation of Europe and the US, should have priority over elaborate
plans which are unlikely to be realised.

Meantime the Liberal Democrats have proposed creating an immediate new
levy on bank profits at a rate of 10%. This would be a direct
recognition of the beneficial and explicit taxpayer support which
banks have received: the UK banks owe their very existence to the
British taxpayer. Some banks such as RBS, Lloyds-HBOS and Northern
Rock have received direct taxpayer bailouts. However, all have
benefited from the explicit guarantee that none of them will be
allowed to fail.

The Governor of the Bank of England has estimated that the UK banks
have received the equivalent of £1 trillion in taxpayer support. But
it does not stop there. The banking industry is unique in having the
taxpayer acting as its safety net and the Liberal Democrats believe
that this should be recognised. Our banking levy would be expected to
yield around £2bn next year and this revenue would be used for the
moment to tackle the UK structural deficit – thus ensuring that the
banking sector helps to pay for the problems it has in part created.

Thanks again for taking the time to contact me.

Yours sincerely,

Alice

Response from Tooting's Sadiq Khan (Labour)

Thank you very much for taking the time to contact me with regards to poverty and the “Robin Hood Tax”.



I very much agree with you on the issues you raise; tackling poverty at home and abroad are real priorities of mine and I think an internationally agreed tax on the banks is an excellent idea.



I believe the relationship between banks and society needs to change. So, following the public’s significant support for the banks over the past few years I have, with others, proposed that a levy be raised against them.



I’ve spoken to the Prime Minister about this matter in person and I know that he too supports an international levy on the banks and is working to see this realised. At the meeting of G20 Finance Ministers in November he called for a global plan to make the financial sector pay a fee in recognition of the cost to taxpayers of rescuing the sector. Ministers from all G20 nations have asked the International Monetary Fund to explore these issues further and a global insurance fee and a transactions tax are amongst the options examined.



I’m extremely proud to have been part of a Government that really has led the way on tackling climate change and global poverty.

Since 1997 we have trebled the aid budget (which the last Tory Government halved), increased trade with the poorest countries, and taken the lead on debt cancellation, which has freed 28 countries from the shackles of debt. If re-elected we will protect the aid budget, quadruple our funding for fair and ethical trade, and build on legislation to clamp-down on “vulture-funds”. We’ll also press for a fair World Trade Organisation deal, with no enforced liberalisation for poor countries, and increased duty-free and quota-free access.

The Climate Change Act – which put CO2 reduction targets into law – was the first of its kind in any country. We have more off-shore wind power than any other country in the world and our plans could see this increase up to 40 times, alongside other renewable technologies such as tidal and marine, solar and sustainable bio-energy.



Domestic poverty is a real concern as well. Measures such as tax credits have made a huge difference to people’s lives, and at least 500,000 children and 900,000 pensioners have been lifted out of poverty since 1997, whiles the numbers of people from low income families going on to higher education is increasing. I want to continue to support people on low-incomes and fight poverty in the UK. I don’t believe that Tory policies of prioritising inheritance tax and marriage tax breaks demonstrate a commitment to tackling poverty in Britain.



Thank you again for taking the time to contact me and I am glad we agree on these very important issues. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any further questions.



Yours sincerely,



Sadiq

Two very prompt replies.

Dear Derek

Thank you very much for your email. I personally agree with your views on
the Robin Hood Tax and I believe the Green Party gives some of the
strongest support to this campaign of any of the main political parties.

For example, here is a comment on it from Caroline Lucas, Green Party
Leader and MEP:
http://www.carolinelucas.com/cl/blog/good-news-bad-news-and-a-step-in-the-right-direction.html

On poverty, the Green Party believes that "Fair is worth fighting for" and
as such we need to close the gap between the rich and the poor to get rid
of poverty both within Wales and abroad.

On climate change I belive the Green Party has far stronger policies than
any of the other parties. We believe that countries need to bring their
emissions down immediately, especially the wealthiest countries. I would
like to see Wales lead the way in developing sustainable technologies,
homes and making massive improvements to our public transport.

I am standing in Cardiff South and Penarth in the coming general election
and over recent weeks I have been in the local papers a few times
campaigning on local issues such as improving public transport. We don't
have the same kind of campaign budget as the bigger political parties and
I
would really, really appreciate if you would consider voting Green in the
coming general election.

Also, I'm going to put a list together of people within the constituency
who may be interested in what is happening within the local Green Party.
Would you like me to add your email address to this list?

thanks again for getting in touch,

Matt Townsend
www.matttownsend.co.uk
Green Party Candidate for Cardiff South and Penarth

Dear Derek,

You're preaching to the converted.

Plaid Cymru was one of the first to put forward the idea of a 'Robin Hood' tax, which has since attracted much international support. Though Plaid is often caricatured by other parties as inward looking, our actual viewpoint is very much the reverse. We are a small nation which is part of a wider global family and we take our responsibilities for that seriously. We reject the xenophobic triumphalism and hearkening back to an imperial past which even today besmirches so much of British politics. We are in Britain, but a part of Europe, and are also citizens with responsibilities for the wider world. Within Britain itself also, we consider that many of the steps to protect the vulnerable also demand more equitable taxation and better distribution of wealth. To quote from my election address:


"This constituency has the highest child poverty rate in Wales. What happened to Labour’s promise to halve child poverty by 2010? I will work to break the cycle of dependence and child poverty and end the benefit trap.

A decent home is beyond the reach of too many young people. I will call for changes to Treasury rules on borrowing so that Councils and housing associations can build new social housing.

Under Labour, too many pensioners must choose between eating and heating. I will fight for a living pension to help end pensioner poverty, paid for from capital gains tax."


If you read more of my electoral address you'll see that a 'Robin Hood' tax is also another of its most prominent features. Again, I quote directly from it.

"An ethical policy -I'm backing a 'Robin Hood' tax on financial transactions to raise funds to fight poverty, give every child an education and make the world a fairer and safer place"

I hope this clarifies my position

I look forward to your support.

Yours sincerely

Farida Aslam

Have only received a response from the Conservative MP for Richmond, Zac Goldsmith who replied: 'I am attracted to the 'Robin Hood' campaign and very much hope it succeeds' before outlining the Tories policies on taxing banks, aid to poorer nations and climate change (although reading the threads below, it looks like a pretty standard response from other Conservative MPs). Disappointed not to have heard back (yet) from the parties that I had always believed were more in tune with my own beliefs! Bit of a shock actually!

Hello


Thanks so much for getting in touch (sorry, no name on email).


I totally agree with the sentiment behind the 'Robin Hood' campaign.
That is why Conservatives have been calling for an internationally-agreed tax on banks, which could raise billions of pounds to fund domestic and international policies, including action to help the most vulnerable at home and abroad. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is producing a report on what form such a tax might take. They are considering the practicality of a transaction tax, alongside other options like a levy, a form of which President Obama has proposed and the Swedish government has implemented.
I also agree that, in spite of other pressures on public spending caused by the recession, government spending on international development should continue to be a priority. We are therefore committed to increasing aid spending to 0.7% of GNI, because we believe that overseas aid can save lives, combat diseases such as malaria and HIV/AIDS, and help bring new jobs, universal education and other opportunities to people living in the poorest countries.
In addition, we recognise that climate change is already hitting some of the poorest people in the world, and urgent action is needed to cut emissions and help protect people from the impact of rising temperatures. David Cameron has made this a personal priority of his. We have signed up to the 10:10 campaign, and committed to cutting UK government emissions by 10% within 12 months of the general election. And as we have repeatedly stated, we also support international negotiations on new mechanisms to provide additional funding for this important issue.
You may be interested to know that the Conservative Shadow Chancellor George Osborne has met with the Robin Hood campaign in order to discuss our common objectives and I am anticipating further progress from the next Conservative government.
Very best regards
Claire Perry

Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for the Devizes Constituency

Thanks for your email. I whole-heartedly support the Robin Hood tax and
I'll argue for it very strongly if I am elected.

Best wishes

Malcolm Fleming (candidate for the SNP for the Glasgow South constituency)

Hello Sarah Thank you for your email. The Green Party is a strong supporter of a 'Robin Hood Tax" sometimes called a Financial Transactions Tax (and similar to the special case of a ‘Tobin Tax’ on currency transactions). Our policy would involve a very small tax (maybe 0.05%) on the value of every financial transaction between financial institutions worldwide. Globally this tax has the potential to raise as much as £250 billion, as well as help stabilise the financial markets. The Green Party believes that any global climate change treaty must involve a transfer of resources of well over US$150 billion a year from rich countries to poorer countries channelled through the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to pay for the development of renewable energy technologies and climate change adaptation, and to help resist deforestation. We favour dedicating the revenues from an international financial transactions tax to this purpose and to wider global sustainable development. If that does not prove successful the UK must pay its fair contribution from other resources For more information see:http://www.greenparty.org.uk/news/world-poverty-day-the-green-party-lays-out-policies-for-tackling-poverty.html Best wishes Richard Wise Read my Blog at http://web.me.com/rlwise

On 28 Apr 2010, at 15:22, wrote: > > > > Richard Wise > Hitchin and Harpenden > Green Prospective Parliamentary Candidate > > Dear 2010 election candidate / Party Leader> > As the election nears I am considering my voting intentions, my challenge to you is this:> > As the big banks return to profit, and you look at how to tax them, I would urge you to put the needs of the poorest people at the front of your mind. > > The banking crisis hit the poorest people in the UK hard. Jobs and homes are being lost, while crucial services are at risk.> > In the UK 1.7 million children live in severe poverty while 8.8 million children die because of it around the world every year. And the chance of finding enough money to fight climate change is disappearing fast.> > Can this continue? Not on our watch!> > These shocking figures need bold solutions and we're challenging you, the British leaders, to share our vision.> > Hundreds of thousands of people across the UK and me are calling for a Robin Hood Tax on banks. > > We're not just talking about insuring the banks against a future crisis - lets impose a bank tax that will insure the future for humanity.> > Size matters, any tax on the banks has to raise tens of billions of pounds in the UK to tackle poverty at home, and must raise hundreds of billions globally to end global poverty and tackle climate change. > > We're challenging you to not only believe in our vision - we're challenging you to be ambitious with yours.> > When you tax the banks keep your hands in your pockets, remember the world's poor are counting on you and think BIG. > > I look forward to hearing your views.> > > * Responses from party leaders will be made public to supporters online and in a public space in London. Supporters of the campaign will also publish responses from their local candidates as they are received on the website at: http://robinhoodtax.org.uk/your-action>; > Yours sincerely,>

Dear Sarah



I have long been in favour of a Robin Hood Tax (or Tobin Tax as it is less romantically termed), the only problem being getting agreement on where the proceeds might be directed! I love the Bill Nighy video by the way – have you seen it?



Regards,



Nigel Quinton



Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for

Hitchin & Harpenden

Tel 01707 372673 (o) 07971 860415 (m)

http://www.hitch-harp-libdems.org.uk

Bridge House

29 Lemsford Village

Welwyn Garden City

Herts

AL8 7TN





-----Original Message-----
From:
Sent: 28 April 2010 15:23
To: nigel.quinton@btinternet.com
Cc: David Cameron; Nick Clegg; Gordon Brown
Subject: I support a Robin Hood Tax to help the poorest people here and abroad. Do you?









Nigel Quinton

Hitchin and Harpenden

Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidate



Dear 2010 election candidate / Party Leader



As the election nears I am considering my voting intentions, my challenge to you is this:



As the big banks return to profit, and you look at how to tax them, I would urge you to put the needs of the poorest people at the front of your mind.



The banking crisis hit the poorest people in the UK hard. Jobs and homes are being lost, while crucial services are at risk.



In the UK 1.7 million children live in severe poverty while 8.8 million children die because of it around the world every year. And the chance of finding enough money to fight climate change is disappearing fast.



Can this continue? Not on our watch!



These shocking figures need bold solutions and we're challenging you, the British leaders, to share our vision.



Hundreds of thousands of people across the UK and me are calling for a Robin Hood Tax on banks.



We're not just talking about insuring the banks against a future crisis - lets impose a bank tax that will insure the future for humanity.



Size matters, any tax on the banks has to raise tens of billions of pounds in the UK to tackle poverty at home, and must raise hundreds of billions globally to end global poverty and tackle climate change.



We're challenging you to not only believe in our vision - we're challenging you to be ambitious with yours.



When you tax the banks keep your hands in your pockets, remember the world's poor are counting on you and think BIG.



I look forward to hearing your views.





* Responses from party leaders will be made public to supporters online and in a public space in London. Supporters of the campaign will also publish responses from their local candidates as they are received on the website at: http://robinhoodtax.org.uk/your-action



Yours sincerely,

Laura

You may be interested in, within the constituency:

http://www.alyth.org.uk/index.php?option=com_jcalpro&Itemid=26&extmode=view&extid=988

Also you may wish to feed "mad lemming" into google to comprehend my views.

Thank you for your response

Jeff Lampert


-----Original Message-----
From: Laura Edge <laura.edge@gmail.com>
To: jefflcbba@aol.com <jefflcbba@aol.com>
Sent: Thu, 29 Apr 2010 19:45
Subject: Re: I support a Robin Hood Tax to help the poorest people here and abroad. Do you?

Dear Jeff

Thank you for contacting me about the Robin Hood tax campaign.



The concept of a financial transaction tax is a good idea in principle

and is something which the Liberal Democrats would be happy to pursue.

Although I am told that it would be technically possible to levy a

small transaction tax on sterling transactions alone, it would be much

better to have a common approach by leading financial centres

including the US, German, French and Swiss governments. The proceeds

from such a tax could provide a modest source of revenue to be used

for funding overseas development.



The ‘Tobin Tax’ concept has been advocated for many years and progress

has been hampered by a number of issues. These have included technical

problems with its implementation as well as competing and sometimes

conflicting claims from its proponents over how to use the revenue

raised. Demonstrating that the tax can work, by securing the

co-operation of Europe and the US, should have priority over elaborate

plans which are unlikely to be realised.



That is why we have made a manifesto commitment to work with other

countries to establish new sources of development financing, including

bringing forward urgent proposals for a financial transaction tax.



In the meantime, Liberal Democrats have proposed creating an immediate

new levy on bank profits at a rate of 10%. This would be a direct

recognition of the beneficial and explicit taxpayer support which

banks have received: the UK banks owe their very existence to the

British taxpayer. Some banks such as RBS, Lloyds-HBOS and Northern

Rock have received direct taxpayer bailouts. However, all have

benefited from the explicit guarantee that none of them will be

allowed to fail.



The Governor of the Bank of England has estimated that the UK banks

have received the equivalent of £1 trillion in taxpayer support. But

it does not stop there. The banking industry is unique in having the

taxpayer acting as its safety net and the Liberal Democrats believe

that this should be recognised. Our banking levy would be expected to

yield around £2bn next year and this revenue would be used to

partially fund a one year economic and jobs stimulus package in the

first year of the new parliament and then to tackle the UK structural

deficit – thus ensuring that the banking sector helps to pay for the

problems it has in part created.





Thanks again for taking the time to contact me.





With kind regards



Laura Edge

07850747699



On Wed, Apr 28, 2010 at 12:15 PM, jefflcbba@aol.com <jefflcbba@aol.com> wrote:

>

>

>

> Alison Moore

> Finchley and Golders Green

> Labour Prospective Parliamentary Candidate

>

> Dear 2010 election candidate / Party Leader

>

> As the election nears I am considering my voting intentions, my challenge to

you is this:

>

> As the big banks return to profit, and you look at how to tax them, I would

urge you to put the needs of the poorest people at the front of your mind.

>

> The banking crisis hit the poorest people in the UK hard. Jobs and homes are

being lost, while crucial services are at risk.

>

> In the UK 1.7 million children live in severe poverty while 8.8 million

children die because of it around the world every year. And the chance of

finding enough money to fight climate change is disappearing fast.

>

> Can this continue? Not on our watch!

>

> These shocking figures need bold solutions and we're challenging you, the

British leaders, to share our vision.

>

> Hundreds of thousands of people across the UK and me are calling for a Robin

Hood Tax on banks.

>

> We're not just talking about insuring the banks against a future crisis - lets

impose a bank tax that will insure the future for humanity.

>

> Size matters, any tax on the banks has to raise tens of billions of pounds in

the UK to tackle poverty at home, and must raise hundreds of billions globally

to end global poverty and tackle climate change.

>

> We're challenging you to not only believe in our vision - we're challenging

you to be ambitious with yours.

>

> When you tax the banks keep your hands in your pockets, remember the world's

poor are counting on you and think BIG.

>

> I look forward to hearing your views.

>

>

> * Responses from party leaders will be made public to supporters online and in

a public space in London. Supporters of the campaign will also publish responses

from their local candidates as they are received on the website at:

http://robinhoodtax.org.uk/your-action

>

> Yours sincerely,

>

>

>

> cc:

> Alison Moore

> Finchley and Golders Green

> Labour Prospective Parliamentary Candidate

>

> cc:

> Laura Edge

> Finchley and Golders Green

> Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidate

>

> cc:

> Mike Freer

> Finchley and Golders Green

> Conservative Prospective Parliamentary Candidate

>

> cc:

> Donald Lyven

> Finchley and Golders Green

> Green Prospective Parliamentary Candidate

>

> cc:

> David Cameron

> Leader of the Conservative Party

>

> cc:

> Nick Clegg

> Leader of the Liberal Democrat Party

>

> cc:

> Gordon Brown

> Leader of the Labour Party

>

</jefflcbba@aol.com></jefflcbba@aol.com></laura.edge@gmail.com>

Still no response from the other Islington North candidates, but Emma Dixon of the Green Party has emailed me with her support:



Hi there. Thanks for your email.
I am very happy to support the Robin Hood tax, which is already Green Party policy.
If you have time, you might like to have a look at Green Party leader Caroline Lucas’s speech to our recent Spring Conference which touches on the fantastic launch of the Robin Hood tax campaign, as well as lots of other stuff including our own Green Party councillor Katie Dawson’s record in Islington.
http://www.greenparty.org.uk/mediacentre/releases/19-02-2010-caroline-lucas-spring-conference.html
To send a strong message that you do not want to see ‘business as usual’ on this issue and that the time is right for radical and progressive taxation, please vote Green on 6th May.
Best wishes,
Emma Dixon
Green Party PPC
Islington North

Response from Green candidate in Putney that was sent to 10 other people (should have probably used bcc)

Dear All,
Greetings and brief response = Green Party fully supports implementation of Robin Hood Tax, as component of wider reconfiguration of finance infrastructure - towards 'democratisation' of banking and use of money.

Best regards/peace, bruce mackenzie
Green Party candidate, Putney.

No reply from the Labour candidate as yet ............

Dear email sender
Thank you for contacting me about the Robin Hood tax campaign.
I have publicly said that I support the 'Robin Hood' tax principal.
The concept of a financial transaction tax is a good idea in principle and is something which the Liberal Democrats would be happy to pursue. Although I am told that it would be technically possible to levy a small transaction tax on sterling transactions alone, it would be much better to have a common approach by leading financial centres including the US, German, French and Swiss governments. The proceeds from such a tax could provide a modest source of revenue to be used for funding overseas development as well as at home.

Fiona Hornby
Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Devizes

Thank you very much for your email.

I am now out campaigning from all across the Devizes Constituency and will not be able to respond to emails as quickly as I would like, so please do be patient!

If you would like to meet me during the Election Campaign, there is a full calendar of my events on my website, www.claireperry.org.uk/

All comments and suggestions are very carefully noted even if I do not reply directly.

Thank you again for getting in touch.

Best wishes,

Claire Perry

Thank you for taking the time and trouble to email me about this important issue.

Green party policy is very clear on this issue: We fully support a Robin Hood tax, and it’s in our manifesto. In fact this was an established part of Green Party policy before this great campaign got going.

As you rightly point out, a small transaction tax on sterling can raise billions of pounds. This can be used to fight poverty and help stop climate change, not increase the extreme wealth that is owned by a tiny percent of the population and business. I’m sure you’ll agree that it’s a great pity that the Labour Chancellor refused to put the Robin Hood tax in his budget this year.

The system of taxation in the UK is also in desperate need of a complete makeover. The poorest end up paying proportionately more tax than the richest. Meanwhile large organisations and companies manipulate tax loopholes and corporation tax breaks so they end up paying the very minimum. There’s an estimated £40bn tax gap in this country from taxes that are evaded, avoided and not collected. This isn't fair or morally justifiable in 2010. This money should be going towards supporting public services that are facing cuts. That’s why the Green Party would introduce a permanent tax on banks and close tax loopholes.

We also believe that banks that have been bailed out by public money must first of all be responsible to us the British taxpayer, not shareholders. Big bonuses and 'business as usual' isn't possible. The whole banking system needs an overhaul.

It makes good economic and ethical sense to introduce a Robin Hood tax, and both myself, and the Green Party are delighted to give it our support.

In case you're interested I've attached a link to Green party policy on the economy and taxation.

http://policy.greenparty.org.uk/mfss/mfssec.html

or read the green Party Manifesto at http://www.greenparty.org.uk/

If you've got any other questions about me, please don't hesitate to get back in touch. I'd be pleased to hear from you.

With best wishes

Rebecca

Rebecca Findlay

Green Party Parliamentary Candidate Streatham
Sustainable Streatham Secretary & Food Group Organiser

I fully support a Robin Hood Tax and if elected do all in my power to get it debated and agreed in parliament. We need much more equality in our society and at present we have more inequality. A Robin Hood Tax would help to adress some of the poverty which exists everywhere and especially in parts of north Warwckshire. A Robin Hood tax has a particular resonance with me having been brought up in the back streets of Nottingham!!

Stephen Martin Lib Dem candidate N Warwickshire

Response from the Labour Party Candidate for Coventry South

Dear Ms. McCafferty,

Thank you for your email yesterday regarding taxes on financial institutions.

I fully back the calls for a Robin Hood tax on banks, which would help to stop speculative betting. The Prime Minister has been at the forefront of international efforts to secure a tax analogous to a Tobin Tax, or ‘Robin Hood’ tax. I welcomed the announcement from the IMF last week of their suggestions for two separate taxes on banks – a levy on liabilities to pay for an enhanced insurance fund and a Financial Activities Tax on profits and remuneration. This has the potential to raise billions worldwide. In domestic terms, I am also pleased that the 50 per cent bank bonus tax has already raised £2 billion in public money.

Aligned to this, I also believe that tax evasion is another serious issue which needs to be addressed in order to raise much needed funds to combat the global issues we face, i.e., rebalancing our economy or fighting climate change. The billions lost in tax evasion would be far better invested in these areas, or towards other needs such as fighting poverty or investing in health services. In developing countries this need is even more acute. The Labour Government has led the international movement to clamp down on tax havens and secure progress on the issue of taxation, following our championing of this issue at the London G20 summit in 2009.

The Government have supported initiatives like the African Tax Forum and have also significantly contributed towards supporting developing countries to improve their own taxation arrangements and ability to raise revenue.

I am happy for my response to be shown on your website, as you suggest. I am delighted to support this campaign and would certainly support it in Parliament.

Thank you for taking the time to contact me about this issue.

Yours sincerely,
Jim Cunningham

Lib Dem candidate for Aberdeen North seat.

----

Dear Sir/Madam

Many thanks for your email. I simply couldnt agree with you more. The banks owe thier survival to the tax payer and its about time they helped in our economic recovery. The Liberal Democrats are working hard in Europe to put a Europe wide Robin Hood tax in place on bank transactions. Here in the UK we propose to introduce a 10% levy on bank profits until the banks can be broken up, making sure that ordinary people never have to underwrite casino capitalism investments again. Legislation will be introduced to make sure that the bonus culture which encouraged the activities that brought our economy to the brink is no longer allowed to continue.

I hope this answers your questions however, if there is anything else you would like to ask then please do not hesitate to contact me.

Kindest Regards

Kristian Chapman.

Dear Ms Allen

From the Green Party’s manifesto Fair is Worth Fighting For:

We support the idea of a Robin Hood Tax, sometimes called a Financial Transactions Tax (and similar to the special case of a ‘Tobin Tax’ on currency transactions). It would involve a very small tax (maybe 0.05%) on the value of every financial transaction between financial institutions worldwide. Globally this tax has the potential to raise as much as £250 billion, as well as help stabilise the financial markets. Any global climate change treaty must involve a transfer of resources of well over US$150 billion a year from rich countries to poorer countries channelled through the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to pay for the development of renewable energy technologies and climate change adaptation, and to help resist deforestation. We favour dedicating the revenues from an international financial transactions tax to this purpose and to wider global sustainable development. If that does not prove successful the UK must pay its fair contribution from other resources.

Best wishes,

John Knight John.Knight@greenparty.org.uk
Cheshire East Green Party www.eastcheshire.greenparty.org.uk

Parliamentary candidate for Macclesfield

Dear Sir/Madam

Thank you for your email about transaction tax. I agree that a transaction tax needs to be introduced.

The world economic crisis has hit almost every country in the world; the public has had to bail out wreckless bankers and we are determined to ensure it will not happen again.

The British government is leading the world on formulating a proposal that will tax financial transactions. This tax will act as insurance against any such future problems. The Government and I are keen to see these plans turn into reality; however international consensus is essential for this tax to work effectively.

The Robin Hood tax is a proposal that is been considered in the formulation of the tax on the major financial transactions and over the coming months the government hopes to make progress, as promised in the Chancellor’s recent budget.

The Labour government will endeavour to make sure that the British public are never again burdened with having to bail out reckless financial institutions for their poor decisions.

Best wishes

Bassam Mahfouz
Labour Party Parliamentary Candidate for Ealing Central and Acton

Many thanks for your email about the Robin Hood Tax. I am very supportive of this idea - it is a simple way for financial institution to connect with the wider society.



I welcomed the Prime Minister's speech to the G20 finance ministers at St Andrews in November, in which he set out that we need a stronger economic and social contract that better reflects the global responsibilities of financial institutions to society. I believe the contribution made by the Robin Hood Campaign and its supporters has been invaluable to the international debate.



The G20 has asked the International Monetary Fund to review the idea of a Robin Hood style tax and I am looking forward to their report later this year. I was very pleased to read last week that the IMF sees no real problems with a financial transaction tax, and are in fact contemplating two!



The priorities set out by the Robin Hood Campaign for potential beneficiaries from a financial transaction tax are also priorities shared by Labour.



That’s why on public spending within the UK, whilst we are committed to halving the deficit over four years, we are determined to do this in a way that protects the priority public services on which many rely. In line with these values, at the 2009 Pre-budget we announced we would protect the NHS and give children the best start in life, by taking tough choices and making savings in other areas. I strongly believe that hard working families should not suffer for the mistakes of the banking industry.



Furthermore, the Labour Government has taken a leading role globally on finance for international development. We will meet the interim target of 0.56% Overseas Development Assistance as a proportion of Gross National Income in 2010, as well as 0.7% Overseas Development Assistance as a proportion of Gross National Income in 2013 and draft legislation has been introduced in the House of Commons that will enshrine this commitment in law. In addition, Labour does not believe that defence spending should count towards our 0.7% goal.



The Labour Government is also working hard with our international partners to ensure that the EU sets out a clear roadmap for delivery against its 2015 target ahead of the UN Summit in September. It is important that the debate around Financial Transaction Tax does not distract from delivery of Overseas Development Assistance commitments.

I hope this letter is helpful. If you have any further queries, please do not hesitate to get in touch.



With very best wishes,




Ben




Ben Bradshaw,

Labour Parliamentary Candidate for Exeter

Thank you for your email on the idea of a Robin Hood Tax which I strongly support.

I think that a financial transactions tax could be a good way to provide aid to developing countries or tackle climate change. I put this point in a recent debate in Parliament which you can see at:

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmhansrd/cm100310/halltext/100310h0011.htm#10031072000037

I am a member of the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee which recently held a session where there was some tough questioning of the head of UKFI (United Kingdom Financial Instruments) which manages the Government’s shareholding in the banks. I raised the issue of including support for environmentally sustainable projects in the bank’s remit. You can read the transcript at

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmselect/cmenvaud/445/10030901.htm

The Prime Minister has been leading the international debate on this and the Chancellor, Alistair Darling, introduced a windfall tax on bonuses paid by banks as well as a new 50% tax rate on highest earners.

Support for the idea more generally is growing and I went to a meeting organised by the Robin Hood Tax campaign in Parliament last month at which Richard Curtis put the case very persuasively.

I would just like to point out though that Labour has taken action to tackle poverty in the UK and internationally in other ways as well. For instance, it has succeeded in reducing child poverty sharply through measures like child tax credits and increases in child benefit. I am concerned that the Liberal Democrats would reverse the progress made by means testing child benefit.

Labour has also committed itself to introducing a bill early in the next Parliament which will legally bind governments in the future to spend at least 0.7% of Gross National Income on international development – the target proposed by the UN. At Copenhagen in December it lobbied hard as ell for the rich industrial countries to provide the necessary level of finance to developing nations to deal with climate change.

Nevertheless, this doesn’t detract from the importance of a new Robin Hood on the banks. The banks have benefited very substantially from public funds as the Government stepped in to ensure the stability of the banking system. It is important that they realise that they have a responsibility as well to the wider society to which they belong.

Some banks have recently posted record profits in the face of reduced competition on the high street; a tax which puts that some of that money to use in helping children in poverty both here and in the developing world couldn’t be more timely.

I hope I have answered your questions but if you have any further comments, do not hesitate to get in touch. And if you would like to support my campaign for reelection or would like a poster for your window, do let me know. You can email me or drop into my campaign HQ at 61 Leith Walk, Edinburgh (at the foot of Leith Walk) - we’re open from 10am each day. You can also visit my new website at

www.mark4northandleith.org.uk

Yours sincerely,

Mark Lazarowicz

Dear Shona

Thank you for contacting me about the Robin Hood tax campaign.

The concept of a financial transaction tax is a good idea in principle and is something which I and the Liberal Democrats would be happy to pursue. Although I am told that it would be technically possible to levy a small transaction tax on sterling transactions alone, it would be much better to have a common approach by leading financial centres including the US, German, French and Swiss governments. The proceeds from such a tax could provide a modest source of revenue to be used for funding overseas development.

The ‘Tobin Tax’ concept has been advocated for many years and progress has been hampered by a number of issues. These have included technical problems with its implementation as well as competing and sometimes conflicting claims from its proponents over how to use the revenue raised. Demonstrating that the tax can work, by securing the co-operation of Europe and the US, should have priority over elaborate plans which are unlikely to be realised.

Meantime the Liberal Democrats have proposed creating an immediate new levy on bank profits at a rate of 10%. This would be a direct recognition of the beneficial and explicit taxpayer support which banks have received: the UK banks owe their very existence to the British taxpayer. Some banks such as RBS, Lloyds-HBOS and Northern Rock have received direct taxpayer bailouts. However, all have benefited from the explicit guarantee that none of them will be allowed to fail.

The Governor of the Bank of England has estimated that the UK banks have received the equivalent of £1 trillion in taxpayer support. But it does not stop there. The banking industry is unique in having the taxpayer acting as its safety net and the Liberal Democrats believe that this should be recognised. Our banking levy would be expected to yield around £2bn next year and this revenue would be used for the moment to tackle the UK structural deficit – thus ensuring that the banking sector helps to pay for the problems it has in part created.

Thanks again for taking the time to contact me.

Regards

James Doyle
Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for East Worthing & Shoreham

Follow me online:
Twitter: @cllrjamesdoyle
Blog: www. jamesdoyle.org.uk

Liberal Democrat candidate for Newcastle North - Ronald Beadle

Dear Layton,

Thanks for writing to me. As a candidate standing on an agreed manifesto I cannot promise to support policy that isn't contained in that manifesto and as you may know (and will doubteless read in Nick Clegg's response) we are committed to a banking levy but not to the Tobin Tax as a unilateral British initiative.

I will however use whatever influence I have after the election to encourage the party to reconsider the potential of the Tobin Tax and to work with Liberal International and the Liberal members of the European Parliament on moving towards an international scheme.

Yours,

Thanks for getting in touch on this very important issue.The Liberal Democrats have put fairness at the heart of our manifesto including fairness in tax (removing 3.6M of the low paid from tax by raising the personal tax allowance to £10,000 - paid for by removing tax loopholes for the very rich)
We would also enshrine in UK law the target of 0.7% of GDP going on overseas aid by 2013.
I would also support an internationally agreed financial transactions tax (a 'Robin Hood Tax'). Such a tax could play a role in stabilising our global financial system as well as providing a valuable source of revenue to support international development. The 'Tobin Tax' concept has been advocated for many years and progress has been hampered by a number of issues. These have included technical problems with its implementation as well as competing and sometimes conflicting claims from its proponents over how to use the revenue raised. Demonstrating that the tax can work, by securing the co-operation of Europe and the US, should have priority over elaborate plans which are unlikely to be realised.

If it were not possible to secure agreement internationally to such a financial transactions tax I would personally be in favour of seeking to implement this at least at a national level (if not at a European level), of the form you suggest, as I do think it is important that we seek to take a lead on this issue. I further recognise that it is often difficult, initially, to secure broad international support, for such innovative ideas. Clearly though this would need to be judged in terms of its likely impact on Britain's competitiveness in this market and I have not seen any analysis of this. If you have any further information on this issue I would be interested to see it.
Meantime the Liberal Democrats have proposed creating an immediate new levy on bank profits at a rate of 10%. This would be a direct recognition of the beneficial and explicit taxpayer support which banks have received: the UK banks owe their very existence to the British taxpayer. The Governor of the Bank of England has estimated that the UK banks have received the equivalent of £1 trillion in taxpayer support. Our banking levy would be expected to yield around £2bn next year and this revenue would be used for the moment to tackle the UK structural deficit – thus ensuring that the banking sector helps to pay for the problems it has in part created.

I hope that this is helpful to you in helping you decide how to vote.

Kind regards

Chris Nicholson
Liberal Democrat candidate - Streatham

Got replies to email the same day from the Green and Lib Dem candidates for Macclesfield. The Green candidate, John Knight, quoted from the Green Party manifesto: "We support the idea of a Robin Hood Tax"; the LibDem candidate told me "The Lib Dems are on your side". Haven't heard back from Tory or Labour yet.

Thank you for contacting me about the Robin Hood tax campaign.



The concept of a financial transaction tax is a good idea in principle and is something which the Liberal Democrats would be happy to pursue. Although I am told that it would be technically possible to levy a small transaction tax on sterling transactions alone, it would be much better to have a common approach by leading financial centres including the US, German, French and Swiss governments. The proceeds from such a tax could provide a modest source of revenue to be used for funding overseas development.



The ‘Tobin Tax’ concept has been advocated for many years and progress has been hampered by a number of issues. These have included technical problems with its implementation as well as competing and sometimes conflicting claims from its proponents over how to use the revenue raised. Demonstrating that the tax can work, by securing the co-operation of Europe and the US, should have priority over elaborate plans which are unlikely to be realised.



Meantime the Liberal Democrats have proposed creating an immediate new levy on bank profits at a rate of 10%. This would be a direct recognition of the beneficial and explicit taxpayer support which banks have received: the UK banks owe their very existence to the British taxpayer. Some banks such as RBS, Lloyds-HBOS and Northern Rock have received direct taxpayer bailouts. However, all have benefited from the explicit guarantee that none of them will be allowed to fail.



The Governor of the Bank of England has estimated that the UK banks have received the equivalent of £1 trillion in taxpayer support. But it does not stop there. The banking industry is unique in having the taxpayer acting as its safety net and the Liberal Democrats believe that this should be recognised. Our banking levy would be expected to yield around £2bn next year and this revenue would be used for the moment to tackle the UK structural deficit – thus ensuring that the banking sector helps to pay for the problems it has in part created.



Thanks again for taking the time to contact me.





Andrew


Andrew Aalders-Dunthorne

Comments from Gedling

Vernon Coaker - Labour

Thank you for your email. I do support the Robin Hood Tax, as does the government. However, it would have to be something which is consistent with a number of key principles such as to be effective the measures would need to be global, fair and measured. I think along side this, we can also be proud of what the government has done in raising the level of international development aid to 0.56% at the current time with a view to meeting the target of 0.7% by 2013. We were also a key part of developing the copenhagen accord.

Vernon

Julia Bateman – Liberal Democrat


Dear Ed,

Thank you for contacting me about the Robin Hood tax campaign.

The concept of a financial transaction tax is a good idea in principle and is something which the Liberal Democrats would be happy to pursue. Although I am told that it would be technically possible to levy a small transaction tax on sterling transactions alone, it would be much better to have a common approach by leading financial centres including the US, German, French and Swiss governments. The proceeds from such a tax could provide a modest source of revenue to be used for funding overseas development.

The ‘Tobin Tax’ concept has been advocated for many years and progress has been hampered by a number of issues. These have included technical problems with its implementation as well as competing and sometimes conflicting claims from its proponents over how to use the revenue raised. Demonstrating that the tax can work, by securing the co-operation of Europe and the US, should have priority over elaborate plans which are unlikely to be realised.

Meantime the Liberal Democrats have proposed creating an immediate new levy on bank profits at a rate of 10%. This would be a direct recognition of the beneficial and explicit taxpayer support which banks have received: the UK banks owe their very existence to the British taxpayer. Some banks such as RBS, Lloyds-HBOS and Northern Rock have received direct taxpayer bailouts. However, all have benefited from the explicit guarantee that none of them will be allowed to fail.

The Governor of the Bank of England has estimated that the UK banks have received the equivalent of £1 trillion in taxpayer support. But it does not stop there. The banking industry is unique in having the taxpayer acting as its safety net and the Liberal Democrats believe that this should be recognised. Our banking levy would be expected to yield around £2bn next year and this revenue would be used for the moment to tackle the UK structural deficit – thus ensuring that the banking sector helps to pay for the problems it has in part created.

Thanks again for taking the time to contact me.

If you have any other issues relating to the General Election and Gedling please do not hesitate to contact me.

Kind regards
Julia

Just received a very positive repsonse fro our prospective Labour Candidate for Wokingham who says:

Thank you for taking the time to contact me.

The campaign for a Robin Hood tax has really caught the imagination of the British people and members of the Labour Party.

It was forwarded on to me by several local Labour Party members and I have even heard Alistair Darling talking enthusiastically about it.

We need to ensure that all countries apply it (or a similar tax) in a single global action otherwise we will simply drive those banks out of London. But Gordon has shown that he can deliver this. He has negotiated multi-country deals on things like the car scrappage scheme and the global financial crisis so I am confident he can do the same for a Robin Hood tax.

very best wishes,

George

I have now written twice to each of the candidates. I did not receive a response the first time and will be surprised if I receive anything other than the pro forma written for them by their press offices if I receive anything at all. If you ask them either for a reasoned response based on facts, or even a straightforward yes or no they simply seem unable to deliver! This is contempt for democracy. If anything the RHT shows the need to rescue our democracy and to prevent it being nothing more than a private conversation between a few politicians and a few chosen journalists who never seem to ask the real questions.

I agree with many previous comments that the Liberal Democrats seem to have a standard response as I' ve just received a response from Simon Reed, prospective candidate for the Wansbeck constituency in Northumberland, which is word for word the same as the reply that englandjoe got from his candidate.
At least he had the decency to reply... I' ve had nothing yet from the Labour or Tory candidate.
A big thank you to the organizers for giving us ordinary people a chance to speak!

Well it seems the lib dems have one response they've been told to give in response to the Robin Hood tax and they're all simply copy/pasting - to the letter. Which is a shame really because I'd like to give them my vote, but labour and conservative both seem to have more time for this issue and the people asking questions.

This is the response from Tessa Munt, Lib Dem candidate for wells.

Dear Joe,

Thank you for contacting me about the Robin Hood tax campaign.

The concept of a financial transaction tax is a good idea in principle and is
something which the Liberal Democrats would be happy to pursue. Although I am
told that it would be technically possible to levy a small transaction tax on
sterling transactions alone, it would be much better to have a common approach
by leading financial centres including the US, German, French and Swiss
governments. The proceeds from such a tax could provide a modest source of
revenue to be used for funding overseas development.

The ‘Tobin Tax’ concept has been advocated for many years and progress has been
hampered by a number of issues. These have included technical problems with its
implementation as well as competing and sometimes conflicting claims from its
proponents over how to use the revenue raised. Demonstrating that the tax can
work, by securing the co-operation of Europe and the US, should have priority
over elaborate plans which are unlikely to be realised.

Meantime the Liberal Democrats have proposed creating an immediate new levy on
bank profits at a rate of 10%. This would be a direct recognition of the
beneficial and explicit taxpayer support which banks have received: the UK
banks owe their very existence to the British taxpayer. Some banks such as RBS,
Lloyds-HBOS and Northern Rock have received direct taxpayer bailouts. However,
all have benefited from the explicit guarantee that none of them will be
allowed to fail.

The Governor of the Bank of England has estimated that the UK banks have
received the equivalent of £1 trillion in taxpayer support. But it does not
stop there. The banking industry is unique in having the taxpayer acting as its
safety net and the Liberal Democrats believe that this should be recognised.
Our
banking levy would be expected to yield around £2bn next year and this revenue
would be used for the moment to tackle the UK structural deficit – thus
ensuring that the banking sector helps to pay for the problems it has in part
created.

Thanks again for taking the time to contact me.

Kind Regards,
Tessa.

Her argument is nonsense and based on anecdote from a few disgruntled bankers and a lot of assumptions. It has been done before and where one country has the courage to do it the others will follow. How can she talk about the taxpayers handing over a trillion pounds in one breath and boast the Scc Dems wil get back 2bn with their bank levy! The RHT would achieve a lot more. Write back and ask her what evidence she has for the assumptions she has made? She won't have any. Every time you travel the world your money is subject to different regulations according to the country you are travelling through but it hasn't brought the world to a grinding halt in the process!

I've just received a follow up email from Tessa saying she will be following up with an individual response soon.

A number of people have contacted me on this. I totally agree and am a supporter of the Robin Hood Tax. The Stock Exchange already makes a charge on financial transactions so it must be possible, especially if we can get an international commitment to the Tax.

Thank goodness Labour bailed out the banks to stop a meltdown in this country and isn't it good news that we, the taxpayer, are not only going to get our money back but make a profit.

Thank you for contacting me about this.

Paul Kalinauckas
Labour and Co-operative Party
Parliamentary Candidate
for The Wrekin
www.paul4thewrekin.org.uk
07802 385529

Hi,

A robin Hood Tax on bank bonuses, wealth taxes on the wealthy and child poverty are all items covered in our manifesto. If you take the time you will be amazed at the utopian concept we allude to that could become a reality should your membership vote Green in this election. I fully support your cause and pledge to commit to it.

Kind regards

Wilson Chowdhry

I am pleased to inform you that I have long been a supporter of the Tobin
Tax now renamed as A Robin Hood Tax. I signed an Early day Motion in the
last Parliament and also support the wider campaign by the organisation
Compass.

Yours sincerely

Mike Gapes
Labour and Co-operative Party candidate
Ilford South
6 Mildmay Road
Ilford
IG1 1DT

Reproduced from an electronic communication sent by Mike Gapes, promoted
by Chris Stone on behalf of Mike Gapes, both at 6 Mildmay Road, Ilford IG1
1DT.

Dear Alison,

I would like to confirm that I fully support the implementation of a 'Robin Hood Tax' on banks.

Kind regards,

Ian Baxter
Scottish Green Party candidate for Midlothian
http://www.scottishgreens.org.uk/

First response from Putney candidates :-
Dear Sir/Madam,

Thank you for contacting me about the Robin Hood tax campaign.

The concept of a financial transaction tax is a good idea in principle and is something which the Liberal Democrats would be happy to pursue. Although I am told that it would be technically possible to levy a small transaction tax on sterling transactions alone, it would be much better to have a common approach by leading financial centres including the US, German, French and Swiss governments. The proceeds from such a tax could provide a modest source of revenue to be used for funding overseas development.

The ‘Tobin Tax’ concept has been advocated for many years and progress has been hampered by a number of issues. These have included technical problems with its implementation as well as competing and sometimes conflicting claims from its proponents over how to use the revenue raised. Demonstrating that the tax can work, by securing the co-operation of Europe and the US, should have priority over elaborate plans which are unlikely to be realised.

Meantime the Liberal Democrats have proposed creating an immediate new levy on bank profits at a rate of 10%. This would be a direct recognition of the beneficial and explicit taxpayer support which banks have received: the UK banks owe their very existence to the British taxpayer. Some banks such as RBS, Lloyds-HBOS and Northern Rock have received direct taxpayer bailouts. However, all have benefited from the explicit guarantee that none of them will be allowed to fail.

The Governor of the Bank of England has estimated that the UK banks have received the equivalent of £1 trillion in taxpayer support. But it does not stop there. The banking industry is unique in having the taxpayer acting as its safety net and the Liberal Democrats believe that this should be recognised. Our banking levy would be expected to yield around £2bn next year and this revenue would be used for the moment to tackle the UK structural deficit – thus ensuring that the banking sector helps to pay for the problems it has in part created.

Thanks again for taking the time to contact me.


Best wishes,

James

James Sandbach
Liberal Democrat Candidate for Putney
www.putneylibdems.org.uk

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Oh, Lovely! Nice to know that they've started holidays again and don't give a monkey's what you think! I think I have the wrong job . . . . .

ALSION SEABECK
MP FOR PLYMOUTH MOOR VIEW

Dear Mr Cannon

Thank you for your recent email in support of the Robin Hood Tax.

I am writing to let you know that I have attended a recent parliamentary briefing on the Robin Hood Tax and think it's a fantastic idea, in fact one of the best I have heard.

I am keen to follow and support this project because it really does make sense. The way the plans are set out would not have any impact on the normal consumer's banking transactions or exchanging holiday currency but rather tackle big transactions that generate the biggest risk and the biggest profits.

Angela Merkel and Nicholas Sarkozy amongst others have already pledged their support and we need more world leader to sign up to make this work.

Thank you for contacting me on this matter. My caseworker has also signed up to the campaign and we will both spread the word and follow the developments.

Yours sincerely
Alison Seabeck

IAN LUCAS
MEMBER OF PALIAMENT FOR WREXHAM

26th March 2010

Dear Mr Edwards

Thank you for your email concerning the Robin Hood Tax campaign.

I have been following this issue closely, and I agree that a 0.05% Financial Transaction Tax sounds like a very good idea. In fact, I have been supportive of such a measure for a number of years, and I have relayed my feelings on this issue to the relevant Ministers, including the Chancellor, personally. As well as an added boost to our frontline services, such as the NHS, this proposed levy will also help tackle global climate change - a matter on which this Government has taken a lead role internationally.

However, I feel that this tax needs to be imposed as part of an international agreement. I am concerned that if UK does this unilaterally, banks may take their business elsewhere, and that thousands of jobs in the UK would be at risk.

The Chancellor has stated his support for such a global levy on banks, and has stated that he would like to see an international agreement implemented as soon as possible.

I am pleased that the 50 per cent bank bonus tax had already raised £2 billion for public money, and that the windfall tax, on bonuses above £25,000, has raised more than the £550 million originally expected.

I do appreciate you contacting me concerning this issue, and I hope that an international agreement can be reached shortly.

If you would like to discuss this issue further, it might be helpful to contact my office to fix an appointment.

Yours sincerely,

Ian Lucas MP

Dear Mr Lucas, there is no evidence to support your claim that imposition of the RHT would lead to a mass exodus from the City. As someone who taught and researched European strategic business analysis for 12 years at Russell Group University, while the banks may not like this tax there is no evidence at all to support the assumptions you have made, other than anecdotal chats between a few bankers and their favourite financial journalists. "bn against a trillion owed to the taxpayer is whistling in the wind . If a new government was to combine the tax with a domestic ceiling on the interest rate of 7.2 per cent above bank rate (as is the case in France and similarly in Germany and monetary capitalism has not collapsed as a consequence) this would relieve pressure on domestic households and small businesses, stop banks passing on the tax to domestic customers, and force them to be more competitive in their lending. I think you need a whole new set of advisors as the ones you are relying on are very poorly informed in my view, and completely unimaginative. In any case the tax has precedence and was used in the US in the post war period to rebuild the US post-war economy and finance the Marshal Plan. It worked then there is no reason to suppose it cannot work again if adapted to the particular circumstances now facing our economy. Where one country has the courage to lead I am sure the rest will follow. In my discussions with senior members of the European Central Bank I am positive about this.

I had this reply from David Howarth, Member of Parliament for Cambridge:

9 April 2010


Dear Ms Catmur

Thank you for contacting me about the Robin Hood tax campaign.

The concept of a financial transaction tax is a good idea in principle and is something which the Liberal Democrats would be happy to pursue. It would be possible to levy a small transaction tax on sterling transactions alone, but it would be much better to have a common approach in all the leading financial centres. The proceeds from such a tax could provide revenue to be used for funding overseas development.

Moving forward on the ‘Tobin Tax’ concept has been advocated by Liberal Democrats for many years. International negotiations on the issue have, however, been painfully slow, and little progress has been made.

In the meantime the Liberal Democrats have proposed creating an immediate new levy in this country on bank profits at a rate of 10%. This would be a direct recognition of the beneficial and explicit taxpayer support which banks have received: the UK banks owe their very existence to the British taxpayer. Some banks such as RBS, Lloyds-HBOS and Northern Rock have received direct taxpayer bailouts. However, all have benefited from the explicit guarantee that none of them will be allowed to fail.

The Governor of the Bank of England has estimated that the UK banks have received the equivalent of £1 trillion in taxpayer support. But it does not stop there. The banking industry is unique in having the taxpayer acting as its safety net and the Liberal Democrats believe that this should be recognised. Our banking levy would be expected to yield around £2bn next year and this revenue would be used for the moment to tackle the UK structural deficit – thus ensuring that the banking sector helps to pay for the problems it has in part created.

Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.


Yours sincerely





David Howarth
Member of Parliament for Cambridge

> Dear I Davies,

The Greens agree, and would also raise taxes by raising income tax to 50%
for those earning over £100,000, calling for immediately limiting bankers'
bonuses to £25,000, and a variety of other measures designed to use taxes
to create greater equality between people, and greater care for the
environment we all depend on.

Best wishes,

Sushila Dhall


> Sushila Dhall
> Oxford East
> Green Prospective Parliamentary Candidate
> Dear 2010 election candidate
> As your potential constituent I am writing to let you know that I
support
> the Robin Hood Tax and consider it a crucial election issue. It's time
to
> apply a tiny tax to speculative bank transactions to raise hundreds of
billions of pounds for good here and abroad. In the UK this means fewer
cuts, better public services and safer jobs. Bank levies, insurance
schemes and taxes on profits are not enough. It's time for Robin Hood.
Please go to this webpage to see the public statement I have made,
alongside hundreds of others, in support of the Robin Hood Tax
> http://robinhoodtax/election
> Thank you for your time. I will be listening to your views and those of
other members of your Party as I consider my voting intentions.
> Yours sincerely,


Sushila Dhall
12 Stable Close
Rewley Park
Oxford OX1 2RF

I had this reply from Ruth Smeeth (Labour, Burton and Uttoxeter) a while ago, after I'd signed something on this site which was CCd to her:

"Jessica,
Thank you so much for taking the time to get in touch. I am supportive of the 'Robin Hood' tax and as your MP would campaign for an international agreement to make it a reality.

If you have any more queries or issues please don't hesitate to get in touch

Regards
Ruth"

Very positive I thought, and a really speedy reply as well (shame I forgot to post it on here for weeks! She has my vote.

I received a letter in response from Sir Menzies Campbell MP.

Thank you for your e-mail of 19th March 2010 about the 'Robin Hood' tax campaign (Tobin Tax).

The concept of a financial transaction tax is a good idea in principle and is something which the Liberal Democrats would be happy to pursue. Although it would be technically possible to levy a small transaction tax on sterling transactions alone, it would be much better to have a common approach by leading financial centres including the US, German, French and Swiss governments. The proceeds from such a tax could provide a modest source of revenue to be used for funding overseas development.

The 'Tobin Tax' concept has been advocated for many years and progress has been hampered by a number of issues. These have included technical problems with its implementation as well as competing and sometimes conflicting claims from its proponents over how to use the revenue raised. Demonstrating that the tax can work, by securing the co-operation of Europe and the US, should have priority over elaborate plans which are unlikely to be realised.

Meantime the Liberal Democrats have proposed creating an immediate new levy on bank profits at a rate of 10%. This would be a direct recognition of the beneficial and explicit taxpayer support which banks have received: the UK banks owe their very existence to the British taxpayer. Some banks such as RBS, Lloyds-HBOS and Northern Rock have received direct taxpayer bailouts. However, all have benefitted from the explicit guarantee that none of them will be allowed to fail.

The Governor of the Bank of England has estimated that the UK banks have received the equivalent of £1 trillion in taxpayer support. But it does not stop there. The banking industry is unique in having the taxpayer acting as its safety net and the Liberal Democrats believe that this should be recognised. Our banking levy would be expected to yield around £2bn next year and this revenue would be used for the moment to tackle the UK structural deficit - thus ensuring that the banking sector helps to pay for the problems it has in part created.

(It is signed by Sir Menzies Campbell.)

I got an e-mail back from Andrew Mitchell MP (Conservative, Sutton Coldfield) saying that he does not support the Robin Hood Tax. He also wanted his supporters to give him £200 each to pay for his stamps. He is not in my good books.

I received the following very promptly from my East Sussex MP:

I agree with the sentiment behind the 'Robin Hood' campaign.
That is why the Conservatives have been calling for an internationally-agreed upon tax on banks, which could raise billions of pounds to fund domestic and international policies, including action to help the most vulnerable a home and abroad. The IMF is producing a report on what form such a tax might take. They are considering the practicality of a transaction tax, alongside other options like a levy, a form of which President Obama has proposed and the Swedish government has implemented.
I also agree that, in spite of other pressures on public spending caused by the recession, government spending on international development should continue to be a priority. We are therefore committed to increasing aid spending to 0.7% of GNI, because we believe that overseas aid can save lives, combat diseases such as malaria and HIV/AIDS, and help to bring new jobs, universal education and other opportunities for people living in the poorest countries.
In addition, we recognize that climate change is already hitting some of the poorest people in the world, and urgent action is needed to cut emissions and help protect people from rising temperatures. David Cameron has made this a personal priority of his. We have signed up to the 10:10 campaign, and committed to cutting UK government emissions by 10% within 12 months of the general election. And, as we have repeatedly stated, we also support international negotiations on new mechanisms to provide additional funding for this important issue.
You may be interested to know that the
Conservative Shadow Chancellor George Osborne has met with the Robin Hood campaign in order to discuss our common objectives.

Yours sincerely,
Nigel Waterson

I got the following from my MP in Buckinghamshire

Dear Ms Holland Thank you for your email below. Yes, there should be an internationally-agreed tax on banks. It could be related to transactions, as you propose. Or it could be introduced in the form of a levy. The International Monetary Fund is examining the options. It's important to remember that other measures can do as much, if not more to save lives, combat diseases such as malaria and HIV/AIDS, and help to bring new jobs, universal education and other opportunities for people living in the poorest countries - such as raising aid spending to 0.7% of Gross National Income. Yours sincerely Paul Goodman

I got the following reply from Tom Harris my local Labour MP:

"Thank you for contacting me and asking me to support the Robin Hood tax and sign Early Day Motion 913 on the subject.

I attended a meeting in the House of Commons about this on the 24 February and found that the event organisers made a very persuasive case. However, a number of questions from the audence of MP's remained unanswered.

I am keen for the government to pursue this issue, as I see it's potential, but I would like assurances that the implementation of any such measyre would be practical before I could lend my full support to it. It is for this reason that I will not be signing the Early Day Motion.

I am sorry that this response will come as a disappointment to you but I trust it clarifies my position."

I've had a written reply to my email sent to Michael Fabricant (MP), Conservative, Lichfield, standing for re-relection, which seems disappointingly formulaic when I compare it with, eg, the reply Jon Kirk received from Phillip Hammond. Ah well... Mikey says he agrees "with the sentiments behind the campaign"... and goes on to tell me that "we have been calling for an internationally-agreed tax on banks which could help raise billions of pounds to fund domestic and international policies, including action to help the most vulnerable...", which might take the form of a "transaction tax".

He agrees that "governmentt spending on internationl development should continue to be a priority" and that "We are, therefore, committed to increasing aid spending to 0.7% of GNI..." He also recognises that climate change is hitting the world's poorest people hardest and that we need "urgent action" to cut emissions - a "personal priority" for David Cameron! He says "We have signed up to the 10:10 campaign..." He also says that I "may be interested to know that the Conservative Shadow Chancellor, George Osborne, has met with the Robin Hood campaign in order to discuss our common objectives." I am - but I'd be more interested to know what he said!

Reply received from Lynne Featherstone MP (thank you, Lynne, for your considered and detailed response - you've got my vote!)
:
Thank you for writing to me in regard to the Robin Hood Tax campaign. This idea, the main concept of which has been floating around for a number of years in the form of a Tobin Tax, would certainly, in theory, raise a significant amount of tax revenue that could be used for a variety of things.

The concept of a financial transaction tax is certainly one that my Liberal Democrat colleagues and I are happy to pursue. The main technical barrier to such a tax would be that, although it is theoretically possible to levy a transaction tax on sterling transactions, for it to be properly implemented it needs to be done internationally. This is why I am unable to sign Early Day Motion 913. There needs to be a common approach from the major financial centres including the US, Germany, France and Switzerland, as well as from Britain. However, the EDM does not mention this and so, while I support the principle of the Robin Hood Tax, I am unable to support the EDM.

In this spirit, we welcome the news that the International Monetary Fund and other such multi-national bodies are at least toying with the notion of a Tobin Tax. While we work internationally for greater international cooperation in the regulation of the financial sector, there are a number of Lib Dem proposals that could be implemented immediately to help protect the British economy from the massive liabilities of the banks. First, we want to see the banks split up into their various functions - separating the investment arms from the savings and deposit services - which would protect taxpayers as well as shifting the risk of foolhardy investment onto the banks themselves.

We have also called for a 10% levy to be immediately placed on bank profits. This could be done unilaterally and would be a great way for the banks to start paying back the taxpayers who bailed them out. Such a levy would be expected to yield around £20 billion next year - revenue that could be used to address our structural deficit.

Rest assured that my Liberal Democrat colleagues and I will continue to push the Government to undertake measures, both home and abroad, that will help rebuild our economy and ensure that the financial crisis is not allowed to happen again. In the meantime, please do not hesitate to get in touch again if you would like to discuss this mater further or if you think there is anything further I can do as your Parliamentary representative.

Kind regards,

Lynne Featherstone MP
Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Hornsey & Wood Green

Reply from Gareth Epps, PPC for Reading East

I've long been a supporter of a tax on financial transactions, ideally implemented at a global level (the 'Tobin
Tax'). Such a levy could provide a source of revenue for a range of measures related to overseas
development; such as measures to tackle poverty, conflict prevention, or climate change
adaptation/mitigation. If implemented globally it could raise significant amounts.

The Robin Hood Tax is an idea Liberal Democrats are happy to pursue. It is technically possibly to do so,
though in my view it would be much better to have a common approach by leading financial centres
including the US, German, French and Swiss governments.

Progress on the 'Tobin Tax' has been hampered by a number of issues. These have included technical
problems with its implementation as well as competing and sometimes conflicting claims from its proponents
over how to use the revenue raised. Demonstrating that the tax can work, by securing the co-operation of
Europe and the US, should have priority over elaborate plans which are unlikely to be realised. Thatis a role
I would like to see the UK take a lead in.

Meanwhile the Liberal Democrats have proposed creating an immediate new levy on bank profits at a rate of
10%. This would be a direct recognition of the beneficial and explicit taxpayer support which banks have
received: the UK banks owe their very existence to the British taxpayer. Some banks such as RBS, Lloyds-
HBOS and Northern Rock have received direct taxpayer bailouts. However, all have benefited from the
explicit guarantee that none of them will be allowed to fail.

The Governor of the Bank of England has estimated that the UK banks have received the equivalent of £1
trillion in taxpayer support. But it does not stop there. The banking industry is unique in having the taxpayer
acting as its safety net and the Liberal Democrats believe that this should be recognised. Our banking levy
would be expected to yield around £2bn next year and this revenue would be used for the moment to
tackle the UK structural deficit – thus ensuring that the banking sector helps to pay for the problems it has
in part created.

I hope this helps explain my and our position. Please do get in touch if I can be of more help on this or any
other matter.

My local MP Linda Gilroy (Labour) emailed back and informed me that she fully supports the Robin Hood Tax. I shall be voting for her in the forthcoming election.

I received the following reply from Kevan Jones, MP for North Durham:
"Thank you for your email about the introduction of a Robin Hood Tax.
I should first of all point out that as a minister in the Government I am not permitted to sign Early Day Motions.
However I would certainly support some kind of financial transaction tax, either along the line set out by the late James Tobin, or as an insurance scheme considered by the G20 nations at the last G20 summit.
It is vital, however, that whatever scheme is introduced, it must be implemented internationally. Incomplete implementation would simply drive financial firms to jurisdictions where the tax regime is most favourable. I am optimistic that the G20 will agree such scheme, Gordon Brown has made tremendous progress in convincing world leaders of the utility of a financial transaction levy and I hope that all the main economies will act soon.
If you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact me."

I received a replied from Martin Linton (Battersea,
Labour Prospective Parliamentary Candidate):

Thank you for contacting Martin regarding tax justice. Martin supports both of these goals. You will be happy to know that Martin even previously signed EDM 913 which supports the Robin Hood tax. This measure would help solve tax evasion by multinational companies because it calls for international cooperation to implement the tax globally.

I got a letter back from my MP Andrew Pelling (Croydon) on the 27th march after the 2nd time asking him to support the Robin Hood Tax Saying:

Dear Miss Wickenden

Thank you for your correspondence on a 'Robin Hood' Tax.

I would support the introduction of a financial transaction tax, but wonder if a windfall tax on liquidity provided by the taxpayer would be more effective.

I have signed Early Day Motion 931 'Robin Hood Tax Campaign'.

Yours Sincerely

(Andrew Pellings signature)

Hi Jordan

I am already signed up to this campaign and it is great that you are supporting it as well!

With best wishes

Ian

(Ian Cawsey
Brigg and Goole)

From Conservative MP Philip Hammond (Runnymede and Weybridge) [with my thanks for taking the time to copy and paste this from your colleagues (see below)--as an academic at a university in your constituency, I should note that students who did this would be expelled for plagiarism!]


Dear Mr Kirk

Thank you for your letter. I agree with the sentiment behind the 'Robin Hood' campaign and you may be interested to know that the Conservative Shadow Chancellor George Osborne has met with its representatives in order to discuss our common objectives.

That is why Conservatives have been calling for an internationally-agreed tax on banks, which could raise billions of pounds to fund domestic and international policies, including action to help the most vulnerable at home and abroad. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is producing a report on what form such a tax might take. They are considering the practicality of a transaction tax, alongside other options like a levy, a form of which President Obama has proposed and the Swedish government has implemented.

I also agree that, in spite of other pressures on public spending caused by the recession, government spending on international development should continue to be a priority. We are therefore committed to increasing aid spending to 0.7% of GNI, because we believe that overseas aid can save lives, combat diseases such as malaria and HIV/AIDS, and help to create bring new jobs, universal education and other opportunities for people living in the poorest countries.

In addition, we recognise that climate change is already hitting some of the poorest people in the world, and urgent action is needed to cut emissions and help protect people from the impact of rising temperatures. David Cameron has made this a personal priority of his. We have signed up to the 10:10 campaign, and committed to cutting UK government emissions by 10% within 12 months of the general election. As we have repeatedly stated, we also support international negotiations on new mechanisms to provide additional funding for this important issue.

Thank you again for taking the time to get in touch.

PHILIP HAMMOND MP

I received a reply from Justine Greening, currently the (Con, majority <2000) sitting MP for my area (Putney), she says that she agrees with the sentiment behind the bank levy and goes to to state her party's intention to do just that, levy a tax on banks to support various causes....pretty much word-for-word as described below from David Bethnall & Michelle Moores below, but no mention of EDM 913...Cons seem to be pretty 'on message' on this.

That said, pleased to hear today that Cons are planning to levy a 'go it alone' tax on banks..shame it's just (currently) aimed at married people!

From Rob White, Green Party candidate for Reading East and Park Ward:

I am happy to support your campaign. If you would like to get involved with the Green Party elections campaign in Reading East and Park Ward -- at the last local elections we were just 20 votes from getting our first councillor in Reading -- or if you would like to be added to our monthly e-mail newsletter please get in contact.

Fair is worth fighting for!

I have received a written reply from my MP Anne Snelgrove. In the reply she states she attended the launch of the campaign on 24th February. She further states that she supported the Debt Relief Bill. All in all it was a very positive response and supported what is trying to be achieved

From Anneliese Dodds, PPC for Reading East:

I appreciate you copying me into your email. Just for the record, I am
a supporter of the Tobin Tax. I think it is the only non-distorting
way to aid global-level financial regulation. (Any other approach
appears prone to 'gaming'). In addition, it would offer a useful means
of generating funds- which in my view should go towards some kind of
international financial facility, to aid developing nations. So it
does appear to offer a 'win-win' situation. In addition, the tax could
be started off at a low level and inched up slowly in order to test
its impact on global economies- i.e. it is not an 'all for nothing'
measure but could be introduced gradually and carefully.

I recieved a reply from Chloe Smith (Con, Norwich North) which appears to be, word for word, what Michelle Moores received from David Jones: agreed with sentiment, said IMF is producing report, mentions President Obama and the Swedish government.

Ms Smith did not say whether she had signed EDM 913 so I intend sending her a supplementary e-mail asking her.

I agree - my reply from Rob Wilson almost verbatim what was sent by Michael Spicer - see reply below! They've obviously been given a script.

I received a reply from David Jones MP/AS (Clwyd West & Shadow Minister for Wales):-
Although he agreed with the sentiment behind 'Robin Hood' campaign he said "The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is producing a report on what form such a tax might take. They are considering the practicality of a transaction tax, alongside other options like a levy, a form of which President Obama has proposed & the Swedish government has implemented.
Unfortunately, as a frontbencher, I am limited in my capacity to sign Early Day Motions. I regret, therefore, that I will not be able to sign EDM 913."

I received a letter from Bob Laxton MP (if there are typo's they are mine not his!) -
"I can confirm that the possibility of a Transaction Tax is currently being discussed by the G20. However, it would require every stock exchange in every country in the world to agree before such a scheme could be introduced, ptherwise all share dealing would be moved to countries where this tax did not apply. I did not therefore feel able to sign the EDM913."
I understand what he is saying and I am mulling over things in my head. How does anything get better unless we be the first to make a change, whether it is the Transaction Tax or Arms Trade. I feel I need to think, does this feel ok, if not am I compromising my personal integrity

My MP Mark Field Conservative Cities of London and Westminster
responded favourabley to the idea of the tax and indicated that Osbourne has been in contact with the campaign's representatives but did not sign the EDM. However his reply by letter indicates that the Cons are looking at an internationally agreed tax on banks. I am also pleased to see that Cameron has guaranteed that a con gov would increase spending on aid to0.7% of GDP

Dear Ms Taylor


Thank you for your email of the 2nd April 2010 about Early Day Motion (EDM) 913.

I did consider adding my name to this EDM when it was tabled but decided not to do so.

As a Government, Labour has already led the world in pushing for the rebalancing of risk and reward between the financial sector and the public.

We have already called on the IMF to investigate the feasibility of a range of mechanisms including a Financial Transaction Tax and global levies. Labour will remain committed to taking forward this agenda and working with international partners to find consensus.

We are also committed to continuing to lead the way in exploring other innovative financing mechanisms to provide resources for development. We were instrumental in the setting up of the International Finance Facility for Immunisation (IFFim), supporting Advanced Market Commitments (AMCs), and have also supported the efforts of other countries, such as the French air ticket levy. We have led global discussions around innovative financing for health.

As I shall retire at the forthcoming General Election you may wish to consider taking up this matter again with my successor, the MP for the new constituency of Arfon.

Yours Sincerely,

Mrs Betty Williams MP

Dear Mr Hughes

Thank you for your email about transaction tax. I agree that a transaction tax needs to be introduced.

The world economic crisis has hit almost every country in the world; the public has had to bail out wreckless bankers and we are determined to ensure it will not happen again.

The British government is leading the world on formulating a proposal that will tax financial transactions. This tax will act as insurance against any such future problems. The Government and I are keen to see these plans turn into reality; however international consensus is essential for this tax to work effectively.

The Robin Hood tax is a proposal that is been considered in the formulation of the tax on the major financial transactions and over the coming months the government hopes to make progress, as promised in the Chancellor’s recent budget.

The Labour government will endeavour to make sure that the British public are never again burdened with having to bail out reckless financial institutions for their poor decisions.

Best wishes

Bassam Mahfouz
Labour Party Parliamentary Candidate for Ealing Central and Acton

www.bassam4ealingacton.com

Dear Tinx Naylor,

Thank you for your recent e-mail, received today, regarding the ‘Robin Hood Tax’ campaign, on international financial transactions.

I have been in support of such a tax for many years. Indeed, I understand that the American economist James Tobin first mooted the idea of such a tax in 1972 and since then a number of countries have implemented it in some form.

I believe that the time is right for such a levy to be imposed and have already signed Early Day Motion 913.

Thank you for taking the time to contact me on this important issue.

Yours sincerely,

Chris McCafferty MP
Member of Parliament for the Calder Valley

Reply from my (Tory) MP - to be expected really but at least he bothered.

Dear Mr Shields

Thank you for your email concerning the 'Robin Hood' tax.

I agree with the sentiment behind the 'Robin Hood' campaign and you may be interested to know that the Conservative Shadow Chancellor George Osborne has met with its representatives in order to discuss our common objectives.

That is why Conservatives have been calling for an internationally-agreed tax on banks, which could raise billions of pounds to fund domestic and international policies, including action to help the most vulnerable at home and abroad. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is producing a report on what form such a tax might take. They are considering the practicality of a transaction tax, alongside other options like a levy, a form of which President Obama has proposed and the Swedish government has implemented.

I also agree that, in spite of other pressures on public spending caused by the recession, government spending on international development should continue to be a priority. We are therefore committed to increasing aid spending to 0.7% of GNI, because we believe that overseas aid can save lives, combat diseases such as malaria and HIV/AIDS, and help to create bring new jobs, universal education and other opportunities for people living in the poorest countries.

In addition, we recognise that climate change is already hitting some of the poorest people in the world, and urgent action is needed to cut emissions and help protect people from the impact of rising temperatures. David Cameron has made this a personal priority of his. We have signed up to the 10:10 campaign, and committed to cutting UK government emissions by 10% within 12 months of the general election. As we have repeatedly stated, we also support international negotiations on new mechanisms to provide additional funding for this important issue.

I appreciate you drawing my attention to Early Day Motion 913 but, unfortunately, as an Opposition Whip, I am unable to sign the Early Day Motion as I only sign EDMs that are sponsored or approved by the Opposition.

Yours sincerely

Simon Burns MP
Member of Parliament for West Chelmsford
burnss@parliament.uk

I just thought I'd add that I notice the wording in Simon Burns reply to me is very similar to Sir Michael Spicers to Helen Fatir (see below). Looks like at least two Tories know how to copy and paste......

from Argyll & Bute MP, Alan Reid

Dear Ms McChesney

Thanks for your kind words and for notifying me of your address change.

Thank you also for contacting me about the Robin Hood tax campaign.

The concept of a financial transaction tax is a good idea. It would work best if we have a common approach by leading financial centres including the US, German, French and Swiss governments. The proceeds from such a tax could provide a source of revenue to be used for funding overseas development. So I've signed the EDM.

Meantime the Liberal Democrats have proposed creating an immediate new levy on bank profits at a rate of 10%. This would be a direct recognition of the beneficial and explicit taxpayer support which banks have received: the UK banks owe their very existence to the British taxpayer. Some banks such as RBS, Lloyds-HBOS and Northern Rock have received direct taxpayer bailouts. However, all have benefited from the explicit guarantee that none of them will be allowed to fail.

The Governor of the Bank of England has estimated that the UK banks have received the equivalent of £1 trillion in taxpayer support. But it does not stop there. The banking industry is unique in having the taxpayer acting as its safety net and we believe that this should be recognised. Our banking levy would be expected to yield around £2bn next year and this revenue would be used for the moment to tackle the UK structural deficit - thus ensuring that the banking sector helps to pay for the problems it has in part created.

Thanks again for letting me know your views and if there is anything further you wish to raise with me, please do not hesitate to get back in touch.

Yours sincerely

Alan Reid MP

95 Alexandra Parade, Dunoon, Argyll PA23 8AL
Tel 01369 704840
Fax 01369 701212

Mark Oaten,(marvellous) retiring MP for Winchester,wrote:
Hi Chris,

Thanks for getting in touch. The tax is a good idea in principle and I know that the party would be happy to pursue the policy, or something similar. The idea, I believe, has been raised quite a few times over the years but has never really come to fruition because of a number of difficulties - eg technical problems with the actual implementation and disputes how the revenue would be used.

At the moment the Lib Dems have proposed creating a new 10% levy on bank profits in recognition of taxpayer support they have received. Although RBS, Lloyds-HBOS and Northern Rock are the only to have received direct bailouts, the rest have all still benefited from a guarantee they wouldn't be allowed to fail. It would be expected to raise around £2bn and would be used - for now - to address the UK structural deficit.

With only days left as an MP I thought it would be best to give you the party view - but generally though, am in favour of the measure and happy to sign the EDM. It may take a couple of days to show up online. Thank you for your kind words - great to hear and they really are appreciated.

Many thanks,
Mark


-----Original Message-----
From: applecrumbly@ntlworld.com [mailto:applecrumbly@ntlworld.com]
Sent: 02 April 2010 09:49
To: OATEN, Mark
Subject:




Mark Oaten
Winchester


Dear Mr Oaten,

You are my current MP, and we have been in touch before: you have helped me over a couple of disturbing issues for which I thank you.
I support the "Robin Hood" financial transaction tax (http://robinhoodtax.org.uk). This is a tiny tax on banks' wholesale financial transactions of just 0.05%. Introduced globally it would raise as much as US$400 billion every year in gross revenues. In the UK this would mean tens of billions of extra revenue would be generated every year.
I am writing to ask whether, as the vigorous MP you have always shown yourself to be, you would consider signing early day motion 913, title "The Robin Hood Tax." This EDM can be viewed here: http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=40522&SESSION=903

The next government in the UK is going to face some of the toughest choices for 50 years. We have a huge deficit of hundreds of billions of pounds, so either taxes will be raised on ordinary people, services cut or, alternatively, a Robin Hood Tax will be implemented to help prevent cuts. It can prevent old people across the UK having to choose between eating and paying their gas bill. It can stop hospitals closing. It can also help the poorest people abroad, who are losing their lives because of the economic crisis, and can help to fight climate change.
My thanks for reading this. Good luck for the future--you will be sorely missed in Winchester.

Yours sincerely,

Dear Ms Fatir,

Thank you for your email. I agree with the sentiment behind the 'Robin Hood' campaign. That is why Conservatives have been calling for an internationally-agreed tax on banks, which could raise billions of pounds to fund domestic and international policies, including action to help the most vulnerable at home and abroad. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is producing a report on what form such a tax might take. They are considering the practicality of a transaction tax, alongside other options like a levy, a form of which President Obama has proposed and the Swedish government has implemented.

You may be interested to know that the Conservative Shadow Chancellor George Osborne has met with the Robin Hood campaign in order to discuss our common objectives.


Yours sincerely

Sir Michael Spicer MP

Helen Fatir
Worcester

This from Desmond Swayne MP for New Forest West:
Thanks. I think this specific tax will not work because the taxed transactions will simply be placed elsewhere in this electronic age. It would require internationally co-ordinated action but as yet there is no prospect of agreement. As an alternative David Cameron has proposed a bank levy which we would be able to impose unilaterally without necessarily shooting ourselves in the foot if we cannot secure a wider international consensus. DS

I have been supporting the Robin Hood Tax campaign in the Uk Parliament. We applied for and got an adjournment debate.
With all the other pressures it will not get done in this parliament, but I would hope the next Labour government will bring it forward. Gordon Brown supported the Tobin tax which is similar.

Dear Ms Drury,

Thanks for copying this. I have supported the Robin Hood tax from the outset, and an pleased to see that momentum for it is building. I spoke at the latest Commons debate the other week, in which it was announced that the European Parliament had voted 536 to 80 in support of the scheme, and we now eagerly await the IMF presentation on the feasibility of global implementation.

Your support will be crucial in ensuring that the UK is united behind the measure. A cross-party consensus would be ideal, but is unlikely. Conservative opposition is reflected in the fact that only 2 of the 113 signatures on EDM 913 come from Tory MPs, and the risk of jeopardising the headstart afforded to the party by donations from the banking sector makes me think that this is unlikely to change.

This need not matter. We have a real chance here to take something positive from the global recession, and I urge you to continue to support us in pressing for it.

I will keep you updated.

Yours sincerely,

Andy Slaughter MP

Reply from Rob Wilson MP, written here in precis:
"I agree with the sentiment behind the Robin Hood campaign and you may be interested to know that the Conservative Shadow Chancellor George Osborne has met with its representatives in order to discuss our common objectives.
That is why Conservatives have been calling for an internationally-agreed tax on banks, which could raise billions of pounds to fund domestic and international policies, including action to help the most vulnerable at home and abroad.....
I also agree that, in spite of other pressures on public spending...government spending on international development should continue to be a priority. We are therefore committed to increasing aid spending to 0.7% of GNI...
In addition we recognise that climate change is already hitting some of the poorest people in the world...David Cameron has made this a personal priority of his. We signed up to the 10:10 campaign, and committed to cutting UK emissions by 10% within 12 months of the general election. As we have repeatedly stated, we also support international negotiations on new mechanisms to provide additional funding for this important issue."

Reply from Michael Fallon:
Thanks for this.
I do not myself favour a transactions tax of the kind that you suggest, as this would be easy to avoid and would probably drive business away from London and the UK. The Governor of the Bank of England recently told the Treasury Select Committee (on which I sit) that of all the reforms being proposed this kind of tax would be bottom of his list. It would also cut across the accountability of national governments for their commitment to overseas aid.
Instead we favour a general banking tax which would help pay for future bail-outs. As you may know, David Cameron has also committed a future Conservative Government to protecting the overseas aid budget whatever other cuts may be necessary.

i received this reply from Keith Angus,
Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate
Hackney North and Stoke Newington

-------------------------------

Thanks for your email.

You're absolutely right - the financial crisis our country is in is far from over, and the government could be doing a whole lot more to address the extreme financial instability the country faces right now.

I could go on to tell you about a string of measures the Lib Dems are calling for, but I want to mention just one: a new tax of 10% on bank profits, to ensure that we the taxpayer are not forced to bail them out in the future. It's an important one because, unlike a transaction tax which needs agreement from other countries to be effective, it can be implemented immediately here in the UK. That's not to say a transaction tax should be discounted - we should be taking all necessary steps to pay down the deficit and get the country back on a firm footing - but we should also be taking decisive action here and now.

Anyway, if you'd like any other info then please don't hesitate to drop me a line.

Best wishes


Keith

Keith Angus
Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate
Hackney North and Stoke Newington
Tel: 07792 039535 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 07792 039535 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
www.keithangus.com

I received this email reply from my Nottingham MP:-

Dear Mr Holden,
Yes, I very much agree, and have signed EDM 913 in support.

There's a good discussion of it (under the drier name of "financial transactions tax") and the similar Tobin Tax which Gordon Brown is pushing:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tobin_tax

I'll be glad to support both efforts.

Best regards
Nick Palmer

The proposed Robin Hood tax is brilliant but the percentage should be upped a bit to ensure no cuts in services and the irradication of poverty. Make it a bit more ambitious. The bankers have had it their own way for too long now living off the hard work of others and can well afford to lose some of their vast profits.

I received this reply from our MP Jo Swinson, East Dunbartonshire:

Dear Ms Irving

Thank you for your e-mail.

I will endeavour to send you a more detailed reply as swiftly as possible. However, if you require any urgent assistance, please do not hesitate to telephone the office on 0141 762 2209.

Yours sincerely,

Jo Swinson MP



Jo Swinson MP
East Dunbartonshire
Tel: 0141 762 2209
Fax: 0141 762 5604
Email: swinsonj@parliament.uk
Web: www.joswinson.org.uk

It's good that there is support from members of Parliament but disheartening that some state that there needs to be a "global agreement" first. Since when did our country's government start to need global or international agreement on legislation matters proposed by the public? This is worryingly close to the "New World Order"/Global government scheme that has long been planned and has started to surface in the media and from the mouths of our leaders. The UK should set an example, not wait for a global agreement which may not happen, and our government should be answerable to the people. Be cautious of attempts to form a global governing body..

Email received from my MP...

Dear Nikola,

I agree entirely with you. The Robin Hood Tax will be in my Manifesto which will be mailed to you when the Election is called.

Thank you for contacting me on this very important matter,

Hywel Francis MP.

Have not received a reply from my MP though I wrote weeks ago, so have written a chase up letter expressing my disappointment and asking if he will now reply.

No reply from my MP from when I wrote weeks back so I have, tonight, sent a chase up saying how disappointed I am at not having heard from.

Email from Robert Flello MP, Labour, Stoke-on-Trent South - both my mum and I emailed him on this issue. I've sent a follow up response reminding him that he promised to sign the EDM if the Tax was not included in the Budget, but given there are only like two sitting days left until Dissolution (when EDMs will be null and void) I don't expect success, but at least his commitment appears positive.

Dear Tim & Edna

Thank you both for your e-mails regarding the inclusion of a Robin Hood Tax in the Budget on 24th March. I’m sure you will have seen that such a tax was not included.

This was a disappointment, as I felt that such a financial transactions levy had a great deal of potential. It should not be overlooked, however, that the Budget did announce a £1.5bn increase to the budget of the Department for International Development. It also does not mean that this is the end for the Robin Hood Tax, as there will be plenty of chance for it to be adopted after the General Election, despite the perhaps predictable opposition coming from many members of the Conservative Party. The Prime Minister has also suggested that he believes such a levy will be adopted by the International Monetary Fund ahead of its meeting in April. A levy on a global scale would clearly be a huge opportunity to help the developing world.

Thank you once again for bringing this matter to my attention and I hope you will do so again if I can be of any further assistance.

Yours sincerely

Rob Flello MP

My response from Gemma Townsend
Parliamentary Candidate - Lewisham Deptford:

Dear Maria,

Thanks for cc me into your email, I agree with the sentiment behind the 'Robin Hood' campaign.
That is why Conservatives have been calling for an internationally-agreed tax on banks, which could raise billions of pounds to fund domestic and international policies, including action to help the most vulnerable at home and abroad. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is producing a report on what form such a tax might take. They are considering the practicality of a transaction tax, alongside other options like a levy, a form of which President Obama has proposed and the Swedish government has implemented.
I also agree that, in spite of other pressures on public spending caused by the recession, government spending on international development should continue to be a priority. We are therefore committed to increasing aid spending to 0.7% of GNI, because we believe that overseas aid can save lives, combat diseases such as malaria and HIV/AIDS, and help bring new jobs, universal education and other opportunities to people living in the poorest countries.
In addition, we recognise that climate change is already hitting some of the poorest people in the world, and urgent action is needed to cut emissions and help protect people from the impact of rising temperatures. David Cameron has made this a personal priority of his. We have signed up to the 10:10 campaign, and committed to cutting UK government emissions by 10% within 12 months of the general election. And as we have repeatedly stated, we also support international negotiations on new mechanisms to provide additional funding for this important issue.
You may be interested to know that the Conservative Shadow Chancellor George Osborne has met with the Robin Hood campaign in order to discuss our common objectives.

If I can help with anything else, please do let me know.

Kind regards,

Gemma


----------------------------------------------------------
Gemma Townsend
Parliamentary Candidate - Lewisham Deptford
Twitter: GemmaT4MP
Website: www.ldconservatives.com
Email: gemma@gemmatownsend.com

The reply I got from Gordon Banks MP was positive in principle about the Robin Hood Tax, but cautious on the unilateral aspect of this approach. He thought other countries would probably take up the idea. His response didn't surprise me, but the follow-up statement that the UK might have to go it alone was more courageous than I had expected. Now is a good time for bold action on a financial transactions tax. Good work...

Prompt and considered response from Neil Gerrard, my MP in Walthamstow:

--

Thank you for your email about the 'Robin Hood Tax'.

This is an idea which has been discussed for some time, and is very similar to an idea originally been proposed by the economist James Tobin as a tax on currency dealing to discourage currency speculation. As you may know the idea of a financial transactions tax has had support from the Prime Minister, and from some other EU heads of Government. What we really need now is to get wider international agreement as to be effective a tax of this nature has to be international and not just applied in one country.

I have supported this proposal for some time, and recall discussion of it on a number of occasions over the last few years. I am pleased that it is now getting support which previously was not forthcoming, and I do believe that there is now a much better chance than there has ever been before of getting the tax into operation.

Yours sincerely

Neil Gerrard

Very prompt replies from Nick Herbert's PA

Dear Mr Jones
Thank you for your e-mail to Nick Herbert. As we have already said that we agree with the tax and are seeking to implement it there is no need to sign the EDM. EDMs have no legislative power and are simply a costly public relations exercise.

I hope this is helpful.
Yours sincerely
Gloria Nicholl
PA to Nick Herbert
MP for Arundel & South Downs
& Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Glynn Jones [mailto:glynnhughjones@btinternet.com]
Sent: 01 April 2010 18:41
To: NICHOLL, Gloria
Subject: Re:

So that's a NO on signing the early day motion is it?

Glynn

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: "NICHOLL, Gloria" <nichollg@parliament.uk>
To: "glynnhughjones@btinternet.com" <glynnhughjones@btinternet.com>
Sent: Thursday, 1 April, 2010 18:33:38
Subject: RE:

Dear Mr Jones

Thank you for your e-mail which I read with interest. I agree with the sentiment behind the 'Robin Hood' campaign and you may be interested to know that the Shadow Chancellor George Osborne has met with its representatives in order to discuss our common objectives.

Conservatives have called for an internationally-agreed tax on banks, which could raise billions of pounds to fund domestic and international policies, including action to help the most vulnerable at home and abroad. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is producing a report on what form such a tax might take. They are considering the practicality of a transaction tax, alongside other options like a levy, a form of which President Obama has proposed and the Swedish government has implemented.

I also agree that, in spite of other pressures on public spending caused by the recession, government spending on international development should continue to be a priority. We are therefore committed to increasing aid spending to 0.7 per cent of GDP, because we believe that overseas aid can save lives, combat diseases such as malaria and AIDS, and help to create bring new jobs, universal education and other opportunities for people living in the poorest countries.

In addition, we recognise that climate change is already hitting some of the poorest people in the world, and urgent action is needed to cut emissions and help protect people from the impact of rising temperatures. We have signed up to the 10:10 campaign, and committed to cutting UK government emissions by 10 per cent within 12 months of the general election. We also support international negotiations on new mechanisms to provide additional funding to combat climate change.

I am grateful to you for taking the time to give me your views on this important issue.

With kind regards.

Yours sincerely
NICK HERBERT
MP for Arundel & South Downs
& Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs


</glynnhughjones@btinternet.com></nichollg@parliament.uk>

No response from Ed Davey, Kingston & Surbiton. Did not sign EDM either.

Reply from Oliver Letwin MP for Dorset South:

Many thanks for your e-mail about the 'Robin Hood' tax.

However, I think I should tell you - in order to be open about my views - that I am not at present a supporter of this proposal.

It is absolutely true that the financial crisis has hit people around the world - and that is one of the reasons why my colleagues and I in the Shadow Cabinet have committed ourselves (despite the dreadful state of our public finances) to maintaining the growth of our aid budget so that it reaches 0.7% of gross national income.

However, in relation to the question of the banks, the international consensus seems to be swinging away from the idea of a transaction tax and towards the idea of a levy. In either case, what is envisaged is that the proceeds would be used to provide and insurance system, so that the world does not face a repeat of what happened a year ago. For the very reason you identify (i.e. the financial crisis hit developing countries even harder than developed economies) I think it is actually in the interests of the developing world that a high level of international aid should be combined with some form of insurance scheme for the financial sector.

Best wishes.

Yours sincerely,

Oliver Letwin


To: CHARLES, Angela
Subject:




Oliver Letwin
West Dorset

I wrote to my MP - Adam Ingram (Labour, East Kilbride). He was none committal - he wanted to see how the campaign was going before committing. It is a shame he was not such retiring when he indicated he could be cab for hire! I am a labour supporter, but he would not get my vote ever again if he stood again (which he is not).

My MP, Meg Hillier, (Labour, Hackney South and Shoreditch) has sent me a letter saying she supports an international bank levy. But she's a minister, and toes the party line on almost everything, so she gives the impression of supporting the idea but says it has to be an international decision, i.e. she's not going to take responsibility and actually implement the idea. Total cop-out in my view.

As a Minister she would be unable to sign any EDM owing to Parliamentary protocol, and it's fairly understandable that she can't go further than the official government line. An interesting exercise would be to contact her again after Parliament is dissolved, as although she's technically still a Minister, she is in "candidate mode" rather than "ministerial mode".

Copy and paste from e-mail response

Hello Natalie

So do I! Or something very like it. I'm pleased to report that this is official Conservative Policy.

Good wishes from Robert Key.

Robert Key FSA
Member of Parliament for Salisbury
House of Commons
London SW1A 0AA
Tel: 01722 323050
e-mail: rob@robertkey.com

Haven't received any sort of reply from my MP (Sian James), but have just looked and she has signed the EDM; so that's good :)
Wouldn't have minded some form of reply though..!

a copy and paste Response from Philip Davies, Tory MP for Shipley: as per response sent to David Taylor 3 days ago

Dear Ms Ellis

Thank you for your email.

I am afraid that I do not agree with you about this issue and therefore will not be signing the EDM. We are in a financial mess because the Government has overspent over a number of years not because we are undertaxed, and I would not support any measures which will adversely affect our competitiveness. I am sorry that we disagree about this but hope you at least appreciate my honesty.

Nevertheless I will take this up for you with the Chancellor of the Exchequer and send you his response as soon as I receive it.

In the meantime if you ever wish to share your views with me on any issue I will always be pleased to hear from you.

Best wishes

Philip Davies MP

Disappointed but not surprised. Missed opportunity to gain a vote. Looking forward to the election...

NO reply from my MP - Gillian Merron (Lincoln)

Whilst she sould have the courtesy of replying, as a Minister, Ms Merron is not allowed to sign EDMs.

Dear Racheal

Thank you for your email of the 19th March.

I wanted to let you know that I support the introduction of a 'Robin Hood Tax'.

Thank you for contacting me on this important issue and if I can be of any further assistance then please do not hesitate to contact me.

With best wishes.

Yvonne Fovargue
The Labour Party Candidate for Makerfield

It seems the general consensus is that there needs to be a "global" agreement first ..... what happened to acting in the best interests of your constitutents? as that is why they got voted in in first place!!!! they are not doing their job!! If it was us we would get sacked! Cmon politicians you work for us not other way round

FROM JIM BARRIE, SNP PPC, Dundee West

To: E. McLauchlan, DD3

Thanks for copying your letter to Alastair Darling to me as a PPC and apologies for delay in responding. In the budget earlier this week you will be aware that the UK Government failed to introduce just such a tax on the basis that it would need to await 'global agreement'.
I, personally, have long supported the idea of a Tobin tax, of which the Robin Hood tax is a variant and think that it is the least the banks can be expected to do given the billions of our money used to bail them out. The SNP back the introduction of a Robin Hood Tax as a worldwide initiative, (although this would not be without its difficulties), with the money being raised going towards inequality and poverty.

With control of tax and welfare powers, the Scottish Government could implement real change through reform of these systems and alleviate the symptoms of child poverty in Scotland.

There is a real danger that the forthcoming election will become an unedifying squabble about who can slash most off public services. It needs to be about much more, and in particular how we can protect our services in these difficult times. If we fail to do so then inevitably it will be the poorer in society who will suffer the most giving another turn to the wheel of poverty.

Best Wishes


Jim

Jim Barrie SNP PPC, Dundee West

Email: jim@jimbarrie.net

Having just spent 10 minutes typing out my MP's reply, I scrolled down and read two more or less identical replies. Ho hum. And I thought that he had put a bit of effort into his reply. Political naivity I'm afraid.

Letter from John Baron, MP for Billericay.
I agree with the sentiment behind the 'Robin Hood' campaign. That is why Conservatives have been calling for an internationally-agreed tax on banks, which could raise billions of pounds to fund domestic and international policies, including action to help the most vulnerable at home and abroad. The IMF is producing a report on what form such a tax might take. They are considering the practicality of a transaction tax, alongside other options like a levy, a form of which President Obama has proposed and the Swedish government has implemented.

I also agree that, in spite of other pressures on public spending, caused by the recession, government spending on international development should continue to be a priority. We are therefore committed in increasing aid spending to 0.7% of GNI, because we believe that overseas aid can save lives, combat diseases such as malaria and HIV/AIDS, and help to create bring new jobs, universal education and other opportunities for people living in the poorest countries.

In addition, we recognise that climate change is already hitting some of the poorest people in the world and urgent action is needed to cut emissions and help protect people from the impact of rising temperatures. David Cameron has made this a personal priority of his. We have signed up to the 10:10 campaign, and committed to cutting UK government emissions by 10% with 12 months of the general election. And as we have repeatedly stated, we also support international negotiations on new mechanisms to provide additional funding for the important issue.

You may be interested to know that the Conservative Shadow Chancellor George Osborn e has met wit the Robin Hood campaign in order to discuss our common objectives.

Letter from Andrew Mitchell MP for Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham.

Thankyou for contacting me about the proposed 'Robin Hood Tax'.

I share your concerns about the state of public finances. This year we are expected to borrow almost 14 percent of our GDP - almost twice as much as when we nearly went bust in the 1970s, and the national debit is set to double to £1.5 trillion in 2014/15, worth £23000 for every person in the country. Britain has the largest budget deficit in the developed world according to the OECD and will continue to have the largest next year. At the same time, as a result of global poverty, it is estimated that 9.2million children die before the age of five each year/ Two million die on the day they are born - and 500,000 women die at childbirth. 72 million children are missing out on an education. Every day 30, 000 children die from easily preventable diseases.

Conservatives are committed both to cutting the national deficit and to achieving the UN target of spending 0.7% of national income as international aid by 2013. However, though in theory a robin hood style tax may seem like a quick, fair and simple solution to many of the problems we face, i feel it may not be realistic. Such a tax on financial transactions would be extremely difficult to implement on an international basis, and I believe the IMF is right to be considering other options such as an insurance scheme against future crises.

Conservatives support an internationally competitive financial sector in the UK, but we must be clear that the price of implicit taxpayer backing is greater responsibility by the banks themselves.

I can assure you my colleagues and I will continue to press this Government to reform our broken system of financial regulation.

Best Wishes,
Andrew Mitchell.

- not really satisfied!

Summary of letter received from Anne McIntosh MP

... I agree with the sentiment behind the campaign. That is why Conservatives have been calling for n internationally-agreed tax on banks. The IMF is producing a report on what form such a tax might take.
... Unfortunately, due to collective responsibility I am unable to sign EDM 913.

Letter received from Mark Prisk - MP for Hertford and Stortford

Dear Ms Eaton

Like you I agree with the sentiment behind the 'Robin Hood' campaign.

That is why Conservatives have been calling for an internationally-agreed tax on banks, which could raise billions of pounds to fund domestic and international policies, including action to help the most vulnerable at home and abroad. The International Monetary Fun (IMF) is producing a report on what form such a tax might take. They are considering the practicality of a transaction tax, alongside other options like a levy, a form of which President Obama has proposed and the Swedish government has implemented.

I also agree that, in spit of other pressures on public spending caused by the recession, government spending on itnernational development should continue to be a priority. We are therefore committed to increasing aid spending to 0.7% of GNI, because we believe that overseas aid can save lives, combat diseases such as malaria and HIV/AIDS, and help to create new jobs, universal education and other opportunities for people living in the poorest countries.

In addition, we recognise that climate change is already hitting some of the poorest people in the world, and urgent action is needed to cut emissions and help protect people from the impact of rising temperatures. David Cameron has made this a personal priority of his. We have signed up to the 10:10 campaign, and committed to cutting UK government emissions by 10% within 12 months of the general election. As we have repeatedly stated, we also support international negotiations on new mechanisms to provide additional funding for this important issue.

You may be interested to know that Conservative Shadow Chancellor, George Osborne has met with representatives of the Robin Hood campaign in order to discuss our common objectives.

I am grateful to you for bringing this to my attention and also writing with your views.

Thank you again for taking the time to get in touch.

Precis of the reply I got from Kerry McCarthy, Labour MP (Easton, Bristol) -

In principle agrees with Tobin Tax or similar venture, but won't move until there's an international accord. In other words: Part line...

Letter received from my Member of Parliament, Mark Hunter, Lib Dem (Cheadle):

Dear Mr. ...

Thank you for copying me into your email to Alistair Darling regarding aspects of taxation which you would like to see in the budget.

Like you, I support a tax on financial institutions and introducing a small levy on sterling currency transactions would raise revenue to make a new contribution to public funds. In these difficult times for public finances this can only be a good thing.

Yours sincerely

Mark Hunter MP

PS - do let me know if you get a reply from A.D.'s office - I'd be very interested to see it!

Below is my e-mailed reply (same day) from Ben Jeffreys, the Conservative Parliamentary candidate for Cheadle:

Dear Mr. ...

Thanks for this email which I have already received - was this from yourself or is it part of a wider campaign?

Certainly an interesting point and I shall pass it on.

Thanks again for the email and all best wishes

Ben

Response from Philip Davies, Tory MP for Shipley:

Dear Mr Taylor
Thank you for your email. I am sorry for the delay in replying to you.
I am afraid that I don't agree with you about this. The reason we are in a financial mess is because the Government overspent over many years not because we are undertaxed and I would not support any measures which would damage our economic competitiveness.
I am sorry that we disagree about this but hope you at least appreciate my honesty.
If you ever feel that I can be of any help with anything please let me know.
Best wishes
Philip Davies MP

Response from Stephen Phillips, the Tory candidate to replace Douglas Hogg (who some of you will know as "moat-man" from the expenses scandal) in the next election:

At the risk of a party political point, our economy is a complete mess, and whilst we must rightly blame profligacy amongst the bankers for that, I do believe that this government is largely responsible for the situation in which we now find ourselves as a country. You may or may not be aware, but speaking to the Financial Times in January of this year, George Osborne indicated that a Conservative government would support a new levy on banks to protect the taxpayer from the costs of any future crisis. The aim of such a plan would be to introduce a more permanent version of the bank levy announced by President Obama in the United States. Yesterday, David Cameron announced that a Conservative government will therefore introduce a new bank levy to pay back tax payers for the support they gave in the financial crisis and to protect them in the future. This is, moreover, not dependent upon the agreement of our G20 partners, though we would prefer these measures to operate worldwide in order to ensure a level playing field. I do not know what you will see from Mr Darling in the budget next week. I do know that what you will see is unlikely to be in the national interest and will have more to do with Lord Mandleson's vision of how he can best engineer another 5 years of Gordon Brown.

With Kind Regards,

Stephen Phillips

Response from Robert Key:

Hello Katie

I'm glad to report that the Conservatives will introduce some sort of Robin Hood Tax. So I won't be signing the EDM.

Good wishes from Robert Key.

Robert Key FSA
Member of Parliament for Salisbury

My MP Sandra Gidley has now signed EDM 913.

Hers is the answer I received from my MP Frank Field
Thanks. I very much agree but it will only work if it is universal. Gordon Brown is working on that front.

With best wishes

Frank


Office of The Rt Hon. Frank Field MP
t: 0207 219 5193 | f: 0207 219 0601|w: www.frankfield.co.uk

Just received this from Frank Dobsons office (Holborn and StPancras):

Dear Mr. ...,

I refer to your e-mail of 20 March sending Mr. Dobson a copy of your e-mail to Alistair Darling.

Mr. Dobson has asked me to let you know that he has been in favour of a tax on major financial institutions for years and he spoke in a parliamentary debate on 7 January. Please would you let me have your postal address so that Mr. Dobson can send you a personal reply enclosing a copy of the extract from Hansard.


Sylvia
Office of The Rt. Hon. Frank Dobson MP

Update: she has just corrected herself:

I refer to my earlier e-mail which should have read major financial 'transactions' not 'institutions' - with apologies.


Sylvia Cornforth
Office of The Rt. Hon. Frank Dobson MP

Just heard back from Theresa May (Maidenhead) - response dated within one week of my email. Dreadful woman, excellent consituency MP.

Mentions a recent meeting between George Osborne and Robin Hood tax campaigners and says that "Conservatives have been calling for an internationally-agreed tax on banks", and refers to IMF report on the form such a tax may take. Won't sign EDM 913 because of a desire for international agreement first. A reasonable position in some ways but when will this happen I wonder??

The rest of the letter is taken up with fine words on Internation Development spending commitments and Climate Change manifesto pledges.

Keep up the merry work!

Message received from the office of Adam Price MP (Plaid Cymru):

Adam has asked me to thank you for taking the time to make him aware of this important issue and for outlining your views on the matter. Adam has been very critical of the lack of regulation of the financial sector that has contributed to the recession that is having such a detrimental impact on families across Wales.

Adam has been outspoken in his frustration that despite taxpayers money being used to ensure the survival of the banking sector city bankers are still being rewarded with large bonuses. Adam does believe there is merit to the 'Robin Hood Tax' campaign and has happily supported the Early Day Motion in question. Adam does agree that there needs to be more regulation of the financial sector and does feel that greater taxation of the highest earners in society, such as a robin hood tax on banking transactions, would provide a means of tackling the financial deficit in a fair manor.

Adam has now signed EDM 913 and I hope that it assures you of his support for this issue.

My MP Sir Michael Lord (Conservative) for Central Suffolk is sympathetic to the idea of the Robin Hood Tax - but not as sympathetic as the Greens, who support it wholeheartedly!
Rachel Fulcher, PPC Suffolk Coastal Green Party

The reply to my email:

Thank you for your email.

I agree with the sentiment behind the 'Robin Hood' campaign and you may be interested to know that the Conservative Shadow Chancellor George Osborne has met with its representatives in order to discuss our common objectives.

That is why Conservatives have been calling for an internationally-agreed tax on banks, which could raise billions of pounds to fund domestic and international policies, including action to help the most vulnerable at home and abroad. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is producing a report on what form such a tax might take. They are considering the practicality of a transaction tax, alongside other options like a levy, a form of which President Obama has proposed and the Swedish government has implemented.

I also agree that, in spite of other pressures on public spending caused by the recession, government spending on international development should continue to be a priority. We are therefore committed to increasing aid spending to 0.7% of GNI, because we believe that overseas aid can save lives, combat diseases such as malaria and HIV/AIDS, and help to create bring new jobs, universal education and other opportunities for people living in the poorest countries.

In addition, we recognise that climate change is already hitting some of the poorest people in the world, and urgent action is needed to cut emissions and help protect people from the impact of rising temperatures. David Cameron has made this a personal priority of his. We have signed up to the 10:10 campaign, and committed to cutting UK government emissions by 10% within 12 months of the general election. As we have repeatedly stated, we also support international negotiations on new mechanisms to provide additional funding for this important issue.

I appreciate you drawing my attention to Early Day Motion 913 but, unfortunately, as an Opposition Whip, I am unable to sign the Early Day Motion as I only sign EDMs that are sponsored or approved by the Opposition.

Yours sincerely,

Simon Burns MP
Member of Parliament for West Chelmsford

My MP Bob Marshal Andrews, has signed the EDM 913.
Dave.

The following two emails were received as a direct result of my email to the Chancellor via your web site.

Dear Ms Dentten

Thank you for copying me in to your email to the Chancellor about the Robin Hood tax campaign.

The concept of a financial transaction tax is a good idea in principle and is something which the Liberal Democrats would be happy to pursue. Although I am told that it would be technically possible to levy a small transaction tax on sterling transactions alone, it would be much better to have a common approach by leading financial centres including the US, German, French and Swiss governments. The proceeds from such a tax could provide a modest source of revenue to be used for funding overseas development.

The ‘Tobin Tax’ concept has been advocated for many years and progress has been hampered by a number of issues. These have included technical problems with its implementation as well as competing and sometimes conflicting claims from its proponents over how to use the revenue raised. Demonstrating that the tax can work, by securing the co-operation of Europe and the US, should have priority over elaborate plans which are unlikely to be realised.

Meantime the Liberal Democrats have proposed creating an immediate new levy on bank profits at a rate of 10%. This would be a direct recognition of the beneficial and explicit taxpayer support which banks have received: the UK banks owe their very existence to the British taxpayer. Some banks such as RBS, Lloyds-HBOS and Northern Rock have received direct taxpayer bailouts. However, all have benefited from the explicit guarantee that none of them will be allowed to fail.

The Governor of the Bank of England has estimated that the UK banks have received the equivalent of £1 trillion in taxpayer support. But it does not stop there. The banking industry is unique in having the taxpayer acting as its safety net and the Liberal
Democrats believe that this should be recognised. Our banking levy would be expected to yield around £2bn next year and this revenue would be used for the moment to tackle the UK structural deficit – thus ensuring that the banking sector helps to pay for the problems it has in part created.

Thanks again for taking the time to contact me.
Yours Sincerely

Dominic Hannigan,
Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate
Cardiff South and Penarth

Dear Sue,

Thank you very much for your email. I personally agree with your views on
the Robin Hood Tax and I believe the Green Party gives some of the
strongest support to this campaign of any of the main political parties.

For example, here is a comment on it from Caroline Lucas, Green Party
Leader and MEP:
http://www.carolinelucas.com/cl/blog/good-news-bad-news-and-a-step-in-the-right-direction.html

I am standing in Cardiff South and Penarth in the coming general election
and over recent weeks I have been in the local papers a few times
campaigning on local issues such as improving public transport. We don't
have the same kind of campaign budget as the bigger political parties and
I
would really, really appreciate if you would consider voting Green in the
coming general election.

Also, I'm going to put a list together of people within the constituency
who may be interested in what is happening within the local Green Party.
Would you like me to add your email address to this list?

thanks again for getting in touch,

Matt Townsend
www.matttownsend.co.uk
Green Party Candidate for Cardiff South and Penarth

Reply received (12/3) from Roger Berry, Labour for Kingswood, Bristol:

Many thanks for your email of 2 March.
I have for many years supported a Tobin Tax, now known as the 'Robin Hood Tax.'
A 0.05% tax on banking transactions would have the twin benefits of reducing some speculative transactions and raising substantial sums of money for public use.
Thank you for drawing my attention to Early Day Motion 913. I have now signed it.

Reply from Evan Harris, Lib Dem MP:

Thank you for contacting me about the Robin Hood tax campaign. I am sorry that I have taken some time to reply to you but I wanted to examine this proposal in some detail and give a personal response to this campaign. I have discussed this with Vince Cable's team and thoroughly explored the arguments on both sides so I can now give a more informed - and longer ! - reply.

I have long-supported a Tobin Tax, support the Robin Hood Tax and have signed the EDM.

Arguments for the Tobin Tax (Robin Hood Tax)

I have long supported the idea of a Tobin Tax - a tax on financial transactions which would discourage speculative trading, often in meaningless financial instruments, commonly seen as one of the reasons for the financial crisis. There are plenty of examples, particularly from the late 90s, of entire economies - despite their fundamentals being sound - brought down by speculative activity.

Short-term speculative trading creates a lack of responsibility over the financial instruments created. In the credit crunch of 2008, the impacts of which are still being keenly felt, sub-prime loans and mortgages could be packaged up into highly complex "securitised" assets and then sold quickly from trader to trader without anyone knowing what they really contained, how much they were worth, or how risky they were.

I am impressed with the range of expert economists that have lined up in support of the idea. Adair Turner, the Chairman of the FSA, and not normally seen as radical, is in favour of a tax on what he rightly describes as "socially useless" activity - to, in James Tobin’s words, ‘throw some sand in the wheels’ of speculative activity. Paul Krugman, the widely-respected Nobel Prize-winning economist and keen supporter of a transactions tax, recently wrote that "It would be a trivial expense for long-term investors, but it would deter much of the churning that now takes place in our hyperactive financial markets." It would not have entirely prevented the financial crisis, and it would not be a panacea to future crises, but it does solve part of the problem.

A transaction tax would therefore be a desirable thing simply on the basis of the cost, and thereby disincentive, that it would create to speculators. But it would also be very desirable in the money that it could raise. The Robin Hood Tax campaign suggests that an average tax of 0.005% on transactions could raise as much as $400 billion. If even a quarter of that money were collected it could amount to doubling the developed world's annual Official Development Assistance (of about $100 billion). How this money would be used is a separate question, and I would certainly advocate a large proportion of it going to development aid and climate change mitigation in developing countries. However, it could also be used to help pay down our mounting deficit - which has arisen, of course, largely because of the greed of the banks.

Implementation

The principle of whether such a tax would be a good thing is somewhat separate from the possibility of implementing it. But of course the two (desirability and practicability) cannot be separated entirely. How easy would such a transaction tax be to introduce?

Although it may be possible to levy a small transaction tax on sterling transactions alone, I am told it would be much better to have a common approach by leading financial centres including North American, European and Asian governments. Given the fluidity of capital around the world, there is always the danger that unilateral action will just lead to capital moving elsewhere. However, once we have this agreement, we would be able to catch taxes fairly easily. As Krugman points out in his article, although transactions may take many different routes, they are normally 'settled' in large centralised institutions - and this is where the tax could be applied.

The European Parliament has already voted for a European transaction tax. This is welcome, and will help to work out how to get round some of the technical obstacles to implementation, as well as creating a 'real-world' example of the transaction tax in practice.

Related Lib Dem policy

The Liberal Democrats have already proposed creating an immediate new levy on bank profits at a rate of 10%. This would be a direct recognition of the beneficial and explicit taxpayer support which banks have received: the UK banks owe their very existence to the British taxpayer. Some banks such as RBS, Lloyds-HBOS and Northern Rock have received direct taxpayer bailouts. However, all have benefited from the explicit guarantee that none of them will be allowed to fail.

The Governor of the Bank of England has estimated that the UK banks have received the equivalent of £1 trillion in taxpayer support. But it does not stop there. The banking industry is unique in having the taxpayer acting as its safety net and the Liberal Democrats believe that this should be recognised. Our banking levy would be expected to yield around £2bn next year and this revenue would be used for the moment to tackle the UK structural deficit – thus ensuring that the banking sector helps to pay for the problems it has in part created.

Again, thanks for taking the time to write to me. I am very pleased that there is such a sizeable weight of public opinion behind such a transaction tax. It is important to keep up pressure behind a proposal which has such strong merits - from reducing dangerous speculation, to potentially raising hundreds of billions for international development and reducing the impacts of climate change on the poorest countries.

Yours sincerely,

Evan Harris

Well done James. The Green Party totally supports this campaign and we would go further to claw back the money the bankers have had from the tax payer which has helped significantly to put this country in the mess it is in. How can it be fair that Bob Diamond-head of Barclays is going to get £60m in bonuses (See Guardian Sat 20/3/), yet all the Labour Party, the LD's and the Tories can do is compete with each other about who will cut public expenditure fastest. We need to remember 'that talk' results in services being cut for everybody, and particularly the poor and the vulnerable; whereas the wealthy who put us in this mess can all afford to have private health insurance, education etc etc etc, ( so they won't feel the impact)yet they are the cause of this crisis, and they are the people who happily destroyed our country's industrial base so we have less and less tax receipts, and have to borrow more and more to keep our heads above water. Check out the Green Party's alternative approach to resolving these problems which include a progressive tax system, and investment in a new 'Green' economy which will see our country leading the way in Europe and the wider world, in the future! Ian WrightGreen Party Candidate for Truro and Falmouth

Reply from Alan Duncan MP

Thank you for your letter.

I agree with the sentiment behind the 'Robin Hood' campaign and you may be interested to know that the Conservative Shadow Chancellor George Osborne has met with its representatives in order to discuss our common objectives.

That is why Conservatives have been calling for an internationally-agreed tax on banks, which could raise billions of pounds to fund domestic and international policies, including action to help the most vulnerable at home and abroad. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is producing a report on what form such a tax might take. They are considering the practicality of a transaction tax, alongside other options like a levy, a form of which President Obama has proposed and the Swedish government has implemented.

I also agree that, in spite of other pressures on public spending caused by the recession, government spending on international development should continue to be a priority. We are therefore committed to increasing aid spending to 0.7% of GDP, because we believe that overseas aid can save lives, combat diseases such as malaria and AIDS, and help to create and bring new jobs, universal education and other opportunities for people living in the poorest countries.

In addition, we recognise that climate change is already hitting some of the poorest people in the world, and urgent action is needed to cut emissions and help protect people from the impact of rising temperatures. David Cameron has made this a personal priority of his. We have signed up to the 10:10 campaign, and committed to cutting UK government emissions by 10% within 12 months of the general election. As we have repeatedly stated, we also support international negotiations on new mechanisms to provide additional funding for this important issue.

Thank you again for taking the time to get in touch.

Yours sincerely

Alan Duncan MP

Reply from Martin Linton (MP) office:
Dear Ms Simpson,

Thank you for getting in touch with Martin about this EDM. You will be happy to know that he has already signed it, and fully supports these measures.

Thank you again for your concern and involvement.

Sincerely,

Thank you for urging me to support the "Robin Hood" financial tax. I was pleased to be among 80 MPs who attended the launch of the campaign on the 24th February with many more offering their support.

The Prime Minister said in Prime Minister's Question Time on Wednesday 24th February that:

"there is growing support across the world...for a global levy that will put the place of financial institutions firmly at a global level and make a contribution to society. That is the way forward - a globl levy, a global banking organisation, and global financial institutions working together."

You may be interested to know that I also supported the important Debt Relief Bill that will help protect funds destined to provide services for some of the poorest people in the world. It will also protect the interests of British taxpayers who provide money for debt relief, only to find that some gets creamed off into these secretive funds.

The bill clips the wings of vulture funds which operate at the most unacceptable margins of the financial services industry I am really pleased that the Bill has been overwhlemingly passed to progress to committee stag, [sic] as it will represent a major step forward in tackling these funds. It cannot be right that companies are allowed, in British courts, to make profits out of the world's poorest people. In some of the very poorest countries almost half the population lives on just under a dollar a day.

With best wishes

Yours sincerely
Anne Snelgrove, Labour MP for South Swindon

A response from local Conservative MP, unfortunately didn't sign up to EDM 913 to register general support for RHT.


Thank you for your email of 9 March regarding a tax on financial transactions.

I agree with the sentiment behind the 'Robin Hood' campaign and you may be interested to know that the Conservative Shadow Chancellor George Osborne has met with its representatives in order to discuss our common objectives.

That is why Conservatives have been calling for an internationally-agreed tax on banks, which could raise billions of pounds to fund domestic and international policies, including action to help the most vulnerable at home and abroad. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is producing a report on what form such a tax might take. They are considering the practicality of a transaction tax, alongside other options like a levy, a form of which President Obama has proposed and the Swedish government has implemented.

I also agree that, in spite of other pressures on public spending caused by the recession, government spending on international development should continue to be a priority. We are therefore committed to increasing aid spending to 0.7% of GDP, because we believe that overseas aid can save lives, combat diseases such as malaria and AIDS, and help to create bring new jobs, universal education and other opportunities for people living in the poorest countries.

In addition, we recognise that climate change is already hitting some of the poorest people in the world, and urgent action is needed to cut emissions and help protect people from the impact of rising temperatures. David Cameron has made this a personal priority of his. We have signed up to the 10:10 campaign, and committed to cutting UK government emissions by 10% within 12 months of the general election. As we have repeatedly stated, we also support international negotiations on new mechanisms to provide additional funding for this important issue.

I have not signed EDM 913 as there are so many EDMs tabled each day, and in Parliamentary terms they tend to have little effect. However I hope you are reassured that Conservatives are working towards the same goal.

Yours sincerely

James Arbuthnot

____________________________________

Office of the Rt Hon James Arbuthnot, MP
House of Commons
London SW1A 0AA

Dear Jordan

Thank you for taking the time to write and for copying me into the message below.

As a Liberal Democrat I am campaigning to change Britain for real. We the Liberal Democrats were right about the financial crisis. We warned of the dangers and led the debate when the crisis came. And now we have a clear vision for the future of the British economy.

As a Liberal Democrat I represent the only party that has been first to raise the issues of tax evasion and is continiously calling for tax loop holes to be closed as we have all discovered from the recent high profile example of Lord Ashcroft and many others that we do not see or read about in the media.

Only the Liberal Democrats have identified £15bn of savings to make from bloated bureaucracy and unaffordable commitments. We will identify our priorities and debate them publically. That's open, democratic and Liberal.

Only the Liberal Democrats will invest in jobs with a Green New Deal.
Only the Liberal Democrats will change our unfair tax system so that 3.6 million people will no longer pay any income tax at all. Pensioners will be £100 better off and the average person's income tax bill will be cut by £700.

Jordan many people living in Leeds North East are writing to tell me that they are desperate to see the back of this Labour Government. But they don't want the same old Tories. And make no mistake, the Tories are exactly the same.

I hope you will give me the opportunity to represent you as your MP, as I am committed to the Tax Changes you support

Please do come back to me if you require any further information about Liberal Democrats policies please take the time to visit our website www.libdems.org.uk or my personal site www.aqilachoudhry.org.uk


Best regards

Aqila Choudhry
Liberal Democrats Parliamentary Candidate
Leeds North East

Typed letter dated 17 march from Andrew Millar MP

Thank you for contacting me regarding the 'Robin Hood Tax'.
Whilst I agree this on the face of it is a good idea it is in fact a lot more complicated and the task of implementation of such a tax is underestimated.

There are a number of issues that need a great deal more thought, the transactions to be taxed are themselves not necessarily straightforward, at wha tpoint would the charge be made, who would collect the tax and act as administrator, who would police the tax, if the UK alone implemented such a tax, it is likely that transactions would take place elsewhere.
I appreciate that obstacles are there to be overcome and would suggest again that more detailed consideration of all aspects of this are completed. It is a great idea and despite the obstacles I would want to see this principle enshrined in international law.
Yours sincerely
Andrew Millar (signed)

Typed letter sent by post, dated 19.03.10 signed Angela Eagle MP:

Thank you for your communication regarding the 'Robin Hood tax'.

As the Prime Minister confirmed in the House on 24 February, this Government supports seeking an international agreement for a levy on global financial institutions to ensure that they make a contribution to society.

I hope this is of reassurance to you.
Yours sincerely
Angela Eagle MP

Personally I am not that reassured... but I appreciate the posted reply!

Dear James,

Thank you for contacting me about the Robin Hood tax campaign.

The concept of a financial transaction tax is a good idea in principle and is something which the Liberal Democrats would be happy to pursue. Although I am told that it would be technically possible to levy a small transaction tax on sterling transactions alone, it would be much better to have a common approach by leading financial centres including the US, German, French and Swiss governments. The proceeds from such a tax could provide a modest source of revenue to be used for funding overseas development.

The 'Tobin Tax' concept has been advocated for many years and progress has been hampered by a number of issues. These have included technical problems with its implementation as well as competing and sometimes conflicting claims from its proponents over how to use the revenue raised. Demonstrating that the tax can work, by securing the co-operation of Europe and the US, should have priority over elaborate plans which are unlikely to be realised.

Meantime the Liberal Democrats have proposed creating an immediate new levy on bank profits at a rate of 10%. This would be a direct recognition of the beneficial and explicit taxpayer support which banks have received: the UK banks owe their very existence to the British taxpayer. Some banks such as RBS, Lloyds-HBOS and Northern Rock have received direct taxpayer bailouts. However, all have benefited from the explicit guarantee that none of them will be allowed to fail.

The Governor of the Bank of England has estimated that the UK banks have received the equivalent of £1 trillion in taxpayer support. But it does not stop there. The banking industry is unique in having the taxpayer acting as its safety net and the Liberal Democrats believe that this should be recognised. Our banking levy would be expected to yield around £2bn next year and this revenue would be used for the moment to tackle the UK structural deficit - thus ensuring that the banking sector helps to pay for the problems it has in part created.

Thanks again for taking the time to contact me. If you would like to know anything else or get involved in my campaign please let me know.

Best wishes
Terrye

Terrye Teverson
Parliamentary Candidate
Truro Falmouth Liberal Democrats

Dear James,


Thank you for copying me into your e:mail to the Chancellor. I agree with the sentiment behind the 'Robin Hood' campaign. That is why Conservatives have been calling for an internationally-agreed tax on banks, which could raise billions of pounds to fund domestic and international policies, including action to help the most vulnerable at home and abroad.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is producing a report on what form such a tax might take. They are considering the practicality of a transaction tax, alongside other options like a levy, a form of which President Obama has proposed and the Swedish government has implemented. I also agree that, in spite of other pressures on public spending caused by the recession, government spending on international development should continue to be a priority. We are therefore committed to increasing aid spending to 0.7% of GNI, because we believe that overseas aid can save lives, combat diseases such as malaria and HIV/AIDS, and help bring new jobs, universal education and other opportunities to people living in the poorest countries.

In addition, we recognise that climate change is already hitting some of the poorest people in the world, and urgent action is needed to cut emissions and help protect people from the impact of rising temperatures. David Cameron has made this a personal priority of his. We have signed up to the 10:10 campaign, and committed to cutting UK government emissions by 10% within 12 months of the general election. And as we have repeatedly stated, we also support international negotiations on new mechanisms to provide additional funding for this important issue.

You may be interested to know that the Conservative Shadow Chancellor George Osborne has met with the Robin Hood campaign in order to discuss our common objectives.

Kind regards,

Sarah
Mrs Sarah Newton
Conservative Parliamentary Candidate
Truro & Falmouth

I have just received an email from my M.P. Austin Mitchell, in full agreement with the my email to Alistair Darling re the robin Hood Tax.

Annwyl Pawb



Thank you for contacting me regarding this.



I agree with the sentiment behind the 'Robin Hood' campaign.

That is why Conservatives have been calling for an internationally-agreed tax on banks, which could raise billions of pounds to fund domestic and international policies, including action to help the most vulnerable at home and abroad. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is producing a report on what form such a tax might take. They are considering the practicality of a transaction tax, alongside other options like a levy, a form of which President Obama has proposed and the Swedish government has implemented.

I also agree that, in spite of other pressures on public spending caused by the recession, government spending on international development should continue to be a priority. We are therefore committed to increasing aid spending to 0.7% of GNI, because we believe that overseas aid can save lives, combat diseases such as malaria and HIV/AIDS, and help bring new jobs, universal education and other opportunities to people living in the poorest countries.

In addition, we recognise that climate change is already hitting some of the poorest people in the world, and urgent action is needed to cut emissions and help protect people from the impact of rising temperatures. David Cameron has made this a personal priority of his. We have signed up to the 10:10 campaign, and committed to cutting UK government emissions by 10% within 12 months of the general election. And as we have repeatedly stated, we also support international negotiations on new mechanisms to provide additional funding for this important issue.

You may be interested to know that the Conservative Shadow Chancellor George Osborne has met with the Robin Hood campaign in order to discuss our common objectives.

Yours sincerely



Luke Evetts

Welsh Conservative PPC (Ceredigion)

Dear Tim

Thank you for your recent email informing me of your support for the ‘Robin Hood Tax’.

Like many other issues I have supported with regard to helping the most vulnerable members of society I would similarly support a ‘Robin Hood Tax’, providing it is well thought out and funded.

Thank you once again for raising your concerns with me and I look forward to hopefully playing a part in the development of this campaign.

If I can be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely

Robert Flello MP
Labour, Stoke-on-Trent South

This responce was received from my MP Lembit Opik

Dear John,

Thank you for contacting me about the Robin Hood tax campaign. Please forgive my delay in replying.

The concept of a financial transaction tax is a good idea in principle and is something which the Liberal Democrats would be happy to pursue. Although I am told that it would be technically possible to levy a small transaction tax on sterling transactions alone, it would be much better to have a common approach by leading financial centres including the US, German, French and Swiss governments. The proceeds from such a tax could provide a modest source of revenue to be used for funding overseas development.

The 'Tobin Tax' concept has been advocated for many years and progress has been hampered by a number of issues. These have included technical problems with its implementation as well as competing and sometimes conflicting claims from its proponents over how to use the revenue raised. Demonstrating that the tax can work, by securing the co-operation of Europe and the US, should have priority over elaborate plans which are unlikely to be realised.

Meantime the Liberal Democrats have proposed creating an immediate new levy on bank profits at a rate of 10%. This would be a direct recognition of the beneficial and explicit taxpayer support which banks have received: the UK banks owe their very existence to the British taxpayer. Some banks such as RBS, Lloyds-HBOS and Northern Rock have received direct taxpayer bailouts. However, all have benefited from the explicit guarantee that none of them will be allowed to fail.

The Governor of the Bank of England has estimated that the UK banks have received the equivalent of £1 trillion in taxpayer support. But it does not stop there. The banking industry is unique in having the taxpayer acting as its safety net and the Liberal Democrats believe that this should be recognised. Our banking levy would be expected to yield around £2bn next year and this revenue would be used for the moment to tackle the UK structural deficit - thus ensuring that the banking sector helps to pay for the problems it has in part created.

I have also now signed EDM 916.

I hope this helps.

Best wishes

Lembit

Dear E McL,

Thanks for copying me in to your e-mail to Mr Darling.
I sympathise with your desire not to be penalised to pay for the government's deficit and so just wanted to get in touch to let you know about some of our Conservative policies on securing economic recovery, and dealing with government debt and the banking crisis.

I have taken the following short extract from http://www.conservatives.com/Policy/Where_we_stand/Economy.aspx
"Gordon Brown's debt, waste and taxes are holding us back and threatening the recovery with higher interest rates. A Conservative government will act now on debt to get the economy moving. We will deal with the deficit more quickly than Labour, so that mortgage rates stay lower for longer with the Conservatives...

• A one year public sector pay freeze in 2011 (this won't affect the one million lowest paid workers);

• Bringing forward the date at which the state pension age starts to rise to 66, to no earlier than 2016 for men and 2020 for women;

• Stopping tax credits to families with incomes over £50,000;

• Cutting spending on Child Trust Funds for all but the poorest third of families and families with disabled children;

• Capping the biggest public sector pensions above £50,000;

• A 5% pay cut for Ministers followed by a 5 year freeze, and a 10% reduction in the number of MPs."

You may also have noted that David Cameron yesterday committed an incoming Conservative government to introduce a levy on banks - while the detail of this is still being worked through, I understand that this would not specifically be the Robin Hood Tax on transactions that you advocate but would instead be a charge on the banks' wholesale funding, ie. on the money that the banks themselves have to borrow.

In addition, I personally believe that we should not as members of the public and taxpayers expect the government to take sole responsibility for regulating the banking sector, and we should all instead take more responsibility for how our financial institutions are run - either directly through greater activism on the part of shareholders, or more indirectly by putting pressure on the trustees of our pension funds which generally have large holdings/investments in the banks; the boards of directors of banks are theoretically responsible to their shareholders for the good management and corporate governance of the firms - shareholders, both small and large, should ensure that this this theory is put into practice.

I hope that some of these ideas will chime with your own.

Best regards,

Colin.

___________
Colin Stewart,
Scottish Conservative candidate
for Dundee West

Dear Mr Green,

Thank you for copying me on your email to Alistair Darling. At the risk of a party political point, our economy is a complete mess, and whilst we must rightly blame profligacy amongst the bankers for that, I do believe that this government is largely responsible for the situation in which we now find ourselves as a country.

You may or may not be aware, but speaking to the Financial Times in January of this year, George Osborne indicated that a Conservative government would support a new levy on banks – so long as it could be agreed by G20 countries – to protect the taxpayer from the costs of any future crisis. The aim of such a plan would be to introduce a more permanent version of the bank levy announced by President Obama in the United States.

I do not know what you will see from Mr Darling in the budget next week. I do know that what you will see is unlikely to be in the national interest and will have more to do with Lord Mandleson's vision of how he can best engineer another 5 years of Gordon Brown.

With Kind Regards,

Stephen Phillips

STEPHEN PHILLIPS QC
Parliamentary Candidate
Sleaford & North Hykeham Conservatives
www.stephenphillips.org.uk

Dear Tony,

Thank you for your email regarding the Robin Hood Tax. Chuka is a firm supporter of the campaign to introduce a levy on currency transactions, and we have used our Streatham Labour website to promote the Robin Hood Tax campaign.

To find out more and read Chuka's comments on the Robin Hood Tax, please follow this link - http://www.streathamlabour.org.uk/2010/02/robin-hood-tax/

You may also be interested to know that in December, Chuka was signatory to a letter calling on the government to impose a windfall tax on bank profits – find out more here: http://www.streathamlabour.org.uk/2009/12/its-time-to-get-tough-on-the-city/

Regards,

Gabriel Huntley

--
Gabriel Huntley | Communications Officer

Office of Chuka Umunna
Labour's Parliamentary Candidate for Streatham

HI Chris - I hope you are well and thanks for copying me in on the below -

I think there is a lot to be said for the Tobin tax (the Robin Hood tax), and it could certainly generate some money for funding overseas development, which I think would probably be the most appropriate use of it. I suspect it wouldn't actually generate as much as £3 billion, because the banks would change the way they operate, but the money would be come in handy anyway.

I think it would be much more effective if we could persuade other countries also to introduce such a tax system - in particular the
US, Germany, France and Switzerland - but we ought to go ahead without them if we can't get them to join in. In terms of controlling the banks, I also think we should introduce a new levy on bank profits at a rate of 10%, to recognise that the banks have received so much support from us - some exist only through our support. Banks such as RBS, Lloyds-HBOS and Northern Rock have received direct taxpayer bailouts. However, all have benefited from the explicit guarantee that none of them will be allowed to fail.

The Governor of the Bank of England has estimated that the UK banks have received the equivalent of £1 trillion in taxpayer support. But it does not stop there. The banking industry is unique in having the taxpayer acting as its safety net and the Liberal Democrats believe that this should be recognised. Our banking levy would be expected to yield around £2bn next year and this revenue would be used for the moment to tackle the UK structural deficit – thus ensuring that the banking sector helps to pay for the problems it has in part created.

Further to this, we also believe that the banks should be broken up, so that the risky aspects are separated from the mainstream commercial banking - we cannot continue to have banks that are 'too big to fail'. Bonuses should be highly limited - at least in the banks we the taxpayer are supporting. We put money in to save them not to pay huge cash bonuses! And we should make sure that the banks offer support to small companies and individuals, rather than starving them of funds as they currently do.

I hope that gives you a clear picture of my own position, and that of the Liberal Democrats on this issue.

Best wishes - Sebastian

Sebastian Kindersley
Liberal Democrat PPC - South Cambridgeshire.

Link to letter from Alistair Darling to Tessa Jowell in response to her enquiry after receiving many emails and messages sent from Robin Hood Tax supporters: http://www.tessajowell.net/uploads/43d8dae3-c088-5e14-7dc8-1b890ffd8470.pdf

From John Redwood

From: REDWOOD, John
Sent: 22 March 2010 7:50 AM
Subject: RE: I urge you to introduce a tiny sterling transaction tax in your budget.

The Opposition is calling for such a tax

Thank you for contacting me about the Robin Hood tax campaign.

The concept of a financial transaction tax is a good idea in principle and is something which the Liberal Democrats would be happy to pursue. Although I am told that it would be technically possible to levy a small transaction tax on sterling transactions alone, it would be much better to have a common approach by leading financial centres including the US, German, French and Swiss governments. The proceeds from such a tax could provide a modest source of revenue to be used for funding overseas development.

The ‘Tobin Tax’ concept has been advocated for many years and progress has been hampered by a number of issues. These have included technical problems with its implementation as well as competing and sometimes conflicting claims from its proponents over how to use the revenue raised. Demonstrating that the tax can work, by securing the co-operation of Europe and the US, should have priority over elaborate plans which are unlikely to be realised.

Meantime the Liberal Democrats have proposed creating an immediate new levy on bank profits at a rate of 10%. This would be a direct recognition of the beneficial and explicit taxpayer support which banks have received: the UK banks owe their very existence to the British taxpayer. Some banks such as RBS, Lloyds-HBOS and Northern Rock have received direct taxpayer bailouts. However, all have benefited from the explicit guarantee that none of them will be allowed to fail.

The Governor of the Bank of England has estimated that the UK banks have received the equivalent of £1 trillion in taxpayer support. But it does not stop there. The banking industry is unique in having the taxpayer acting as its safety net and the Liberal Democrats believe that this should be recognised. Our banking levy would be expected to yield around £2bn next year and this revenue would be used for the moment to tackle theUK structural deficit – thus ensuring that the banking sector helps to pay for the problems it has in part created.

Thanks again for taking the time to contact me.
Prue Bray


www.wokinghamlibdems.org.uk

http://www.pruebray.mycouncillor.org.uk/

From Rt Hon Oliver Letwin MP for West Dorset
Many thanks for copying to me your e-mail to Alistair Darling.
However, I think I should also tell you – in order to be open about my views – that I am not at present a supporter of this proposal.
It is absolutely true that the financial crisis has hit people around the world - and that is one of the reasons why my colleagues and I in the Shadow Cabinet have committed ourselves (despite the dreadful state of our public finances) to maintaining the growth of our aid budget so that it reaches 0.7% of gross national income.
However, in relation to the question of the banks, the international consensus seems to be swinging away from the idea of a transaction tax and towards the idea of a levy. In either case, what is envisaged is that the proceeds would be used to provide and insurance system, so that the world does not face a repeat of what happened a year ago. For the very reason you identify (i.e. the financial crisis hit developing countries even harder than developed economies) I think it is actually in the interests of the developing world that a high level of international aid should be combined with some form of insurance scheme for the financial sector.

Got this reply from Stephen Hesford, the Labour MP for Wirral West:

Dear Mr Spencer

Thank you for you recent email "The Robin Hood Tax".

In view of what you have said, I have signed EDM 913.

Please do not hesitate in contacting me again should you wish to raise any other matter.

With best wishes.

Yours sincerely

Stephen Hesford MP.


Great news!!

Got an immediate response from Paul Flynn MP for Newport West who is very supportive of this idea

Got this response back from Julia Mulligan, local prospective Conservative Party candidate (my area is currently Lib Dem):

Dear Mr King

Thank you for contacting me.

I agree with the sentiment behind the 'Robin Hood' campaign.
That is why we have been calling for an internationally-agreed tax on banks, which could raise billions of pounds to fund domestic and international policies, including action to help the most vulnerable at home and abroad. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is producing a report on what form such a tax might take. They are considering the practicality of a transaction tax, alongside other options like a levy, a form of which President Obama has proposed and the Swedish government has implemented.

I also agree that, in spite of other pressures on public spending caused by the recession, government spending on international development should continue to be a priority. We are therefore committed to increasing aid spending to 0.7% of GNI, because we believe that overseas aid can save lives, combat diseases such as malaria and HIV/AIDS, and help bring new jobs, universal education and other opportunities to people living in the poorest countries.

In addition, we recognise that climate change is already hitting some of the poorest people in the world, and urgent action is needed to cut emissions and help protect people from the impact of rising temperatures. David Cameron has made this a personal priority of his. We have signed up to the 10:10 campaign, and committed to cutting UK government emissions by 10% within 12 months of the general election. And as we have repeatedly stated, we also support international negotiations on new mechanisms to provide additional funding for this important issue.

You may be interested to know that the Conservative Shadow Chancellor George Osborne has met with the Robin Hood campaign in order to discuss our common objectives.

Kind regards

Julia

This is what I got the other day, to the first Email I sent out from here:

Dear Mr ********,

thank you for the copy of your email to Mr Darling. Your message is positive
in that you offer a meaningful suggestion. It is most interesting that you
note a far fairer means of raising taxes than hitting everyday people first.
By and large these everyday people are those that can least afford these
extra tax burdens. Personally, I also think it is only fair that if banks
can pay huge bonuses to their senior staff, then they can afford to pay more
into the system that has recently had to prop many of them up. As you say,
it would be a tiny tax on the financial institutions but a more than
noticable burden on if it is imposed upon those on lower incomes. A strange
course of action for a party that once prided itself on defending the poorer
in society.

On the other hand, the Liberal Democrats are making many proposals to
protect everyday people. We propose cutting taxes for people on low and
middle incomes. To pay for for this we propose cutting reliefs, closing tax
loopholes that benefit the wealthiest and a 1% levy on properties over £2m,
thereby linking tax to ability to pay.

We also propose raising the basic tax threshold to £10,000. This will mean a
cut in the average working person's tax bill of £700 and cut in a pensioner’s
income tax bill of £100. Further, this means almost 4 million people on low
incomes will no longer have to pay any income tax at all.

Once again, thank you for your message. It would be interesting to see what
Mr Darling has to say. However, we should perhaps judge him by his actions.

Regards,
Steve Churchman
Lib Dem PPC Dwyfor-Merionnydd
Minffordd House
Garndolbenmaen

I got the same response from Rachel Reeves (Labour Parliamentary Candidate for Leeds West) posted earlier.

I also got this from Ruth Coleman (Liberal Democrat candidate, Leeds West):

Thank you for contacting me about the Robin Hood tax campaign.

The concept of a financial transaction tax is a good idea in principle and is something which the Liberal Democrats would be happy to pursue. Although I am told that it would be technically possible to levy a small transaction tax on sterling transactions alone, it would be much better to have a common approach by leading financial centres including the US, German, French and Swiss governments. The proceeds from such a tax could provide a modest source of revenue to be used for funding overseas development.

Meantime the Liberal Democrats have proposed creating an immediate new levy on bank profits at a rate of 10%. This would be a direct recognition of the beneficial and explicit taxpayer support which banks have received: the UK banks owe their very existence to the British taxpayer. Some banks such as RBS, Lloyds-HBOS and Northern Rock have received direct taxpayer bailouts. However, all have benefited from the explicit guarantee that none of them will be allowed to fail.

The Governor of the Bank of England has estimated that the UK banks have received the equivalent of £1 trillion in taxpayer support. But it does not stop there. The banking industry is unique in having the taxpayer acting as its safety net and the Liberal Democrats believe that this should be recognised. Our banking levy would be expected to yield around £2bn next year and this revenue would be used for the moment to tackle the UK structural deficit – thus ensuring that the banking sector helps to pay for the problems it has in part created.

Kind regards,
Ruth Coleman
Liberal Democrat candidate, Leeds West

Dear Mr Mullen,
Thanks for copying me an email you sent to Alistair Darling,

Regards,
Dr Zulfiqar Ali
LibDem PPC Stoke-On-Trent South

Yup, I received the same email as Catherine and Anna below from Jo Shaw, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate, Holborn & St Pancras.

I received the same email as Anna (2 comments down) from our Lib Dem candidate Kevin Lang.
Won't paste it in again as its obviously the LibDem standard response. but at least a response.

I asked my MP Ann Winterton to sign Early Day Motion 913 which supports the Robin Hood Tax Campaign. Her reply was;
"I regret that I am unable to sign EDM 913 as this is not all party. The names of Members representing all parties in the House of Commons should be included in the top six signatories of an Early Day Motion if it is to attract maximum support. Unfortunately, this is not the case with EDM 913."

This is what we got from our Cllr:
Dear Anna
Thank you for contacting me about the Robin Hood tax campaign.

The concept of a financial transaction tax is a good idea in principle and is something which the Liberal Democrats would be happy to pursue. Although I am told that it would be technically possible to levy a small transaction tax on sterling transactions alone, it would be much better to have a common approach by leading financial centres including the US, German, French and Swiss governments. The proceeds from such a tax could provide a modest source of revenue to be used for funding overseas development.

The 'Tobin Tax' concept has been advocated for many years and progress has been hampered by a number of issues. These have included technical problems with its implementation as well as competing and sometimes conflicting claims from its proponents over how to use the revenue raised. Demonstrating that the tax can work, by securing the co-operation of Europe and the US, should have priority over elaborate plans which are unlikely to be realised.

Meantime the Liberal Democrats have proposed creating an immediate new levy on bank profits at a rate of 10%. This would be a direct recognition of the beneficial and explicit taxpayer support which banks have received: the UK banks owe their very existence to the British taxpayer. Some banks such as RBS, Lloyds-HBOS and Northern Rock have received direct taxpayer bailouts. However, all have benefited from the explicit guarantee that none of them will be allowed to fail.

The Governor of the Bank of England has estimated that the UK banks have received the equivalent of £1 trillion in taxpayer support. But it does not stop there. The banking industry is unique in having the taxpayer acting as its safety net and the Liberal Democrats believe that this should be recognised. Our banking levy would be expected to yield around £2bn next year and this revenue would be used for the moment to tackle the UK structural deficit – thus ensuring that the banking sector helps to pay for the problems it has in part created.

Thanks again for taking the time to contact me.

Marc

Lilian Greenwood, a Labour candidate for Nottingham South emailed me this reply. "Like you, I support the idea of a Robin Hood Tax so I hope the Chancellor will take the opportunity to generate additional funds to reduce the deficit and pay for tackling poverty and climate change in next week's budget ."

Great that she agrees... but "hope"??? Get her to lobby or so something constructive!

I have had a reply from David Amess for Southend West, about the Robin Hood tax, saying that he fully understands the points I have raised and agree that the next government to be elected in the UK is going to face some extremely difficult decisions in relation to the economy. I will bear your concerns in mind in my future consultations with parliamentary colleagues.

Yours sincerely

David Amess
Member of Parliament for Southend West
House of Commons

I have had a follow up letter from Alastiar Darling (My local MP) in response to the RHT email I sent him (he did send me an email response too which I posted here a while back).
It references the announcement the prime minister made at G20 and that "we welcome the contribution made by the RHT campaign and its supporters to the international debate". He then goes on to say "we believe there is a range of options to explore as a means of ensuring banks make a fair contribution. Any measures considred incluing a tax on financial transactions as proposed by robin hood campaign, need to be set against 4 principles: 1) the measures would have to be global, 2) they would have to have minimal distirtionary impact, 3) they should complement - and ideally reinforce- action the goernment is taking to enhance the stability of the global economy and 4) They must be fair, measured and enable financial growth." It goes on to say "The G20 has asked the IMF to review these issues, and the government looks forward to thier report later this year. In addition, we are participating in a French led inititive related to Financial Transaction Taxes. The priorities set out by RH campaign for potential benficiaries from a financial transaction tax are also priorities shared by the government." He then goes on to waffle about commitments to halve the deficit over 4 years, prioritising public services and making tough choices and making savings in other areas (NHS and child services). He then goes on to give more stats about ODA:GNI which I have to say I didn't quite get the relevance of and then in his final paragraph talks about climate change and the governments commitment to limit increases in global temperatures. "Developed countries agreed to provide fast start finance approaching $30billion for the period 2010-2012 with a longer term goal of $100 billion a year of public and private finance by 2020."

Really, I don't feel great about this response. I feel it is patting us on the head and then talking about all the "real" financial trouble out there... However, he has responded to me personally and it looks like a real signature.
So, parahrased as best I could is a response from the money man. Make of it what you will.

I agree with the sentiment behind the 'Robin Hood' campaign.



That is why Conservatives have been calling for an internationally-agreed tax on banks, which could raise billions of pounds to fund domestic and international policies, including action to help the most vulnerable at home and abroad. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is producing a report on what form such a tax might take. They are considering the practicality of a transaction tax, alongside other options like a levy, a form of which President Obama has proposed and the Swedish government has implemented.



You may be interested to know that the Conservative Shadow Chancellor George Osborne has met with the Robin Hood campaign in order to discuss our common objectives.



Kind Regards



Alan Cullens

Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Chorley

Dear Mr Harrison,

thank you for the copy of your email to Mr Darling. Your message is positive
in that you offer a meaningful suggestion. It is most interesting that you
note a far fairer means of raising taxes than hitting everyday people first.
By and large these everyday people are those that can least afford these
extra tax burdens. Personally, I also think it is only fair that if banks
can pay huge bonuses to their senior staff, then they can afford to pay more
into the system that has recently had to prop many of them up. As you say,
it would be a tiny tax on the financial institutions but a more than
noticable burden on if it is imposed upon those on lower incomes. A strange
course of action for a party that once prided itself on defending the poorer
in society.

On the other hand, the Liberal Democrats are making many proposals to
protect everyday people. We propose cutting taxes for people on low and
middle incomes. To pay for for this we propose cutting reliefs, closing tax
loopholes that benefit the wealthiest and a 1% levy on properties over £2m,
thereby linking tax to ability to pay.

We also propose raising the basic tax threshold to £10,000. This will mean a
cut in the average working person's tax bill of £700 and cut in a pensioner’s
income tax bill of £100. Further, this means almost 4 million people on low
incomes will no longer have to pay any income tax at all.

Once again, thank you for your message. It would be interesting to see what
Mr Darling has to say. However, we should perhaps judge him by his actions.

Regards,
Steve Churchman
Lib Dem PPC Dwyfor-Merionnydd

RE: I urge you to introduce a tiny sterling transaction tax in your budget.

Thanks for copying me in on this message.

I've long been a supporter of a tax on financial transactions, ideally implemented at a global level (the 'Tobin
Tax'). Such a levy could provide a source of revenue for a range of measures related to overseas
development; such as measures to tackle poverty, conflict prevention, or climate change
adaptation/mitigation. If implemented globally it could raise significant amounts.

The Robin Hood Tax is an idea Liberal Democrats are happy to pursue. It is technically possibly to do so,
though in my view it would be much better to have a common approach by leading financial centres
including the US, German, French and Swiss governments.

Progress on the 'Tobin Tax' has been hampered by a number of issues. These have included technical
problems with its implementation as well as competing and sometimes conflicting claims from its proponents
over how to use the revenue raised. Demonstrating that the tax can work, by securing the co-operation of
Europe and the US, should have priority over elaborate plans which are unlikely to be realised. Thatis a role
I would like to see the UK take a lead in.

Meanwhile the Liberal Democrats have proposed creating an immediate new levy on bank profits at a rate of
10%. This would be a direct recognition of the beneficial and explicit taxpayer support which banks have
received: the UK banks owe their very existence to the British taxpayer. Some banks such as RBS, Lloyds-
HBOS and Northern Rock have received direct taxpayer bailouts. However, all have benefited from the
explicit guarantee that none of them will be allowed to fail.

The Governor of the Bank of England has estimated that the UK banks have received the equivalent of £1
trillion in taxpayer support. But it does not stop there. The banking industry is unique in having the taxpayer
acting as its safety net and the Liberal Democrats believe that this should be recognised. Our banking levy
would be expected to yield around £2bn next year and this revenue would be used for the moment to
tackle the UK structural deficit – thus ensuring that the banking sector helps to pay for the problems it has
in part created.

I hope this helps explain my and our position. Please do get in touch if I can be of more help on this or any
other matter.

Yours sincerely

Gareth Epps
Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary candidate for Reading East

RE: I urge you to introduce a tiny sterling transaction tax in your budget.‏

Hello,

I am happy to support your campaign. If you would like to get involved with the Green Party elections campaign in Reading East and Park Ward -- at the last local elections we were just 20 votes from getting our first councillor in Reading -- or if you would like to be added to our monthly e-mail newsletter please get in contact.

Fair is worth fighting for!

Best wishes
Rob White

Re: I urge you to introduce a tiny sterling transaction tax in your budget.

Thank you very much for your email.

I just wanted to let you know that I have long supported (and
advocated) a Tobin Tax.

I think it is the only non-distorting way to aid global-level
financial regulation. (Any other approach appears prone to 'gaming').
In addition, it would offer a useful means of generating funds- which in my view should go towards some kind of international financial
facility, to aid developing nations. So it does appear to offer a
'win-win' situation. In addition, the tax could be started off at a
low level and inched up slowly in order to test its impact on global
economies- i.e. it is not an 'all for nothing' measure but could be
introduced gradually and carefully.

Anyway- thanks again for copying me into your email. Please do not hesitate to contact me on any other matter.

Yours,

Anneliese Dodds

Dera Ms Martin,
Thank you for the copy of your letter. Like you, I have been extremely concerned
not only by the mishandling of banking regulation (as predicted by my party's
shadow Chancellor Vince Cable - when he seemed a voice in the wilderness - but
how right he proved to be) but also by the iniquity of the remedies proposed. I
too shall be listening carfully to the forthcoming budget
Sincerely
James Raven.
Prof. James Raven
Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidtae Harwich and North Essex

Dear Claire

Thank you for copying me in on your e-mail to The Chancellor.


The Green Party has long been a supporter of a Robin Hood tax. It will be interesting to see if The Chancellor is brave enough to go for it, or instead resorts to the predictable option of taxing ordinary people even more !

Thanks again for writing



Yours



James Abbott


Green Party candidate for Witham Constituency



www.witham-braintree.greenparty.org.uk

Reply from James Raven, Liberal Democrat Candidate for Harwich and North Essex.

Dear Mr RobertsonThank you for the copy of your letter. Like you, I have been extremely concerned not only by the mishandling of banking regulation (as predicted by my party's shadow Chancellor Vince Cable - when he seemed a voice in the wilderness - but how right he proved to be) but also by the iniquity of the remedies proposed. I too shall be listening carfully to the forthcoming budget

Sincerely James Raven.
Prof. James RavenLiberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidtae Harwich and North Essex

Reply from David Mundell, Conservative, Mp for Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale


I am replying to your email on David's behalf. I think there may have been an administrative error on my part; as each email is dealt with on an individual basis and we receive over 100 emails every day I cannot always catch the duplicates, my sincere apologies for the oversight.

I have spoken to David and he cannot sign EDM 913 but feels the international agreement is crucial and feels it is best to concentrate on this than on the specific proposal contained in the EDM.

I hope this clarifies David's views but please do not hesitate to contact me again if I can help further.

Kind regards

Helen Dickson
Senior Case Worker for David Mundell MP

Dear Miriam



Thank you for copying me into your message.


As a Liberal Democrat I am campaigning to change Britain for real. We the Liberal Democrats were right about the financial crisis. We warned of the dangers and led the debate when the crisis came. And now we have a clear vision for the future of the British economy.


As a Liberal Democrat I represent the only party that has been first to raise the issues of tax evasion and is continiously calling for tax loop holes to be closed as we have all discovered from the recent high profile example of Lord Ashcroft and many others that we donot see or read about in the media.


Only the Liberal Democrats have identified £15bn of savings to make from bloated bureaucracy and unaffordable commitments. We will identify our priorities and debate them publically. That's open, democratic and Liberal.




Only the Liberal Democrats will invest in jobs with a Green New Deal.

Only the Liberal Democrats will change our unfair tax system so that 3.6 million people will no longer pay any income tax at all. Pensioners will be £100 better off and the average person's income tax bill will be cut by £700.




Miriam many people living in Leeds North East are writing to tell me that they are desperate to see the back of this Labour Government. But they don't want the same old Tories. And make no mistake, the Tories are exactly the same.




I hope you will give me the opportunity to represent you as your MP, as I am committed to the Tax Changes you support as a member of Action Aid.




Please do come back to me if you require any further information about Liberal Democrats policies please take the time to visit our website www.libdems.org.uk or my personal site www.aqilachoudhry.org.uk







Best regards




Aqila Choudhry

Liberal Democrats Parliamentary Candidate

Leeds North East

Received this reply from Denis MacShane MP - Thanks. I agree and am delighted that Gordon Brown is promoting this concept and dismayed that David Cameron opposes it. I sought in 1995 to table an amendment to the Finance Bill to bring in a Financial Transaction Tax or Robin Hood tax but could not find support. I am glad more than a decade later there is now a campaign and I wish it well.
Denis MacShane MP


Kath Sims
Constituency Assistant
Office of Rt Hon Dr Denis MacShane MP
Tel 01709 837577
Fax 01709 835622

Just received an email from the Green Party candidate Brian Heatley:

Adrian

I have already signed the Robin Hood Tax website and it is in our manifesto.

Brian

Brian Heatley
Green Party parliamentary candidate for South Dorset

Thank you for your email of 11 March regarding a tax on financial transactions.



I agree with the sentiment behind the 'Robin Hood' campaign and you may be interested to know that the Conservative Shadow Chancellor George Osborne has met with its representatives in order to discuss our common objectives.



That is why Conservatives have been calling for an internationally-agreed tax on banks, which could raise billions of pounds to fund domestic and international policies, including action to help the most vulnerable at home and abroad. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is producing a report on what form such a tax might take. They are considering the practicality of a transaction tax, alongside other options like a levy, a form of which President Obama has proposed and the Swedish government has implemented.



I also agree that, in spite of other pressures on public spending caused by the recession, government spending on international development should continue to be a priority. We are therefore committed to increasing aid spending to 0.7% of GDP, because we believe that overseas aid can save lives, combat diseases such as malaria and AIDS, and help to create bring new jobs, universal education and other opportunities for people living in the poorest countries.



In addition, we recognise that climate change is already hitting some of the poorest people in the world, and urgent action is needed to cut emissions and help protect people from the impact of rising temperatures. David Cameron has made this a personal priority of his. We have signed up to the 10:10 campaign, and committed to cutting UK government emissions by 10% within 12 months of the general election. As we have repeatedly stated, we also support international negotiations on new mechanisms to provide additional funding for this important issue.



I have not signed EDM 913 as there are so many EDMs tabled each day, and in Parliamentary terms they tend to have little effect. However I hope you are reassured that Conservatives are working towards the same goal.



Yours sincerely

James Arbuthnot

Here is the reply I received from my local Lib-Dem politician - I live in Gwynedd, North Wales:
thank you for the copy of your email to Mr Darling. Your message is positive
in that you offer a meaningful suggestion. It is most interesting that you
note a far fairer means of raising taxes than hitting everyday people first.
By and large these everyday people are those that can least afford these
extra tax burdens. Personally, I also think it is only fair that if banks
can pay huge bonuses to their senior staff, then they can afford to pay more
into the system that has recently had to prop many of them up. As you say,
it would be a tiny tax on the financial institutions but a more than
noticable burden on if it is imposed upon those on lower incomes. A strange
course of action for a party that once prided itself on defending the poorer
in society.

On the other hand, the Liberal Democrats are making many proposals to
protect everyday people. We propose cutting taxes for people on low and
middle incomes. To pay for for this we propose cutting reliefs, closing tax
loopholes that benefit the wealthiest and a 1% levy on properties over £2m,
thereby linking tax to ability to pay.

We also propose raising the basic tax threshold to £10,000. This will mean a
cut in the average working person's tax bill of £700 and cut in a pensioner’s
income tax bill of £100. Further, this means almost 4 million people on low
incomes will no longer have to pay any income tax at all.

Once again, thank you for your message. It would be interesting to see what
Mr Darling has to say. However, we should perhaps judge him by his actions.

Regards,
Steve Churchman
Lib Dem PPC Dwyfor-Merionnydd
Minffordd House

Had a very full response from Rachel Reeves, Labour PPC for Leeds West, copied below.

Dear Mike,
Thanks for your email on this really important issue that could make such a difference to tax revenues and to the behaviour of banks.

As you might know, I have signed up to the campaign for the financial transactions tax, and have argued on many occasions for greater taxes on bonuses and for greater regulation of the financial sector. You can read a few of my articles on the Progress website: http://www.progressonline.org.uk/columns/category.asp?cc=9 you can also see all the articles I have written on the economy and other subjects at : http://www.rachelreeves.net/blogs/blog6.php

The IMF Spring Meetings take place at the end of April and the IMF was asked by Gordon Brown to look at all the options on the Financial Transactions Tax. I also met Britain's representative on the International Steering Group for a global tax this week and I know that we are pushing really hard for international agreement on a tax. I agree that it is right that the financial sector make a much greater contribution to reducing the deficit and also pay more in to the system going forward. I am also optimistic about the possibility of getting a global agreement.

This tax must be levied internationally, otherwise banks will simply get round it by carrying out transactions in euros or dollars and then we will not bring in as much money as we could and banks will be able to carry on as before - which must not be allowed to happen.

Like you I hope that the Chancellor sets out his position on such a tax in the budget and that in the next month or so we can get a global deal which could bring in money to deal with some of the national and international challenges we face - and to ensure that the banks in the future pay their fair share of taxes.

Thanks for getting in touch and if you have any further questions, please do shout. Unless you have any objections I will add you to my monthly email list so you know about some of the things I am doing locally.

Best wishes
Rachel

Rachel Reeves
Labour Parliamentary Candidate for Leeds West

Received a letter today from my MP Jon Trickett (Hemsworth). As parliamentary private secretary to Gordon Brown he is not eligible to vote for the EDM but 'I appreciate you bringing the matter to my personal attention and I am pleased to see so much support for such an excellent campaign' He goes on to say that he sees growing support globally for this levy and calls for alignment of the values of the financial sector with those he considers are held by the mainstream majority - 'hard work, responsibility, integrity and fairness'. He ends by assuring me of his support.

Well, I find his view of society's values a bit optimistic, but I'm grateful for such a positive response. Well done Jon Trickett.

A reply from my local Labour MP (nothing from the other prospective candidates)

Dear Adrian,

Thank you very much for your e-mail.

I can’t predict what Alistair Darling MP will do but I do know he and the Labour Party do not want to put the economic recovery at risk. For years Gordon Brown promoted a similar proposal called the ‘Tobin Tax’.

I want to say from the outset that David is a big supporter of the Robin Hood Tax Campaign.

David actually chairs the All Party Parliamentary Group on Debt, Aid and Trade, who arranged the launch meeting for the Robin Hood Tax Campaign in February. It followed a report published by the group in 2007 - a report David is extremely proud of.

When the campaign was first launched David wrote a post on his blog - you can read David’s post by looking on his blog: http://www.davidborrowblog.co.uk- the post is at the bottom of the page.

I hope this helps assure you that David is behind the Tax and will push Government Ministers to introduce the idea.

Please feel free to get back to me with your thoughts or ring me anytime on 01772-XXXXXX

Many thanks

Justin


Justin Clark
Caseworker/Press Officer for David Borrow MP
Member of Parliament for South Ribble

Nancy Platts Labour parliamentary candidate for Brighton Pavilion

Thank you for copying Nancy into your email to the Chancellor, Alastair Darling. Nancy has signed up to support the Robin Hood Tax campaign.



Best Wishes

Rob Brown

Campaign Team for Nancy Platts
Labour parliamentary candidate for Brighton Pavilion

From Peter Lynn, Green Party, Colchester:

Dear Ashley,

Thank you for copying me in to this message. As you may know, the Green Party proposed a Tobin tax - essentially the same thing as the Robin Hood tax - some years ago. And we passed a motion at our Spring conference last month to formally support the Robin Hood tax campaign. So I am fully in agreement with your stance.

Very best wishes,

Peter Lynn
Green Party parliamentary candidate for Colchester

From Berni Millam, PPC Lib Dems, Pavilion, Brighton

Thank you for contacting me about the Robin Hood tax campaign.
The concept of a financial transaction tax is a good idea in principle and is something which the Liberal Democrats would be happy to pursue. Although I am told that it would be technically possible to levy a small transaction tax on sterling transactions alone, it would be much better to have a common approach by leading financial centres including the US, German, French and Swiss governments. The proceeds from such a tax could provide a modest source of revenue to be used for funding overseas development.
The ‘Tobin Tax’ concept has been advocated for many years and progress has been hampered by a number of issues. These have included technical problems with its implementation as well as competing and sometimes conflicting claims from its proponents over how to use the revenue raised. Demonstrating that the tax can work, by securing the co-operation of Europe and the US, should have priority over elaborate plans which are unlikely to be realised.
Meantime the Liberal Democrats have proposed creating an immediate new levy on bank profits at a rate of 10%. This would be a direct recognition of the beneficial and explicit taxpayer support which banks have received: the UK banks owe their very existence to the British taxpayer. Some banks such as RBS, Lloyds-HBOS and Northern Rock have received direct taxpayer bailouts. However, all have benefited from the explicit guarantee that none of them will be allowed to fail.
The Governor of the Bank of England has estimated that the UK banks have received the equivalent of £1 trillion in taxpayer support. But it does not stop there. The banking industry is unique in having the taxpayer acting as its safety net and the Liberal Democrats believe that this should be recognised. Our banking levy would be expected to yield around £2bn next year and this revenue would be used for the moment to tackle the UK structural deficit – thus ensuring that the banking sector helps to pay for the problems it has in part created.
Thanks again for taking the time to contact me.
Yours

Berni Millam

Rosie Winterton, MP for Doncaster Central.

Dear Mrs Bray.

Thank you for your email in support of the "Robin Hood Tax" campaign.

I hope you will understand that, as a Minister, I am unable to sign Early Day Motions. However, I have received similar correspondence from some of my other constituents and have written to Ministers so that they may be aware of the points raised with regard to this matter.

I will write to you again as soon as I have any further information for you.

Hi all, let's do this! POWER TO THE PEOPLE!! :)

Gisella Stuart, Labour MP for Edgbaston, B'ham responded (very quickly may I add):

Dear Deyar Yasin
Than you for your e-mail. I agree with the principle of what you are asking for but I am not sure whether the Tobin tax as it's proposed at the moment is quite right yet. I'll write to the Chancellor about this and get back to you.
Best wishes
Gisela Stuart

I then got back to her in ref. to it wouldn't work, asking her to be a) more specific b) IF indeed she found something that could make it so it wouldn't work, I urged her to get in touch with people behind Robin Hood Tax, so it doesn't just simply go away c) that it's time our gov. listened to us, the people instead of fat cat corporations, they have had a very FUN ride, someone should tell them it's over! She then responded:

You are right to take me to task - I want to make sure we can make it happen - but do want to hear what the Chancellor has to say as I have heard some criticisms..... so let's see what his view is
Best wishes
Gisela

Just realised the post below was exaclty the same- he must have an automated response!

Got an immediate response back from Bristol West Labour candidate, Paul Smith:

"Dear Becca

I support the Robin Hood tax and below is a link to my public statement of support on my blog

http://bristolwestpaul.wordpress.com/2010/03/09/robin-hood/

Yours

Paul Smith"

I sent this today and got an email straight back...see the link for more info.

Dear Julia


I support the Robin Hood tax and below is a link to my public statement of
support on my blog

http://bristolwestpaul.wordpress.com/2010/03/09/robin-hood/

Yours

Paul Smith

Andrew Smith (Labour, East Oxford) responded:

Thank you for your email concerning the Robin Hood Tax campaign. I strongly support a financial transaction tax and I took part in the recent House of Commons launch.

I believe that this is a great opportunity to mobilise public opinion here and throughout the world so we get just some of the huge amounts of money in the global banking system dedicated to meeting the needs of the worlds poor and combating climate change.

Once again, thank you for your interest in this vital matter. In the light of constituents representations I have written to the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer in support of the campaign and I will continue to press the case.

Please email AndrewSmith.PolicyQuestions@gmail.com if you would like me to forward a copy of their letters once I have received a reply.

Ordinary people have had to pay to bail out our banks.
Isn't it time that we taxed the banks; to get us out of the mess, that they got us into.

A Robin Hood Tax on large bank transactions would raise billions of pounds.
Even a %0.05 tax would raise at least £30 billion a year.

Depending on what type of transactions were taxed, it could raise up to £250 billion a year.

The money raised could be used to cut our deficit, fund decent pensions, fight climate change, etc.

The Green Party supports a Robin Hood Tax, and wants to see it brought into law ASAP.

Mark Hoban (Fareham, conservative) replied with this message:

Thank you for your letter.

I agree with the sentiment behind the 'Robin Hood' campaign.

That is why Conservatives have been calling for an internationally-agreed tax on banks, which could raise billions of pounds to fund domestic and international policies, including action to help the most vulnerable at home and abroad. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is producing a report on what form such a tax might take. They are considering the practicality of a transaction tax, alongside other options like a levy, a form of which President Obama has proposed and the Swedish government has implemented.

I also agree that, in spite of other pressures on public spending caused by the recession, government spending on international development should continue to be a priority. We are therefore committed to increasing aid spending to 0.7% of GNI, because we believe that overseas aid can save lives, combat diseases such as malaria and HIV/AIDS, and help to create bring new jobs, universal education and other opportunities for people living in the poorest countries.

In addition, we recognise that climate change is already hitting some of the poorest people in the world, and urgent action is needed to cut emissions and help protect people from the impact of rising temperatures. David Cameron has made this a personal priority of his. We have signed up to the 10:10 campaign, and committed to cutting UK government emissions by 10% within 12 months of the general election. And as we have repeatedly stated, we also support international negotiations on new mechanisms to provide additional funding for this important issue.

You may be interested to know that the Conservative Shadow Chancellor George Osborne has met with the Robin Hood campaign in order to discuss our common objectives.

Thank you again for taking the time to get in touch.


Yours Sincerely,
Mark Hoban

Ed Vaizey replied with this message:

Thank you for your letter.

I agree with the sentiment behind the 'Robin Hood' campaign.

That is why Conservatives have been calling for an internationally-agreed tax on banks, which could raise billions of pounds to fund domestic and international policies, including action to help the most vulnerable at home and abroad. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is producing a report on what form such a tax might take. They are considering the practicality of a transaction tax, alongside other options like a levy, a form of which President Obama has proposed and the Swedish government has implemented.

I also agree that, in spite of other pressures on public spending caused by the recession, government spending on international development should continue to be a priority. We are therefore committed to increasing aid spending to 0.7% of GNI, because we believe that overseas aid can save lives, combat diseases such as malaria and HIV/AIDS, and help to create bring new jobs, universal education and other opportunities for people living in the poorest countries.

In addition, we recognise that climate change is already hitting some of the poorest people in the world, and urgent action is needed to cut emissions and help protect people from the impact of rising temperatures. David Cameron has made this a personal priority of his. We have signed up to the 10:10 campaign, and committed to cutting UK government emissions by 10% within 12 months of the general election. And as we have repeatedly stated, we also support international negotiations on new mechanisms to provide additional funding for this important issue.

You may be interested to know that the Conservative Shadow Chancellor George Osborne has met with the Robin Hood campaign in order to discuss our common objectives.

Thank you again for taking the time to get in touch.


Yours Sincerely,

Ed Vaizey

Michael Mates replied with this message

Thank you for your message.

In fact, no serious proposal for a "Robin Hood" tax has yet been put forward in Britain. Gordon Brown suggested last November that a tax on financial transactions would be possible but this was not well received by other countries. For such a tax to be viable, it would have to be widely accepted by the international community and a number of major countries, including the USA and Canada, have made it clear that they would not agree to it. I do not believe the UK could introduce such a tax unilaterally without putting our financial services sector - and a great many jobs - at risk. What matters is that it is effectively regulated and that did not happen as a result of changes made by Gordon Brown when he was Chancellor of the Exchequer. My party is committed to a tougher system of regulation in future.

Yours sincerely,
Michael Mates

Sandra Gidley (Lib Dem MP for Romsey )sent this brief message.

Thanks for getting in touch on this very important subject - will respond more fully by post

Yours sincerely


Sandra Gidley MP
House of Commons SW1A 0AA
WM Telephone: 020 72195986
Constituency Telephone 01794 511900

Website Sandragidley.org
You can also follow me on Twitter and I can be found on Facebook

Dear Mr Wardrop

Thank you for your email to Anne. If you follow the link below to the EDM you will see that Anne has already signed the EDM.

Thank you for taking the time to raise this important issue with her.

Yours sincerely


Aileen Robb
Parliamentary Assistant to Rt Hon Anne McGuire MP
Parliamentary Advice Office
22 Viewfield Street
Stirling
FK8 1UA
Tel: 01786 446515
Fax: 01786 446513
email:robba@parliament.uk

Reply received 15 March from Ann McKechin MP - Glasgow North

"I have noted your support in your email dated 14 March for the "Robin Hood" campaign advocating a currency transaction tax.

I also very much welcome the Prime Minister's recent statements about a possible Curreny Transaction Tax and how this could be used to assist essential funding to developing nations. Prior to my appointment as a Government minister in autumn 2008, I served for three years on the International Development select committee and was Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Debt, Aid and Trade. The All Party group produced a report two years ago, on how we could use such a tax and to show it was technically feasible. Given the recent interest in this idea, I have taken the opportunity to forward a copy of the Report directly to the P.M.

Like you, I very much hope that it will be actively considered by other nations in the coming weeks and months. Internationally, there has also been considerable debate this year on creating a global banking levy which could create a separate reserve to protect taxpayers from the effects of any future bank collapse.

The effects of the international recession have hit may poorer nations very hard and it is important that we live up to our obligations to provide effective support and financial assistance. The Labour Government remains committed to reaching the 0.7% target for international aid despite the downturn. I fully support an open debate on the value of these new innovative measures."

Here is the response from Adam Ingram MP for East Kilbride ... Labour I expect.

"Dear Hazel

Thank you for your letter of 9 March 2010 advising me of your support for the "Robin Hood" financial transaction tax.

I have not yet established my views on this idea and will watch how the campaign develops.

I was unable to attend the launch event on 24 February due to other commitments.

Thank you again for taking the time to write.

With best wishes,

_The Rt Hon ADAM INGRAM MP_"

Reply from Martin Linton (MP) office:

Thank you for contacting Martin regarding the Robin Hood tax. Martin in fact will be signing EDM 913 today to show his support for these issues.

Reply from Martin Linton (MP) office:

Thank you for contacting Martin regarding the Robin Hood tax. Martin in fact will be signing EDM 913 today to show his support for these issues.

I received a reply from my MP Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, dated 10th March 2010, saying that he and the Conservative Party agree with the sentiment behind the "Robin Hood" campaign.

Not quite sure what that means! Hopefully that something might be done if they get in as they probably will.

My local MP is Paul Clark (Gillingham and Rainham).

I received a rather long letter that is restrained but positive - in a nutshell he (and the Government, apparently) are in favour of the aims of the Robin Hood Tax, but they acknowledge that international co-operation is essential for it to work, it cannot be applied in London only.

I had a very quick letter of response from my MP Madeleine Moon (Bridgend) saying that she supports the Robin Hood Tax and attended its launch.

Dear Silvia

Thank you for your letter regarding plans for the introduction of a Robin Hood Tax.

The economic downturn, of which we are only now beginning to see the end of, had a devastating effect on people up and down the country. The bank bailouts were a practical yet unpopular solution to the economic troubles the Government faced and it was hoped that banks would be discouraged from returning to their old ways.

However it seems this may not be the case, so I could see how a Robin Hood Tax would be appropriate in this sense. I can assure you that I support the idea of a Robin-Hood tax and have already signed the early Day Motion on this matter.

Thank you once again for raising this issue. You may also be interested to learn more about the work I do in Parliament for the people of Hackney North and Stoke Newington, please visit www.dianeabbott.org.uk to find out more.


Yours sincerely,


Diane Abbott MP

Dear Mr Mason

Thank you for your email of the 19th March regarding the Robin Hood Tax campaign. I am pleased to confirm that I have signed the Early Day Motion 913. This has been party policy since 2000. (He's a member of the NI Social Democratic and Labour Party).

Dr Alasdair McDonnell
MP MLA South Belfast

Dear Ms Venediktova

Thank you for your email. I support a Robin Hood Tax too, as does the Prime
Minister who has been trying to get international agreement for such a move.

Steve Ladyman

Conservative MP - Thanet (South)

My MP is Douglas Hogg (Con.). A very long winded rejection. See below.
Thank you for your email regarding the Robin Hood Tax.

I am afraid that I do not support this tax. Inadvertently any revenue generated would go to the Treasury and not to combating ‘global poverty’. We don’t have a tradition of hypothecated revenue.

.

The Conservatives have been calling for an internationally-agreed tax on banks, which could raise billions of pounds to fund domestic and international policies, including action to help the most vulnerable at home and abroad. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is producing a report on what form such a tax might take. They are considering the practicality of a transaction tax, alongside other options like a levy, a form of which President Obama has proposed and the Swedish government has implemented.



We are therefore committed to increasing aid spending to 0.7% of GNI, because we believe that overseas aid can save lives, combat diseases such as malaria and HIV/AIDS, and help to create bring new jobs, universal education and other opportunities for people living in the poorest countries.



In addition, we recognise that climate change is already hitting some of the poorest people in the world, and urgent action is needed to cut emissions and help protect people from the impact of rising temperatures. David Cameron has made this a personal priority of his. We have signed up to the 10:10 campaign, and committed to cutting UK government emissions by 10% within 12 months of the general election. And as we have repeatedly stated, we also support international negotiations on new mechanisms to provide additional funding for this important issue.



You may be interested to know that the Conservative Shadow Chancellor George Osborne has met with the Robin Hood campaign in order to discuss our common objectives.

My MP is Andrew Smith (Lab). His response was very quick and extremely positive. Letter in full below.

Thanks for writing to me about the Robin Hood tax campaign.
I too strongly support the financial transactions tax. I took part in the recent
House of Commons launch, which went very well.
This is a great opportunity to mobilise public opinion here and throughout the
world so we get just some of the huge amounts of money in the global
banking system dedicated to meeting the needs of the world's poor and
combating climate change.
I have written to the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer in
support of the campaign, and will continue to press the case.

Facebook has stopped the "Tell your Facebook friends about your action" link from functioning as it should!

My MP is Simon Burns (Con.). His responsie is largely similar to that posted below (Graham Simpson, 1 day before this) with the last paragraphs being changed:
"I appreciate you drawing my attention to EDM913 but, unfortunately, as an Opposition Whip, I am unable to sign the Early Day Motion as I only sign EDMs that are sponsored or approved by the opposition."
A fair response, received in only 2 days - thank you, Mr Burns - but also a letter providing an interesting insight into the customs and mores of parliamentary politics.

The reply; received by Letter today(12/03/10) - to my action - via your site - (well done!!), from Bob Blizzard MP - Waveney (Suffolk) - was as follows:-

"Thanks for contacting me. I support a 'Robin Hood' or Tobin Tax. I know Gordon Brown does too. He is trying to secure an International Agreement on this. As a Government Whip I can't sign EDMs, but I have already written to the Prime Minister urging him to keep up the pressure for this proposal which would be good for the World"

I shall continue to contact other Parliamentary Candidates; plus, Local/County Councillors; in the Suffolk/Norfolk area.

My MP is Nick Clegg, Leader of the Lib Dems. He replied as follows:

Thank you for contacting me about the Robin Hood tax campaign.
The concept of a financial transaction tax is a good idea in principle and is something which the Liberal Democrats would be happy to pursue. Although I am told that it would be technically possible to levy a small transaction tax on sterling transactions alone, it would be much better to have a common approach by leading financial centres including the US, German, French and Swiss governments. The proceeds from such a tax could provide a modest source of revenue to be used for funding overseas development.
The 'Tobin Tax' concept has been advocated for many years and progress has been hampered by a number of issues. These have included technical problems with its implementation as well as competing and sometimes conflicting claims from its proponents over how to use the revenue raised. Demonstrating that the tax can work, by securing the co-operation of Europe and the US, should have priority over elaborate plans which are unlikely to be realised.
Meantime the Liberal Democrats have proposed creating an immediate new levy on bank profits at a rate of 10%. This would be a direct recognition of the beneficial and explicit taxpayer support which banks have received: the UK banks owe their very existence to the British taxpayer. Some banks such as RBS, Lloyds-HBOS and Northern Rock have received direct taxpayer bailouts. However, all have benefited from the explicit guarantee that none of them will be allowed to fail. The Governor of the Bank of England has estimated that the UK banks have received the equivalent of £1 trillion in taxpayer support. But it does not stop there. The banking industry is unique in having the taxpayer acting as its safety net and the Liberal Democrats believe that this should be recognised. Our banking levy would be expected to yield around £2bn next year and this revenue would be used for the moment to tackle the UK structural deficit - thus ensuring that the banking sector helps to pay for the problems it has in part created.
Finally, I am afraid that I will be unable to sign the EDM as a result of parliamentary regulations preventing party leaders from signing Early Day motions. However a number of my Liberal Democrat colleagues have signed it and it is an issue that we will continue to pursue.


Nick Clegg
Sheffield Hallam

My MP, Quentin Davies, responded promptly and fairly positively:

Dear Mr Page

Thank you for your email about a financial transactions tax.

If it is feasible (in other words, if it is possible to prevent banks avoiding it by operating from a tax haven), this would be a very attractive idea.

As you may know, the IMF will be presenting a report on this to the G20 meeting in June, and I hope the idea may be taken forward there.

With all best wishes

Quentin Davies

Denis Macshane my M.P for Rotherham responded to my e-mail to him as Follows: He informs me that he first proposed a financial transaction (Robin Hood Tax) as an ammendment to the Finance Bill in 1995.He says he is glad that this proposal of his now as much wider support and wishes the campaign well.

My MP Wayne David Labour Caerphilly replied in writing within 2 days of my e-mail! Broadly sympathetic and in agreement with the principle. He is a government minister and is unable to vote on Early Day motions. Overall a favourable response I think.

From Rt Hon Oliver Letwin MP


Dear Ms Mills,

Many thanks for your e-mail.

However, I think I should also tell you - in order to be open about my views - that I am not at present a supporter of this proposal.

It is absolutely true that the financial crisis has hit people around the world - and that is one of the reasons why my colleagues and I in the Shadow Cabinet have committed ourselves (despite the dreadful state of our public finances) to maintaining the growth of our aid budget so that it reaches 0.7% of gross national income.

However, in relation to the question of the banks, the international consensus seems to be swinging away from the idea of a transaction tax and towards the idea of a levy. In either case, what is envisaged is that the proceeds would be used to provide and insurance system, so that the world does not face a repeat of what happened a year ago. For the very reason you identify (i.e. the financial crisis hit developing countries even harder than developed economies) I think it is actually in the interests of the developing world that a high level of international aid should be combined with some form of insurance scheme for the financial sector.

Best wishes.

Yours sincerely,