Globalisation White Paper is 'brave attempt'

Globalisation is here to stay, says the charity, and it is right that we should be debating how to make it work for the poor, because the record to date is far from conclusive.

Rob Cartridge, War on Want Campaigns Director, said, "There is some refreshing language in this paper - particularly the acceptance that "if we go on as we are, the poor will become more marginalised". The explicit recognition of the importance of global social justice is groundbreaking for a British government.

"But the rhetoric and language of the White Paper is not always matched with practical proposals. These still fundamentally support liberalisation and less regulation. What poor countries need is protection and more regulation of multinational companies and international markets.

"For example, the Secretary of State is right to argue that we shouldn’t boycott child labour. But there is a lack of fresh initiatives both to eliminate child labour and enforce other core labour standards. Without such ideas, exploitation and the race to the bottom in labour standards will continue.

"We are delighted that the government has finally acknowledged that global financial markets need more regulation. With $2 trillion a day now being exchanged on world markets new rules are desperately needed. In the White Paper the Government accepts that temporary controls can be used to slow down short-term capital flows. This is a very welcome change and represents a response to popular concern. But many of their proposals on capital flows have more to do with fire-fighting than creating genuine stability. We want to see a ‘Tobin tax’ on currency speculation given serious debate, and we want the UK to lead an international campaign for its introduction."