City faces election pressure
29 April 2010
EMBARGO: 00.01 hrs BST, Friday 30 April 2010
NEWS PEG: Friday, 30 April 2010 Hours after the party leaders' final TV general election debate on the economy
WHAT? War on Want seeks support for pro-poor policies in an event organised by the coalition JustShare. It will be accompanied by the musical trio Jazz Bomb, who have performed with stars including Michael Bublé, Paul McCartney, Kylie Minogue and Eric Clapton
WHEN? 12.30-2.00 pm BST, Friday 30 April 2010
WHERE? Forecourt of the Royal Exchange – opposite of the Bank of England – in Cornhill, London EC3V 3LP
Bank profits, tax dodges targeted
War on Want will turn up the volume today as the charity takes its anti-poverty message into the City to ensure that development remains an election issue.
Trade campaigns officer Dave Tucker will urge people to support calls for a levy on sterling currency deals and a crackdown on tax havens when he speaks out opposite the Bank of England on Friday.
War on Want is part of the Robin Hood tax campaign, which is calling for the introduction of a financial transactions tax on banks. A tax on banks' currency transactions in the UK would raise £3 billion each year to fight poverty.
It also says a blitz on tax havens could help reverse the loss of £100 billion a year to Britain and £250 billion a year to developing countries through corporate tax dodges.
War on Want will put its case for change only hours after the main political parties' leaders discussed the economy in the final televised general election debate.
The rally will also take place little more than a year since the G20 summit, when the charity marched to the Bank calling for a dramatic change to the workings of the global financial system.
Tucker said: "Rather than business as usual policies for the City, the parties should commit to introducing a Robin Hood tax on UK banks' currency transactions and to crack down on tax havens."
NOTES TO EDITORS
- War on Want is also demanding the British government:
- ends its support for unfair trade deals.
- regulates fashion retailers.
- appoints a supermarket watchdog.
- commits to a two-way arms embargo with Israel
- The event starts at 12.30 pm – ending at 2.00 pm – on the Royal Exchange forecourt in Cornhill, London EC3V 3LV.
- It is a Vote Global event under the development network Bond, organised by JustShare, a coalition of anti-poverty groups and churches.
- The coalition is based at nearby St Mary-le-Bow church in Cheapside.
- Other charities involved with the event include ActionAid, Christian Aid, CAFOD, the Fairtrade Foundation, CARE International, the Jubilee Debt Campaign and the Jewish group Tzedek.
- Musical support will come from the trio Jazz Bomb, who have performed with stars including Michael Bublé, Paul McCartney, Kylie Minogue, Eric Clapton, Girls Aloud, Jamiroquai, Jools Holland and Will Young
CONTACT: Paul Collins, War on Want media officer (+44) (0)20 7549 0584 or (+44) (0)7983 550728
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