Roger Godsiff MP calls for investigation into political lobbying by the City of London
Posted by Roger Godsiff, MP for Birmingham, Hall Green, at 13:19, Fri 29 November 2013:
Roger Godsiff MP is among a group of MPs, academics and celebrities campaigning for the investigation of lobbying by the Square Mile. The group sent a letter to the chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, calling for an inquiry into the City’s “unfettered and unmonitored” access to senior MPs through the City of London Corporation.
The letter calls for an inquiry into the relationship between the City and politicians, and argues that a lack of openness and accountability enables Big Finance to exert too much power over the political and legislative process.
Copies of the letter were also sent to David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg. Other signatories include two other Labour MPs, Green MP Caroline Lucas, lead singer of Radiohead Thom Yorke and the actor Dominic West, as well as academics and charities.
The letter argues that City UK, which lobbies on behalf of the City of London, promotes tax avoidance and also has too much access to ministers and civil servants. Roger said: “Politicians should be accountable to the citizens they were elected to serve, not to the financial industry which has caused such damage to the UK’s economy. I am also concerned that the City is linked to tax avoidance schemes which have an incredibly damaging effect around the world, particularly on the poorest countries.”
Roger has previously campaigned for Government action on corporate tax avoidance, and tabled an Early Day Motion calling for a clampdown on the use of British Overseas Territories as tax havens. Speaking after signing the letter, Roger said: “It’s time for politicians to stand up to the City and take action for tax justice and a fairer distribution of global wealth. A public inquiry is the first step, so that we can find out the full extent of the City’s influence on UK politics and legislation.”
You can read the letter here: www.theukgold.co.uk/letter, and the EDM Roger tabled here: www.parliament.uk/edm/2013-14/476.
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Posted by Mohammed Hemraj, 15:43, Fri 29 November 2013: (Is this post abusive?) #
Tax avoidance is legal but not tax evasion. In the former case there is a legitimate tax avoidance based on the laws in place. These corporations pay fortunes to accountancy firms to devise plans for saving substantial amount of money in the from of tax avoidance. It is the wealthy people and corporations who would resort to tax avoidance. The majority of poor workers have no option as the tax is deducted by their employers.
A fairer distribution of global wealth is unheard of. Look at the Saudi Arabia, if they were to distribute oil revenue to its citizens everyone would be millionaire. But the undemocratic unelected rulers supported by the USA think the oil revenue belongs to them only. Saying the truth which may be construed as a bad word against the Saudi despotic ruler means going to a jail as any trial is nothing but a farce. The same fate awaits to those who demonstrate in the Saudi and Bahrain. All those who support these despotic rulers, or turn a blind eye, their days are numbered.
Posted by David Farmer, 20:27, Fri 29 November 2013: (Is this post abusive?) #
I believe that the lobbying activities of super powerful organisations are a legitimate subject for investigation as they can have a malign influence on the nation. But of greater importance is the fact that my vote and the votes of millions electors have no influence upon the composition of the House of Commons. Our first past the post system has a malign influence upon democracy. Please Mr Roger Godsiff MP, tell me what you will do to make my vote and those of millions of others count.
Posted by Mohammed Hemraj, 15:10, Sat 30 November 2013: (Is this post abusive?) #
Lobbying is a big scandle in the US where the members of the senate accept, what I call bribery, in the form of money given by the lobbist and it is allowed provided this is declared. Such malpracices encourages people to stand for election knowing full well that once elected they will serve their own interest rather than those of the voters. Of course there are exceptions and there are a few deserving candidates who want to further the interest of the voters.