Unitarians Support Robin Hood Tax
British Unitarians have urged the new Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne to implement what is known as the "Robin Hood Tax".
In April 2010, prior to the general election, the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches at its Annual Meetings in Nottingham approved the following Resolution:
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"That this General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches warmly welcomes the campaign to establish a tax levy on international bank transactions to create a fund to combat international poverty and fight climate change - the so-called 'Robin Hood Tax', based on the original idea proposed by the economist James Tobin; fully endorses the prompt action taken by Unitarian Headquarters to sign up the General Assembly as a supporting body to the campaign; instructs the Chief Officer to convey the General Assembly's support for this initiative to Her Majesty's Government; and urges all Unitarians to sign up for the campaign." |
Derek McAuley, Chief Officer said "Both David Cameron and Nick Clegg replied to supporters of the Robin Hood tax on the eve of the election,
saying they both would support some form of tax on banks. But so far both have fallen far short of a true Robin Hood Tax.
They both agreed the UK should press ahead with a bank tax or taxes without waiting for the rest of the world.
I understand that the Liberal Democrats believe a financial transaction tax should help the poorest in the world.
With these parties government they have the chance to act on these commitments, and indeed to go further and deliver a Robin Hood Tax.
With the negotiations to form a new Government over, the new Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition government will immediately be
presented with its most urgent and pressing task; finding ways to tackle the deficit while reducing poverty and protecting public
services in the UK and beyond.
Unitarians would urge the new Administration to agree and implement a tax on banks and the financial sector that would raise tens of
billions of pounds annually in the UK . We believe the best way to raise this money is through a tiny tax on financial transactions.
The revenue from any type of tax should be used to protect the poorest at home and abroad and to fight climate change."