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Labour's European
spokesperson on banking calls on the Government to act swiftly and
adopt Parliamentary recommendations
in current bank rules
COMMENING on the
recommendations of the Commission on Banking Standards published
this week (June 2013), Labour's European spokesperson on banking,
Arlene McCarthy, said:- "The Government has a prime
opportunity to swiftly incorporate these recommendations into EU law
and proposals on the table and in the pipeline. In fact, tough EU
rules came into force in the UK in 2011 introducing big changes to
bonuses including caps on cash bonuses, bonus claws backs and
deferrals, paying 50% of bonuses in shares, bonus caps to salaries,
requirements to set up remuneration committees and publication of
pay and salary levels. So far the Government has only implemented
minimum standards. They did not take up the option provided in the
EU rules to stop bonuses in bailed out banks. Yesterday the Economic
and Monetary Affairs Committee in the European Parliament went
further by voting for bonuses to be deferred until retirement, as
well as calling for EU-wide rules to strengthen personal liability
and accountability of bankers. In the wake of the Libor scandal, the
EU plans to introduce permanent bans for bankers committing market
abuse, as well as tough fines and jail sentences in the legislation
I am drafting.” said Arlene McCarthy. Arlene rejected
comments by an ex-bank chief who describe the proposals as
unworkable saying:- "We are now used to bank chiefs opposing
change and rejecting rules and this is the reason we have had to
rely on regulation to restore trust and integrity. We have already
demonstrated with the EU laws, that we have brought forward in the
face of their continued opposition, that legislators can and will
act where banks fail. The Government now needs to act and match its
tough talk with tough action and take the opportunity to introduce
these rules by the summer recess." Do you agree with Arlene
McCarthy? Email us your views to:-
news24@southporteporter.com
Conservative MEPs got a
2nd opportunity to help British business and once again blew it!
IN April 2013, the European Parliament voted on a
proposal to backload the continents Emissions Trading Scheme that
sets a price for industrial carbon dioxide emissions in an effort to
combat climate change. The vote was lost by 334 to 315 with British
Tory MEPs voting against. The Environment Committee of the European
Parliament has voted again on the measure, sending it back to the
full parliament for another attempt to pass the legislation. Tory
MEPs voted against backloading despite knowing that, carbon prices
in the UK leave UK manufacturers paying more for their electriCity
than their EU competitors and the EU plans would have reduced that
gap. Their votes put UK manufacturing industry at a disadvantage
compared to Germany or the Netherlands. Speaking after the
Environment Committee's 2 to 1 endorsement of the plan Chris Davies
MEP (Lib Dem) said:- "Conservative MEPs
have turned their back on the future and shown their contempt both
for the needs of British industry and the policies of the coalition
government. The simple fact is that business in Britain is paying
more for energy than our competitors and this measure will set that
right while keeping up the fight against climate change. A lot of
work has been done to find common ground between most of the parties
in the European Parliament but Tory Eurosceptics in Brussels are
undermining our efforts. Conservative MEPs could have helped to
level the playing field for UK manufacturers building parts for cars
and aeroplanes right here in the North West. Instead they let their
hatred of the EU get in the way of their own party policy and of
economic growth. I feel good about our chances of winning the votes
in July when the full Parliament meets but only the Liberal Democrat
part of the coalition seems to be interested in helping build a
stronger economy and create more jobs when it comes to this issue.
The poisonous atmosphere in the Conservative Party about the EU is
actively damaging Britains interests and it is time they put their
constituents 1st." |
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GREENBANK HIGH
SCHOOL BECOMES NEVERLAND THIS SUMMER!
ABD Productions’
professional production of "Peter Pan" takes over
Greenbank Theatre in Greenbank High School, Birkdale. A unique
opportunity for you to take part in this spectacular production.
Whether you have previous experience or it’s your first appearance,
this is the adventure of a lifetime. You’ll go from the page to the
stage in just one week, ending with a full scale, professional
public performance. The Summer Theatre Experience is open to
everyone aged between 7 and 18, you’ll work alongside professional
actors and have the experience of the music, action, large scale
song and dance numbers, comedy routines, colourful sets and
costumes. Some older talented dancers will feature in specialist
production numbers. The Summer Theatre Experience runs over 19
August to 23 August 2013. Application forms can be downloaded from:-
abdproductions.co.uk, using the
Summer Theatre Experience link or contacting you can also
email then or call them on:- 01704 880607/889360.
Cleaning your favourite beach will
make you part of a global marine litter movement
THE UK's leading marine
charity is urging people who love the coast and enjoy nothing better
than a barefoot stroll along the beach to do their bit in the
worldwide fight against marine litter.
The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) will be running it's 20th
annual Beachwatch Big Weekend beach cleaning event between the 20
September and 23 September 2013, and the charity hopes this years
clean up will put the UK in the top 20 of the 100 or so
participating countries and regions which take part in the
International Coastal Clean-up during the same weekend every year.
"As an island nation, where many communities rely on the
cleanliness of beaches for their coastal economy, beach litter and
the problems it causes to both humans and wildlife is being largely
ignored both by the public and local and national authorities. In
the last 20 years beach litter has steadily risen. Our volunteers
clean and survey the litter on hundreds of beaches every September,
making this survey the most respected and long standing in the UK,
but we need more people to host cleans at new beaches as well as at
existing beaches on our database. The more beaches we have litter
data for, the clearer the picture we will have of where it all comes
from and what we can do about it." says MCS Beachwatch
Officer, Lauren Eyles.
The MCS Beachwatch Big Weekend is part of Ocean Conservancy's
International Coastal Clean-up. Last year volunteers, at beaches all
over the world, covered a distance of nearly 18,000 miles and
collected weird finds ranging from lottery tickets to toothbrushes.
In the UK 240 beaches were cleaned covering almost 56 miles.
Lauren Eyles added:- "We would love to see 300 beaches cleaned
in 2013. Anyone wishing to run a beach clean will get lots of help
from MCS and get everything they need from our Beachwatch online
interactive website. The coast isn't just for a week's holiday… it's
for all year round. Our volunteer numbers put us at 24th out of 97
countries last year; it would be great to break into the top 20 or
even higher!"
If you would like to get involved in an event that will benefit your
favourite beach and help the issue of beach litter globally, visit:-
mcsuk.org,
email
or call the team on:- 01989 567807. |
