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Banking reform proposals outlined | Banking reform proposals outlined |
(40 minutes later) | |
Opposition parties are setting out details of how they would regulate banking, following the loss of billions of pounds in the credit crunch. | Opposition parties are setting out details of how they would regulate banking, following the loss of billions of pounds in the credit crunch. |
Lib Dem Treasury spokesman Vince Cable is expected to argue the large, failed UK banks are the "financial equivalent" of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. | Lib Dem Treasury spokesman Vince Cable is expected to argue the large, failed UK banks are the "financial equivalent" of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. |
And taxpayer-owned Lloyds and Royal Bank of Scotland should be broken up. | And taxpayer-owned Lloyds and Royal Bank of Scotland should be broken up. |
Meanwhile, Shadow Chancellor George Osborne wants to give the Bank of England more regulation powers. | Meanwhile, Shadow Chancellor George Osborne wants to give the Bank of England more regulation powers. |
However, he also wants to curb the personal power of the governor of the Bank by vesting the responsibility for supervising financial institutions in a new financial policy committee. This would include independent appointees. | However, he also wants to curb the personal power of the governor of the Bank by vesting the responsibility for supervising financial institutions in a new financial policy committee. This would include independent appointees. |
The Tories, in their 52-page "plan for sound banking", also propose a raft of measures to protect and empower consumers. | The Tories, in their 52-page "plan for sound banking", also propose a raft of measures to protect and empower consumers. |
These would include transforming the rump of the current Financial Service Authority (FSA) into a consumer protection agency and also forcing banks to give the consumers more useful information on what they charge. | These would include transforming the rump of the current Financial Service Authority (FSA) into a consumer protection agency and also forcing banks to give the consumers more useful information on what they charge. |
Treasury minister Lord Myners called the proposals "window dressing that ignore the failures that led to the global financial crisis". | |
"While George Osborne talks about who's in charge, we are focused on the lessons of the crisis, including greater scrutiny of the shadow banking sector and a crackdown on excessive City bonuses. | |
"The Tory proposals would abolish an independent, expert regulator, while diverting attention from banks that took excessive risks that led to this crisis." | |
'Not hostile' | 'Not hostile' |
Meanwhile, Mr Cable will use a speech later to argue major reform is needed to make banks a lesser threat to the UK economy. | Meanwhile, Mr Cable will use a speech later to argue major reform is needed to make banks a lesser threat to the UK economy. |
He will tell the London Stock Exchange he believes there is a long-term role for state banking, and will argue the banks in which taxpayers have a stake should be broken up into smaller parts before being returned to private ownership. | He will tell the London Stock Exchange he believes there is a long-term role for state banking, and will argue the banks in which taxpayers have a stake should be broken up into smaller parts before being returned to private ownership. |
It [the City] needs 'tough love', not the freedom to run amok Vince CableLib Dem Treasury spokesman Tory financial plans | It [the City] needs 'tough love', not the freedom to run amok Vince CableLib Dem Treasury spokesman Tory financial plans |
Mr Cable will also call for highly-paid bankers to publish details of their pay and bonuses and will repeat his calls for the FSA to keep its role as banking regulator. | Mr Cable will also call for highly-paid bankers to publish details of their pay and bonuses and will repeat his calls for the FSA to keep its role as banking regulator. |
"Some aspects of the financial services industry are simply too big for the British economy to manage safely," he will say. | "Some aspects of the financial services industry are simply too big for the British economy to manage safely," he will say. |
"The large, failed, British banks are the financial equivalent of Chernobyl. Like the former Soviet Union, the UK became over-reliant on dangerous financial reactors." | "The large, failed, British banks are the financial equivalent of Chernobyl. Like the former Soviet Union, the UK became over-reliant on dangerous financial reactors." |
To prevent Britain from becoming the next Iceland, "radical safety measures" were needed, he will argue. | To prevent Britain from becoming the next Iceland, "radical safety measures" were needed, he will argue. |
"My approach to the City is not one of hostility, or of obsequiousness. I recognise its importance. | "My approach to the City is not one of hostility, or of obsequiousness. I recognise its importance. |
"But it needs 'tough love', not the freedom to run amok." | "But it needs 'tough love', not the freedom to run amok." |
Earlier this month, Chancellor Alistair Darling said banks would have to hold more capital and announced plans to strengthen regulation. | Earlier this month, Chancellor Alistair Darling said banks would have to hold more capital and announced plans to strengthen regulation. |
He intends to set up a new Council for Financial Stability, which would see the FSA, the Bank of England and the Treasury meeting regularly and reporting on the systemic risks to financial stability. | He intends to set up a new Council for Financial Stability, which would see the FSA, the Bank of England and the Treasury meeting regularly and reporting on the systemic risks to financial stability. |