This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/business/8158478.stm

The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Banking reform proposals outlined Banking reform proposals outlined
(about 1 hour 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 that large, failed UK banks are the "financial equivalent" of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.Lib Dem Treasury spokesman Vince Cable is expected to argue that 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.
Consumer protection
The BBC's business editor Robert Peston says the Tories' proposals are "hugely significant".
Giving the Bank of England power to regulate individual banks totally enfeebles the Financial Services Authority (FSA), he says.
It [the City] needs 'tough love', not the freedom to run amok Vince CableLib Dem Treasury spokesman Tory financial plans
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 FSA into a consumer protection agency and also forcing banks to give 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".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."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.""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 told the BBC that while he agreed with the Conservatives on the basic issue of economic management, he accused them of being "obsessed by moving around bureaucratic furniture". Instead we need to focus on the way regulation works, he said.
Mr Cable will use a speech later to argue that major reform is needed to make banks less of a r 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
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.