The BBC and many others report:
The singer and activist Billy Bragg has threatened not to pay his taxes in protest against the bonuses being paid out by Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS).
He is calling on the government to intervene and limit the proposed £1.5bn that the bank, which is 84%-owned by the taxpayer, wants to pay in bonuses.
Mr Bragg said he felt frustrated and powerless to stop the bonus culture.
"We have a short window of opportunity between now and 31 January, but the two main political parties don't seem to be interested," Mr Bragg told the BBC.
"This is a frustration borne out of a sense of powerlessness in the face of the bonus culture. I don't know what else to do," he said.
I understand that frustration. And what Billy Bragg is doing is great gesture politics. But as I'll say on air on London’s LBC radio in a few minutes, it’s not ultimately good politics.
I do think the ballot box is the way to present this message.
I do think lobbying parliament and meeting MPs is the way to go forward.
I do not approve of ‘tax strikes’ — the result could harm the poorest in our society. And it could harm the well being of public servants.
So now the gesture has been made I suggest tax is paid. And then use every democratic means possible to pursue the issue. Which should indeed mean limited bonuses, full nationalisation of RBS so it can be used as the proper basis for full banking reform and an end to the abuse that modern banking represents.
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I agree with you Richard. We won’t build “A New England” without paying tax, and two wrongs don’t make a right.
Billy Bragg would have been better advised coming out in favour of the campaign to persuade/shame people in receipt of bankers bonuses to transfer the money to help recover and rebuild Haiti. (As well as in favour of the tax justice campaign, of course).
I don’t agree actually. You can’t pursue an issue through the ballot box if not a single party dares to stand up and say that they back the issue. Much as I loathe them, if the conservative party or any other party turned round tomorrow and said:- ‘That’s it! The good times and the laisser-faire are over for banking in the UK. I’d vote for them. Personally I would drive the bankers all to the airport myself tomorrow given the chance. Let’s work on improving other areas of our game. Science. Technology. Maybe even dare I say manufacturing. This idea that somehow modern economies don’t manufacture is proven untrue through Germany’s success and our failure. But it seems like all parties are in thrall to this idea that this bunch of buffoons and snake oil salesmen are actually talented at something other than daylight robbery. I’m not a miltant type. I’ve never been on a demonstration before…I’ve never with-held taxes before. But I feel I have no other power. The government ignored a million people marching against the war and did it anyway. The modern world knows only one form of leverage and it’s financial. I’ll withhold my tax till I see concrete policies on reigning in the banks that WE own. It’s that or a guillotine in Trafalgar square!
I agree entirely with Glynn. The problem with democracy is that there is very little choice. So if you are in favour of a minor issue like fox hunting, you have to support the early withdrawl of the economic stimulus and more distant relations with Europe. Or if you believe that taxes should be higher on wealthy people, you are also expected to be in favour of our continued presence in Afghanistan and in renewing Trident and having ID cards.
So even if a party was to get 50% of the vote, it would hardly have a mandate for all its policies. As it is, he winning party will be lucky to get 35% of the available vote and most of those will only agree with a portion of the party’s policies.
We really need a way of strengthening democracy: one vote every five years for a manifesto that – certanly in the case of Labour’s in 2005 – is instantly reneged upon (no increase in income tax, Tony Blair for full term, referendum on Europe anyone?) – is not democracy.
A manifesto is a comprehensive set of policies. I’d rather have one set of comprehensive policies, even though I don’t like them, than a contradictory set of populist policies.
Richard
I understand your situation in that you cannot undermine yourself by aligning with radical action. Given that none of the leading contenders for power show much resolve to get a grip on the banking fraternity it seems that the ballot box will not give us ‘Prols’, with our big, black and blunt cross, made with a diminished carpenters’, pencil, any satisfaction.
You only have to read A C Grayling’s ‘Towards the Light’ or Ted Vallance’s ‘A Radical History of Britain’ to know what I mean, as I’m sure you do. Within or tin-pot democracy there is a need for real ‘disobedience’ and radical action. I have written so many letters to my MP I think I am now in a position to write his relies as well!
David
Trust me – I share the frustration!
Try living in South West Norfolk and see what reply you get!
Richard
I’m in Somerset where there is a Conservative hegemony; as a Welsh socialist life can be difficult.
@David Drinkwater
Try Irish national, English sounding, left of centre chartered accountant in Norfolk and I guess we can probably trump each other!