In this special extended edition of the May 2019 Taxcast from the Tax Justice Network we go to Preston in the North of England to see the Preston Model in action and how they're transforming their local economy and democratising wealth. Also:
- we discuss dark money and the European elections — the elite interests aligning with the far right.
- And we ask: why doesn't Britain have its own Huawei?
“We needed a new economic model. It was obvious that we needed something new and different and radical, based upon the economic crash of 2008 which affected us quite badly. That wealth extraction, that straight-jacket that we're in, we want to tackle by offering an alternative…So, you're getting that virtual cycle of keeping wealth in the community and democratising the wealth as well, and democratising the economy. We are actually bringing that democracy back. And let's compete with the big banks. If people get educated I think we could create some kind of really strong movement.”
Preston City Council Leader Matthew Brown
Featuring:
- Preston City Council Leader, Matthew Brown
- Billy, Preston covered market
- Allison Watts and Kay Johnson in Preston's first worker-owned cooperative The Larder
- David Erdal, who turned his family business into an employee-owned cooperative
- John Christensen of the Tax Justice Network
- Presented and produced by Naomi Fowler of the Tax Justice Network
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I highly recommend this podcast.
Unlike the LA-LA Land Socialist Utopia that some advocate the Preston Model is a successful example of real and practical socialism in action, in a mixed economy, making a real and quantifiable difference to people’s lives and ambitions.
This is the problem… many use the word socialism to argue for whatever they want… just as you are.. first you insult socialism then you say this kind of socialism would work… if you did understand socialism you wouldn’t make such stupid statements..
Who made you the supreme arbiter on socialism, you are entitled to your opinion just as I am mine. We just happen to disagree.
Perhaps it would be more constructive if you’d chosen to post an opinion on the Preston Model that both John McDonnell’s & Jeremy Corbyn’s support
Who made them the arbiter of socialism?
Richard Murphy
“Who made them the arbiter of socialism?”
Not me,
I was simply pointing out that the 2 most senior politicians in the Labour Party actively support this excellent initiative.