UNISON has joined trade unions and civil society groups petitioning David Cameron on the eve of tomorrow’s G20 summit, urging the prime minister to introduce a Robin Hood Tax.
The petition was organised by the Robin Hood Tax campaign, whose impact is growing amid the financial crisis in Europe.
This week the Archbishop of Canterbury added his voice to those calling for the tax on share, bond and currency transactions made by the financial sector, which could raise billions of pounds.
“A Robin Hood Tax would be the most popular tax in history,” states the petition. It asks Mr Cameron to ”act for those hit hardest by the financial crisis, act to protect essential public services in the UK, to tackle poverty at home and overseas, and to address climate change.”
The European Commission has proposed a European transaction tax, in a move that is backed by the German and French governments. But the UK government insists that it will only back such a tax if it is imposed internationally.
The topic is likely to be high on the agenda when the G20 meets in Cannes.
“The leaders of the G20 have an opportunity tomorrow to make history,” said UNISON’s head of international relations, Nick Sigler.
“The tide is turning in favour of a Robin Hood Tax. And David Cameron must not consign the UK to the margins of history by blocking its introduction.”
Mr Sigler added that the billions raised on speculative financial transactions could be used to fund vital public services at home and abroad.
“Over 200 million people are unemployed worldwide,” he said. “Here in the UK the figure is almost 2.5 million, with almost a million of our young people without work.
“A financial transaction tax could be used to reinvest in public services globally, create jobs and opportunities for the unemployed and help eradicate poverty.
“The PM must stand with the leaders of France, Germany, Holland and South Africa, who support the tax. All eyes are now on the G20, who have the power and responsibility to grab this once in a generation opportunity.”