The Voice

Kramer: Cameron and Osborne must stand up to despots and oligarchs

By | Thu 12th May 2016 - 12:22 pm

Lib Dem Economics Spokesperson Susan Kramer was not entirely impressed with David Cameron’s pronouncements on corruption. It’s fair to say she won’t be holding her breath. She said:

We welcome the Prime Minister’s announcement that those buying property in the UK or bidding for government contracts will be required to register, but quick action is vital for him to show sincerity, and any such register should be publicly available.

Don’t forget, we have heard similar platitudes before that have amounted to nothing. Back at the G8 conference in 2013 a new drive against tax havens was heralded, and the Panama Papers have exposed just how pathetic that action turned out to be.

When push comes to shove, Cameron and Osborne have shown they will always cater to the whims of corrupt billionaires from across the globe rather than pushing through real change. Unless they are willing to stand up to despots and oligarchs from places like China, Russia and Nigeria, any commitment will prove to be utterly shallow.

The British public deserve better, and that means ending the role played by the UK and its territories as a safe haven for corrupt individuals and their ill-gotten gains.

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One Comment

  • Eddie Sammon 12th May '16 - 9:50pm

    This is good, but the big issue for me is supporting brave democrats who stick their heads above the parapet. We should support peaceful democratic protests and possible sanctions when these are ignored. It has been an outrage the way China has been rowing back on its democratic commitments to Hong Kong and it will do the same to Taiwan. Not to mention its actions in the South China Sea.

    It’s not all about China either, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Israel, all kinds of countries doing things we don’t approve of.

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