British bankers forced to share

Bankers in the UK will have to pay a new special tax on their bonuses with immediate effect. The business paper De Tijd praises UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling for resisting the pressure from the all-powerful City of London: "There can be no fundamental objection to the state taxing bankers' bonuses. At least this year the bank profits on which the bonuses are based are not the result of exceptional talent, but rather of access to an excessive amount of cheap money provided through central banks and state subsidies. The fruits of this should go to the community rather than landing in the pockets of individual bankers. Of course it would be better if international rules were introduced to limit bonuses. But if everyone just watches what the others are doing, nothing happens. Therefore it is good that someone like Alistair Darling has taken the initiative. For if the bankers don't want to listen then at least they should be made to feel."

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