Banks tax raise is welcome but a 'polluter pays' tax would have raised more funds to improve people's lives, says ActionAid UK.
Hannah Bond and Taahra Ghazi, co-CEOs of ActionAid UK, said: "Raising taxes on banks is welcome, but the Chancellor should have gone further. He missed the opportunity to levy a higher surcharge on banks for longer, as well as to raise more money to improve people’s lives by making UK banks pay up for their role in fuelling the climate crisis.
"People across the UK are already living with the effects of a changing climate, from hotter summers and hosepipe bans to flooding and damage to homes, while globally the number of people affected by catastrophic climate disasters is rising. At the same time, banks continue to funnel billions into fossil fuel and industrial agriculture companies.
"The government should introduce a polluter pays tax which could raise funds to support communities facing the costs of climate change here in the UK and around the world.”
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For more information contact the press office at uk.media@actionaid.org or on 07753 973 486