UK should follow Obama's plan to tax banks: Queen Mary business expert Stefano Harney comments

Professor Stefano Harney

The argument that such taxes make the City of London uncompetitive is now dead and buried.  This year banks tried to absorb the tax on bonuses in the City but this will not be sustainable with a permanent tax.  It is time for them to adjust to new realities of a fairer tax system in the City.  That is, unless banks want to take their chances with the legal systems of Dubai or Shanghai.  But I doubt they relish that much risk."

Professor Stefano Harney is Deputy Director of School of Business and Management at Queen Mary, University of London