Banks and financial institutions can make millions from risky speculations. However, when these go wrong, as happened in 2008, billions of pounds of public money were used to bail out the banks and save them from the consequences of their risk taking. Since the 2008 crash the total paid in bonuses will this year pass through the £80bn barrier – some three and a half times the amount banks have paid in Corporation tax and the bank levy – and equates to around £1,250 for every man, woman and child in the Britain. This Tax is not intended to be punitive: nicknamed the "Robin Hood Tax" it is, like the folk hero, intended to redistribute wealth and help those in difficulty. If we, the public and the tax payers, must share the financial risks of banks' trading then it seems simply fair that, at other times, we should also receive some benefit. This money can be distributed and spent to the benefit of all - in the UK, abroad and for the environment.

Investor-state rules could be used to smash any attempt to save the NHS from corporate control, to re-regulate the banks and to curb the greed of the energy companies, to name just a few areas. See here for more details: http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/nov/04/us-trade-deal-full-frontal-assault-on-democracy The rules are not enforced by courts but by panels. The hearings are held in secret. The judges are corporate lawyers, many of whom work for companies of the kind whose cases they hear. Citizens and communities affected by their decisions have no legal standing. There is no right of appeal on the merits of the case. Yet they can overthrow the sovereignty of parliaments and the rulings of supreme courts.

‘The TUC in September 2012 passed the following motion by a large majority: "Congress accepts that the trade union movement must continue leading from the front against this uncaring government with a coalition of resistance taking coordinated action where possible with far reaching campaigns including the consideration and practicalities of a general strike." The TUC and it’s affiliated unions are therefore committed to consider the practicalities of launching a general strike in Britain. In the subsequent months the attacks on the working people of Britain have continued, with cuts in welfare, NHS privatisation, scapegoating of migrants, public sector job losses and restrictions on employment rights. We note however the lack of progress made in the terms of the above motion and in uniting the labour movement to mount a campaign of opposition against austerity. Therefore we the undersigned - trade unionists, workers, unemployed, pensioners, students, young people, and the disabled - call on the TUC to say YES to a general strike against all the cuts and name the day for it to begin. This should be done by no later than TUC Congress 2013.’

Peaceful protest is at the cornerstone of our democracy and threatening to prosecute protesters for exercising this fundamental right undermines that notion of democracy and what is a civilised society. Protesters scaled the walls of the cooling towers in a week long protest at West Burton, Nottinghamshire. They hoped to raise awareness of the continued use of fossil fuel based power stations and the damage they do to our environment. EDF Energy is trying to scare people from demonstrating against using fossil fuels for our energy needs. By making an example of the West Burton protesters they hope that they will be able to limit the damage to their public reputation and go on building new fossil fuel based power stations. The right to non-violent protest is of fundamental importance in our democracy. We cannot let corporations from silencing our democratic rights to protest. We need to demonstrate to EDF Energy that if they continue with the prosecutions they will damage their brand and cost shareholders money in lost profits. We as citizens and as consumers have the power to make EDF Energy think again and drop the charges.

We are local people, determined to prevent the environmentally disastrous white-elephant that is the “Bexhill-Hastings Link Road” from devastating one of Hastings’ and Bexhill’s most amazing natural treasures.We demand an affordable, sustainable transport system for our area, that improves the quality of all our lives without costing the earth.

Carers usually carry on looking after other(s) until they drop. Carers services help stave off this for very modest sums. If they cannot care as they are doing, the financial costs fall on the NHS, Derby council etc. Carers are twice as likely to go to their GP's as the general population. Carers are adults as well as children and it's estimated there are 5,000 of them just in Derby. We need your help to demonstrate the community supports this campaign by 4th January when the Derby City Consultation closes.

This would bring down the cost of living across the board, but more importantly for people who can't afford rent or house prices.

We're broke. Times are hard and, I'm reliably informed, we're all in it togeather...? I don't work and pay huge amounts of tax so that it can be wasted on frippery like this. Our Police force DO NOT need fancy cars. If the government is serious about saving money, then this would be saving straight off the bat - no job losses - no changes of conditions - no issues. We'd also be building transits in Southhampton and keeping UK workers in a jobs. It's a no-brainer.

Just as the Con/Dem Goverment is attempting to hand over the best parts of the NHS then a Labour opposition should be totally against any more job losses in the public sector .A 100% run Labour Council is meeting this evening to discuss the possibility of handing over ALL of their services .This is the thin edge of the wedge when a Trade Union Congress as just called for a General Strike

A small British jam manufacturer (husband & wife team) recently introduced the first ever British apple-based jams onto the U.K. high street. However, the U.K. government has stated these products cannot legally be called jam because they don't contain enough sugar!!! Standard jams have a sugar content exceeding 60%; however, these apple-based jams have a sugar content of 52-53%. Unfortunately, between 51-59% sugar content there is no clear legal definition as to what these British apple-based products should be called. It's a jam 'no-mans land'! Jam Law across the EU is meant to be harmonised. However, France, Germany and Denmark have all recently used an 'escape clause' in the legislation to permit jams with sugar content below 60%. The U.K. government now needs to use this 'escape clause' to account for British apple-based jams. After 12 months of battling for the issue to be addressed, the U.K. government has finally agreed to consult on making changes to the Law (see http://www.defra.gov.uk/files/jam-consult-statement.pdf). However, there is no guarantee that the Law will be changed and it wouldn’t occur until the end of 2013. We therefore need to keep pressure on the U.K. government to ensure the ridiculous Jam Laws are changed. During these recessionary times, it is vital that the U.K. government supports British business, British innovation and British-specific traditions, i.e. Bramley apple growing. With obesity rates increasing, we should also be encouraging the general public to consume jams with more fruit and less added sugar.

These disabled people are suffering enough with their disability and surely we as a caring society should be helpful and be prepared to help them in their fight with the government to keep their factories open.

The current system of taxation is over-complicated, inefficient and filled with loopholes. What's more, in taxing income or business transactions it disincentivises productive enterprises and encourages the wealthy to spend time and money avoiding paying taxes. A single tax based upon the value of unimproved land, as described by the economist Henry George, would recognise that natural resources are public property, would be easy to collect with a minimum of bureaucracy and would not decrease productivity. It would also significantly reduce inequality and counteract the worst effects of poverty. Such a tax is exactly what this country currently needs, and is the route to a better economy.