Sunday, 24 April 2011
Wednesday, 20 April 2011
RBS chief's pay set to win approval - We cannot allow this to happen.
Belfast Telegraph report below, this just simply CANNOT be allowed to happen. When people are being faced with job losses, benefit cuts, health and eduction cuts how can ONE man be paid so much money for heading up a failed bank, bailed out by public money. We are shareholders in this bank and we should campaign to stop this obsenity!
The move could see RBS, which is 83% owned by the taxpayer, attract further public outrage after details of the chief executive's pay emerged last month.
It was revealed that he was awarded an additional £4.5 million potential shares windfall on top of his £2 million annual bonus and £1.2 million salary for 2010, which was not originally revealed under the Project Merlin agreement with the Government to rein in pay.
RBS also admitted it paid 323 code staff - those deemed to be in risk-sensitive roles - £375 million last year.
News of the awards came after annual figures showed the bank remained in the red last year, with losses of £1.1 billion in 2010.
Advisory group Pirc has already slammed the group's executive pay plans and is recommending shareholders oppose the remuneration report at the AGM.
It said new long-term incentive awards of up to 400% of salary were "excessive" and noted that RBS pays above average for both its highest paid director and average executive salary.
MPs on the Commons Public Accounts Committee also attacked Mr Hester's pay at a hearing last month. Mr Hester told the committee his reward was "at the low end" of pay in the industry, "albeit at the high end of society" when asked to justify the deal.
However, UKFI is understood to be planning to give its seal of approval, having been consulted in advance if the award.
RBS chief's pay set to win approval
The controversial £7.7 million pay package awarded to Royal Bank of Scotland boss Stephen Hester is expected to be given the all-clear by the Government despite widespread backlash over the deal.
UK Financial Investments (UKFI), which manages the Government's bank assets, is reportedly planning to give its backing when shareholders cast their vote on RBS pay plans at the group's annual meeting in Edinburgh.The move could see RBS, which is 83% owned by the taxpayer, attract further public outrage after details of the chief executive's pay emerged last month.
It was revealed that he was awarded an additional £4.5 million potential shares windfall on top of his £2 million annual bonus and £1.2 million salary for 2010, which was not originally revealed under the Project Merlin agreement with the Government to rein in pay.
RBS also admitted it paid 323 code staff - those deemed to be in risk-sensitive roles - £375 million last year.
News of the awards came after annual figures showed the bank remained in the red last year, with losses of £1.1 billion in 2010.
Advisory group Pirc has already slammed the group's executive pay plans and is recommending shareholders oppose the remuneration report at the AGM.
It said new long-term incentive awards of up to 400% of salary were "excessive" and noted that RBS pays above average for both its highest paid director and average executive salary.
MPs on the Commons Public Accounts Committee also attacked Mr Hester's pay at a hearing last month. Mr Hester told the committee his reward was "at the low end" of pay in the industry, "albeit at the high end of society" when asked to justify the deal.
However, UKFI is understood to be planning to give its seal of approval, having been consulted in advance if the award.
Saturday, 16 April 2011
Like Iceland, we too must say NO.
Assembly candidate applauds iceland for saying “no” as they refuse to pay for bank losses
Brian Faloon has said he is delighted that the Icelandic people have refused to foot the bill for the failed Icesave bank. He says “it is a real victory that the ordinary person in the street has voted that they will not bail out this private bank. In doing so, the Icelandic people have shown us a way of dealing with the corporate and governmental bullying that is going in the current so-called age of austerity.
He adds “No reasonable person, or government, should expect a nation to pay up for the failures of its private companies. The failure of capitalist greed should not be met by the safety net of the public purse”.
“That Iceland chose to put its failed banks to one side and start afresh was the best solution for Iceland and it is slowly recovering from the financial catastrophe that it suffered. To burden Iceland's people with paying back the debt of failed privateer's is unjust and unfair”.
Brian says that the people of Iceland should inspire us to take similar action “We should look to Iceland for inspiration in the face of unjust cuts and the unfairness of bankers bonuses.
We too must say NO”
Brian Faloon has said he is delighted that the Icelandic people have refused to foot the bill for the failed Icesave bank. He says “it is a real victory that the ordinary person in the street has voted that they will not bail out this private bank. In doing so, the Icelandic people have shown us a way of dealing with the corporate and governmental bullying that is going in the current so-called age of austerity.
He adds “No reasonable person, or government, should expect a nation to pay up for the failures of its private companies. The failure of capitalist greed should not be met by the safety net of the public purse”.
“That Iceland chose to put its failed banks to one side and start afresh was the best solution for Iceland and it is slowly recovering from the financial catastrophe that it suffered. To burden Iceland's people with paying back the debt of failed privateer's is unjust and unfair”.
Brian says that the people of Iceland should inspire us to take similar action “We should look to Iceland for inspiration in the face of unjust cuts and the unfairness of bankers bonuses.
We too must say NO”
David Cameron’s Comments On Immigration
Assembly Candidate Condemns David Cameron’s Comments On Immigration
Brian Faloon, who is standing as an Assembly candidate in South Belfast for People Before Profit has condemned the Prime Minister’s comments on immigration as provocative and simply untrue.
Brian was responding in the wake of comments by the Prime Minister that Immigrants have caused a "kind of discomfort and disjointedness" in Britain.
Brian says “The truth is that overseas nationals are the backbone of our NHS and large sections of our economy. They are our work colleagues, our neighbours and our friends. They deserve better that the appalling rhetoric of David Cameron that will no doubt be used to justify discriminating against them and indeed, as we have seen so often in areas like South Belfast, attacking them.
Brian continued “Cameron says that migrants don’t want to learn English. This is a lie. The truth is that across the UK and Northern Ireland over 195,000 people are taking English for Speakers of other languages (ESOL) courses. Earlier this year Cameron's government announced huge cuts to funding these courses. Initial findings of an Association of Colleges survey suggests that over 100,000 of these students will now lose their funding and be forced to abandon their courses”.
Brian has urged areas like South Belfast to “ensure that immigrants are made feel part of the community. Their treatment should reflect the huge contribution, economically, socially and culturally that they bring to us”
Brian has a long history of opposing racism. He was one of the founders of Love Music Hate Racism in Northern Ireland, a group set up to promote anti-racism and multi-culturalism through the Northern Ireland Music scene.
Brian Faloon, who is standing as an Assembly candidate in South Belfast for People Before Profit has condemned the Prime Minister’s comments on immigration as provocative and simply untrue.
Brian was responding in the wake of comments by the Prime Minister that Immigrants have caused a "kind of discomfort and disjointedness" in Britain.
Brian says “The truth is that overseas nationals are the backbone of our NHS and large sections of our economy. They are our work colleagues, our neighbours and our friends. They deserve better that the appalling rhetoric of David Cameron that will no doubt be used to justify discriminating against them and indeed, as we have seen so often in areas like South Belfast, attacking them.
Brian continued “Cameron says that migrants don’t want to learn English. This is a lie. The truth is that across the UK and Northern Ireland over 195,000 people are taking English for Speakers of other languages (ESOL) courses. Earlier this year Cameron's government announced huge cuts to funding these courses. Initial findings of an Association of Colleges survey suggests that over 100,000 of these students will now lose their funding and be forced to abandon their courses”.
Brian has urged areas like South Belfast to “ensure that immigrants are made feel part of the community. Their treatment should reflect the huge contribution, economically, socially and culturally that they bring to us”
Brian has a long history of opposing racism. He was one of the founders of Love Music Hate Racism in Northern Ireland, a group set up to promote anti-racism and multi-culturalism through the Northern Ireland Music scene.
Friday, 15 April 2011
News Letter 14th April
A ‘CHANGE’ lobby group has insisted that it did not deliberately exclude the TUV from a hustings event which includes the Greens and ‘People Before Profit’ candidate Brian Faloon. The Platform For Change-organised event today has also has all the major parties, but in promotional material TUV is conspicuously absent.
Organiser Robin Wilson said that inviting all parties and independents “would have been unmanageable in terms of numbers” but Mr Faloon asked to be included.
Newsletter report
Organiser Robin Wilson said that inviting all parties and independents “would have been unmanageable in terms of numbers” but Mr Faloon asked to be included.
Newsletter report
Spending cuts on cycle lanes.
Remember the decision by Conor Murphy and the Assembly to cut spending on cycle lanes by 98%. They then shifted the debate onto wearing helmets - as if it's a personal problem not a system problem. How much do these decisions contribute to the tragedy we saw today.
Belfast Telegraph Report
Belfast Telegraph Report
Press Release - Stormont Economics Makes Unemployment Worse.
South Belfast people before Profit candidate says Stormont economics makes unemployment worse.
Brian Faloon, South Belfast People before Profit Candidate said "The figure announced this week of 59,000 people here in Northern Ireland without work should send shockwaves around those tasked with tackling the future prosperity of the country."
"This is the highest number of people out of work for 13 years. Equally staggering is the fact that 20% of young people aged 18-24 are without work and in some areas this figure almost doubles."
He went on to say, "With savage public sector cuts still to come, there is little doubt that the jobless figure will rise even further."
"It is therefore essential that no budget cuts are implemented and that representations should be made to the Westminster government to demand that the block grant be increased to allow for desperately needed investment in our services and in our infrastructure which would foster job creation".
Brian Faloon, South Belfast People before Profit Candidate said "The figure announced this week of 59,000 people here in Northern Ireland without work should send shockwaves around those tasked with tackling the future prosperity of the country."
"This is the highest number of people out of work for 13 years. Equally staggering is the fact that 20% of young people aged 18-24 are without work and in some areas this figure almost doubles."
He went on to say, "With savage public sector cuts still to come, there is little doubt that the jobless figure will rise even further."
"It is therefore essential that no budget cuts are implemented and that representations should be made to the Westminster government to demand that the block grant be increased to allow for desperately needed investment in our services and in our infrastructure which would foster job creation".
Press Release - French Ban On Wearing of Muslim Veil
Assembly candidate condemns French ban on the wearing of the Muslim veil
Brian Faloon, who is standing as an Assembly candidate in South Belfast for People Before Profit has condemned French legislation that bans the wearing of the Burqa and Niqab in public places throughout the country.
Brian says that the ban is a direct attack on Muslim women who choose to wear such garments. He fears that the ban and the rhetoric that surrounds it will lead to increased Islamophobia not just in France but across Europe. South Belfast has suffered a number of racist attacks, including attacks against Muslims, over the years. Brian fears the latest controversy will be used to justify viewing Muslims everywhere as being separate and “different from the rest of us”.
Brian says that “French secularism is being used to deny a section of its citizens the right to religious freedom and to wear such expressions of that religion as they choose. But of course this is not solely about religious freedom; wrapped up in the arguments around the ban are buzzwords such as security, respect, integration, fear”. He says that “these are all the tired arguments that are rolled out to convince people that Muslims are inherently different and somehow a threat”. Brian also says that all the talk of Muslim women being coerced to wear the veil ignores the reality that the state has now legislated to coerce women on what they are allowed to wear.
Brian continues “Once again in Europe the spectre of right-wing politics and hysteria built up of a very small issue endangers the very people it claims to be protecting. We are only talking about 2000 women who choose to wear these garments in the whole of France”
Similar legislation has already been mooted in the UK. Brian has said that he would absolutely oppose any such measures being introduced here. “It is a very slippery slope we are on when we start to demonise minorities in the way that Muslims are being demonised in many parts of Europe”.
Brian has a long history of opposing racism. He was one of the founders of Love Music Hate Racism in Northern Ireland, a group set up to promote anti-racism and multi-culturalism through the Northern Ireland Music scene.
Brian Faloon, who is standing as an Assembly candidate in South Belfast for People Before Profit has condemned French legislation that bans the wearing of the Burqa and Niqab in public places throughout the country.
Brian says that the ban is a direct attack on Muslim women who choose to wear such garments. He fears that the ban and the rhetoric that surrounds it will lead to increased Islamophobia not just in France but across Europe. South Belfast has suffered a number of racist attacks, including attacks against Muslims, over the years. Brian fears the latest controversy will be used to justify viewing Muslims everywhere as being separate and “different from the rest of us”.
Brian says that “French secularism is being used to deny a section of its citizens the right to religious freedom and to wear such expressions of that religion as they choose. But of course this is not solely about religious freedom; wrapped up in the arguments around the ban are buzzwords such as security, respect, integration, fear”. He says that “these are all the tired arguments that are rolled out to convince people that Muslims are inherently different and somehow a threat”. Brian also says that all the talk of Muslim women being coerced to wear the veil ignores the reality that the state has now legislated to coerce women on what they are allowed to wear.
Brian continues “Once again in Europe the spectre of right-wing politics and hysteria built up of a very small issue endangers the very people it claims to be protecting. We are only talking about 2000 women who choose to wear these garments in the whole of France”
Similar legislation has already been mooted in the UK. Brian has said that he would absolutely oppose any such measures being introduced here. “It is a very slippery slope we are on when we start to demonise minorities in the way that Muslims are being demonised in many parts of Europe”.
Brian has a long history of opposing racism. He was one of the founders of Love Music Hate Racism in Northern Ireland, a group set up to promote anti-racism and multi-culturalism through the Northern Ireland Music scene.
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