Comments on: City Reform Group

By: Robert Sutherland Smith

Robert Sutherland Smith — Thu, 10 Jun 2021 14:15:24 +0000

I am an individual who would like to join, if you are still in operation?

By: Isis

Isis — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 17:20:50 +0000

Yes to Valerie, Joan, and Naomi. There must be binders full of women somewhere for this!

By: jemima101

jemima101 — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 00:24:56 +0000

Great to see the city claiming back its ancient rights. historically it has been a protector of liberty against overbearing power of kings. To confuse the city of London with the banking city is a mistake that has gone on too long, I only wish I could stand for election in this first, for many years, return of democracy to what was one of our first democratic elections.

Seeing the Church involved in this is also very reassuring, the CoE can only remain important if it becomes countercultural and challenges materialism and greed, although as a supporter of disestablishment I probably would say that.

By: KP

KP — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 22:14:59 +0000

As one of the women in the room Im not quite convinced on this ‘where’s the women’ thing. Firstly that was not the point of the day – I think we are all getting confused with another VERY important voting issue in the news (please yes put your anger and energies there).

Secondly women were/are invited and attended, none of the seven pledges says ‘no women’.

Thirdly …. isn’t it also good to see men standing up and being…. well… Men. Actually I mean MEN. Standing up for justice, standing up for change and asking tough questions. It made me terribly proud to be a women, in the room, cheering on a group putting themselves on the line. If it is a men club I say Go Men!

By: William Taylor

William Taylor — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 22:00:18 +0000

I guess the photos make us look like a boy’s club. We’re not – or, at least, we have no wish to be. What we want to do is give Londoners an opportunity to get involved in the elections to the City of London Corporation next March. The reason we are doing this is because we are concerned at how the financial services of the City of London do not seem to serve the Common Good – and this obviously includes those on low incomes (as mc mentions above). Too often it seems that this particular “golden goose” is laying toxic eggs. And also fouling its nest.

In Spitalfields we see this with the threatened demolition of the Fruit and Wool Exchange on Brushfield Street for further offices as well as the impact that the pressure of rent and rate increases has on small businesses and people’s ability to live comfortably. We are not against the City Corporation and recognise that it does some things well. But we want it to show some discrimination over the product that it promotes globally – the financial services. And we think that this is partly the role of those elected to Common Council – hence our pledges.

If you agree, why don’t you think of standing, or seeing if you qualify for a vote (by Dec 16), or endorsing our pledges, or getting in touch through the City Reform website? To develop our position we are also going to need some money and we welcome donations.

William Taylor
City Reform Group

By: the gentle author

the gentle author — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 20:09:27 +0000

So everybody, who’s going to stand? Because they are going to need a lot of candidates.

By: Rowena Macdonald

Rowena Macdonald — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 17:52:00 +0000

However, though I am cynical about the City’s ability to change, this was a fascinating post.

By: Rowena Macdonald

Rowena Macdonald — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 17:51:18 +0000

I agree with Valerie, the photos do say it all. The usual Establishment types. They’ve got a tough job on their hands trying to restore the reputation of the City. I imagine many of the bankers in the City don’t give a monkey’s what the 71% who answered the Consumer Associations poll think of them and their employers.

By: mc

mc — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 16:23:45 +0000

Didn’t David Davis leave an unpleasant stick of hypocrisy? Or has he forgotten that he claimes a five figure sum from the taxpayer for home improvements and mowing his paddock?

The vast majority of people in banking do work to moral principles,but then they are not the ones that hit the headlines and are not discussed here. Maybe the group could invite a few who work for the average salary of £17,000 for a more balanced view

By: Simon Mooney

Simon Mooney — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 15:29:12 +0000

The audience was much more representative of the sexes but I’m afraid my pictures of the speakers were always going to disappoint in this respect. I do remember the Bishop of Stepney (or was it Father William Taylor?) raised the absence of women around the top table in an early address and made an unfavourable comparison with the recent General Synod.