File 030487
Email Chain: Alistair Darling Warns US Over Wall Street Bank Reforms (File 030487)
Press monitoring email forwarded by Jeffrey Epstein discussing UK Chancellor Alistair Darling's cautionary stance on President Barack Obama's proposed Wall Street banking sector reforms announced in January 2010.
Summary
This email chain contains a Press Association news article from January 24, 2010, reporting on UK Chancellor Alistair Darling's warning that President Obama's unilateral approach to banking reforms could harm international financial coordination. Darling advocated for G20 unity and questioned whether the proposed reforms would have prevented the financial crisis, using examples of Lehman Brothers and Northern Rock to argue that structural separation alone was insufficient. The article also discusses the UK's parallel 50% bonus tax on City bonuses and upcoming discussions between US Treasury officials and UK officials on banking reform strategies.
Date: Sunday, January 24 2010 03:01 PMSubject: Fwd: Fw: MONITORING PA - DARLING WARNS US OVER WAR ON WALL STREETFrom: Jeffrey Epstein <jeevacation©gmail.com>To: Jes Staley >;Attachments: time_icon.gifCONFIDENTIAL----------Forwarded message----------From: <________________Date: Sun, Jan 24, 2010 at 9:59 AMSubject: Fw: MONITORING PA - DARLING WARNS US OVER WAR ON WALL STREETTo: jeevacation@gmail.comFyiSent from my BlackBerry® wireless deviceFrom: "Power Peter ACOMMS\)" <Date: Sun, 24 Jan 2010 14:55:16 -0000To: <_Subject: Fw: MONITORING PA - DARLING WARNS US OVER WAR ON WALL STREET-- Original Message From:To: COMMS - Press Office Monitoring; COMMS - Press Office OperationalSent: Sun Jan 24 13:01:39 2010Subject: MONITORING PA - DARLING WARNS US OVER WAR ON WALL STREETDARLING WARNS US OVER WAR ON WALL STREETHMI CITY DarlingTopic CITY <http://www.mediapoint.press.net/business/search.jsp?topic=CITY &newerThan=1>Published 24 Jan 2010 - 12:22By Holly Williams, Press Association City StaffPage 1: 12:22HOUSE OVERSIGHT 030487Chancellor Alistair Darling has sent out a warning shot to America not to go it alone with bank sector reforms, it was reported today.In an interview with The Sunday Times, Mr Darling cautioned that President Barack Obama's war on Wall Street announced last weekcould harm international co-ordination.He called for unity among the G20 nations and also said the moves to curb banks would not have prevented the fmancial crisis."If everyone does their own thing it will achieve absolutely nothing," said Mr Darling.He added: "The banks are global - they are quite capable of organising themselves in such a way that if the regime is difficult in onecountry, they will go to another one and that doesn't do anyone any good."The US president sent shockwaves through the banking sector on both sides of the Atlantic with last week's announcement of proposals tolimit the activities of banks.The plans include a ban on retail banks from using their own money in investments, instead of being limited to investing their customers'funds, and restrictions on banks' abilities to make high-risk trades.Mr Obama said he was ready for a "fight" with the sector over the reforms, which came in the middle of the US bank reporting seasonrevealing bumper profits at many major groups.The Tories were quick to back Mr Obama and accused the UK Government of becoming internationally "isolated" over the bankingoverhaul.However, Mr Darling today stood firm on his opposition to plans that would effectively split retail and investment banks."You could end up dividing institutions and making them separate legal entities, but that isn't the point," he told The Sunday Times."The point is the connectivity between them in relation to their financial transactions."He stressed that failed US investment bank Lehman Brothers did not have retail deposits, but was allowed to go to the wall with disastrousconsequences for the global financial system.He said: "Equally the large-small thing doesn't run - Northern Rock was very small in global terms but systemically it was quite importantwhen it got into trouble."The UK will continue working with the US on banking overhaul plans, but the Chancellor said he would ensure proposals did not"disadvantage London relative to the rest of the world".But the UK has so far gone out on a limb with its one-off 50% special tax on City bonuses over £25,000.The move has already seen threats from banks to relocate affected staff abroad, while a number of foreign banks - including Credit Suisseand reportedly Goldman Sachs - are capping or reducing UK staff pay.US Treasury officials are understood to be arriving in London tomorrow to brief the Government on Mr Obama's radical plans.And City minister Lord Myners is said to be gathering UK and international officials to discuss solutions to the "too big to fail" issue.Sophie BengerlDigital Infrastructure Desk 1Department for Business, Innovation and Skills•1www.bis.gov.uk <http://www.bis.gov.uld >HOUSE OVERSIGHT 030488The Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS) is building a dynamic and competitive UK economy by creating the conditionsfor business success; promoting innovation, enterprise and science; and giving everyone the skills and opportunities to succeed. Toachieve this we will foster world-class universities and promote an open global economy. BIS - investing in our future.The original of this email was scanned for viruses by the Government Secure Intranet virus scanning servicesupplied by Cable&Wireless in partnership with MessageLabs. (CCTM Certificate Number 2009/09/0052.) Onleaving the GSi this email was certified virus free.Communications via the GSi may be automatically logged, monitored and/or recorded for legal purposes.***********************************************************The information contained in this communication isconfidential, may be attorney-client privileged, mayconstitute inside information, and is intended only forthe use of the addressee. It is the property ofJeffrey EpsteinUnauthorized use, disclosure or copying of thiscommunication or any part thereof is strictly prohibitedand may be unlawful. If you have received thiscommunication in error, please notify us immediately byreturn e-mail or by e-mail to jeevacation@gmail.com , anddestroy this communication and all copies thereof,including all attachments.HOUSE OVERSIGHT 030489