Things Can Only Get Better

The Times have reported on a Government plan to introduce a fair trade stock exchange, with millions of pounds from dormant bank accounts being used to inject some life into the social enterprises that are springing up around the country.

These social enterprises include not only the branded Fairtrade initiatives for ‘fair’ food/coffee etc but also the long known other projects such as the selling of Big Issue by the homeless, giving them an opportunity to work and make money.

The Government stealing from the rich and giving to the poor/ethical?? Sounds too good to be true surely!!

London would be the epicentre of ethical investors, along with a stock exchange where the social organisations raise cash.  The whole point is so that wealthy investors can pump money into projects and companies (so long as they make profits and have an environmental or social mission)

Despite the argument that the government are using money that doesn’t belong to them, seeing as it is ‘dormant’ money lying in rusty bank accounts, probably the offshore baby of some Russian magnate,  this is possibly one of the best things I think I’ve ever heard the Government come up with…
It’s also relatively overdue seeing as according to The Times’ article, social enterprises generate a modest £27billion a year!

But the words ‘all talk’ and ‘no trousers’ suddenly spring to mind so I guess we’ll just have to wait and see if this Robin Hood-esque plan materialises.