Funding the Future

Prof Andrew Baker of the University of Sheffield and I have been working on tax transparency and how to create it as the foundation for a better society for a long time. In this video, we share our visions and plans. 

Our economy isn’t working. It’s built on lies: the myth of growth, the myth that profit comes before people, and the myth that wealth is more important than fairness. If we want a sustainable society, we need a new moral code for the economy. In this video, I set out ten commandments for a just economy - principles that put people before profit, justice before greed, and sustainability before growth. These commandments demand: People before profit Fair rewards for work Inclusion, not exclusion Respect for the earth Finance that serves life Fair taxation Transparency and accountability Measuring what really matters This is a manifesto for a fair and sustainable economy. One we could all be proud to live in.

The discussion kicks off with Keir Starmer reigniting the ID card debate. Supporters argue these cards would simplify access to services and voting, while opponents raise concerns about surveillance and discrimination. How might ID cards impact privacy and freedom of movement? Potential issues like data abuse and increased suspicion are examined. The conversation highlights risks for marginalized groups and questions if potential benefits outweigh the threats to human rights. It's a call to consider whether these cards enhance life or enable government control.

Free speech is the foundation of democracy. Without the right to disagree, there is no freedom at all. Yet in the USA, Trump threatens dissenters, comedians are suspended, and protesters are labelled extremists. In the UK, Palestine Action supporters face trial for holding placards. This is the authoritarian playbook. And we must resist it.

Andy Burnham challenges the dominance of bond markets in UK politics, questioning who truly holds power—the elected government or unelected financiers. He proposes ambitious policies like a major council house build and nationalising utilities. While the City reacts with panic, discussions revolve around the actual costs and the legitimacy of fears surrounding borrowing. Advocating for democracy over market control, the conversation explores the balance between public interest and financial power in shaping the nation's future.

We’re told that government debt is spiralling out of control. Commentators scream “fiscal crisis!” and “record borrowing!” But the truth is very different. High government debt is not a sign of collapse—it’s a sign of trust. People and institutions are desperate for the safety that only the government can provide. Debt is not a danger—it’s a deposit facility. Let’s cut through the panic and face the facts.

Financial markets are at record highs. Politicians, economists, and financiers tell us everything is fine. But it isn’t. In this video, I explain eight major risks to markets that are being ignored: Banking collapse Deregulation Authoritarianism Artificial intelligence Climate change Demographic change Geopolitical fragmentation Rising inequality These threats are obvious, exist in plain sight, and yet are wilfully ignored. If we don’t act, collapse is inevitable.

Loanable funds? The money multiplier? Steve Keen and Richard Murphy dismantle the myths. Double-entry accounting shows what really happens when banks create money and governments run deficits. If economics taught reality instead of dogma, austerity would be unthinkable.

The UK suffers from a finance curse. Far from being our economic jewel, the City of London has drained trillions from the economy. That’s lost jobs, lost investment, and a weaker democracy. In this video, I explain why finance is making Britain poorer — and what must change.

Something called country-by-country reporting, which I created, changed the tax world forever. It forced multinationals to reveal how much profit they were shifting into tax havens. In this video, I tell the story of how I created this idea, how it became law in more than 70 countries, and how it is still reshaping global tax justice today.