IMF Loan Of £10bn Prompts Fury From Tory MPs

Posted: 20/04/2012 17:12 Updated: 20/04/2012 19:11   PA

George Osborne faced fury from the Tory back benches today after he announced Britain is to commit another £10 billion to the IMF.

The chancellor said the increased funding was vital to protect jobs and growth in this country.

But Conservative Peter Bone branded the move "bonkers" and said the money would be wasted trying to prop up the eurozone. The Wellingborough MP also complained that the level had been set to avoid triggering a parliamentary vote.

Finance ministers and central bank governors struck the deal at a meeting in Washington.

Alongside the UK's increase, Australia is to contribute an extra seven billion US dollars, Singapore four billion dollars, and South Korea 15 billion dollars.

Mr Osborne said: "The UK sees itself as part of solution to the challenges facing the global economy, not part of problem. We are helping to solve the global debt problem rather than adding to it.

"Jobs and growth in Britain depend on stable world economy. That needs a strong IMF.

"And because we have taken strong action to rescue our own economy, we can be one of many countries that can support the IMF, instead of being bailed out by the IMF."

The US and Canada are not thought to be contributing any extra funding under the agreement.

Parliament has previously approved around £40 billion in support for the IMF, of which about £30 billion has already been committed.

If the increase had gone beyond the £10 billion "headroom" still available to Mr Osborne it would have required a fresh vote by MPs.

Committing money does not mean it will necessarily be drawn against and, because it would be given in the form of a loan, it would not deplete public spending budgets.

Mr Bone said: "It is £10 billion of money that he is spending without telling Parliament in advance he was going to do it.

"It seems to me it is all about bailing out the eurozone. It should not be up to British taxpayers to shore up a doomed project that is for the benefit of our European colleagues.

"People will not understand how we can have all these cuts but put £10 billion at risk for other countries. It is bonkers."

However, Mr Bone said there was now no obvious way of forcing a Commons vote on the issue - which could have been highly embarrassing for the Government.

"It does seem very strange that £10 billion can be spent without getting a proper parliamentary debate," he added.

Tory MP Mark Pritchard, secretary of the influential 1922 Committee, said Mr Osborne appeared to have "got away with the politics" of the issue by avoiding a fresh vote.

But he told BBC Radio 4's PM programme the UK should not be underwriting a currency that "clearly is not working".

"Indirectly that is exactly what British taxpayers' money and IMF funding is going to do," he added.

He also pointed to wider disaffection on the Conservative backbenches.

"The government is suffering from strategic drift," Mr Pritchard said. "I don't think it permanent, I don't think it is terminal ... but I think the government does have to listen more to backbenchers who listen to their constituents."

Shadow chancellor Ed Balls accused Mr Osborne of "running scared" of parliamentary scrutiny.

"It is disappointing that the chancellor has not taken the opportunity to press the wealthy eurozone countries to dig into their own pockets and establish a strong firewall of their own, before offering up more funding from Britain," he said.

"There is a real risk that yet another sticking plaster response will mean the eurozone continues to duck the tough decisions they need to take.

"The IMF has a vital role to play in the global economy and should have the resources to do that job, but it should not be bailing out the eurozone when the euro area countries are not doing their own bit to help themselves."

Mr Balls added: "George Osborne needs to explain why he has suddenly changed his mind and why he is running so scared of parliamentary scrutiny on this important issue."

The Institute of Directors warned that Mr Osborne could be "throwing good money after bad".

Chief economist Graeme Leach said: "Given the tight nature of Britain's finances, it is concerning that George Osborne may be throwing good money after bad with this agreement.

"If the IMF is going to be given even more funding, then the government should strongly insist that it is only lent as part of a plan that is a feasible solution, not simply to stave off a crisis for a few more months.

"Although no-one has ever lost money lending to the IMF, every investor knows that past performance is not necessarily a guide to the future."

Emma Boon, Campaign Director of the TaxPayers' Alliance said: "Osborne shouldn't hand any more money to the IMF, effectively supporting a Eurozone bailout by the back door.

"The government keeps telling British taxpayers that we won't have to pick up the bill for futile rescue attempts of a currency they rightly refused to join, yet now we hear this.

"Hard-pressed families struggling at home will wonder why they are cutting back when they see Osborne is committing another £10 billion - right up to the limit of what he can without a vote in Parliament."

UKIP leader Nigel Farage said the extra commitment was an "absolute disgrace".

"He's pouring good money after bad for the sake of a political project," Mr Farage said.

"Osborne calls this money a 'contingent liability'. The reality is that the greatest liability we in this country face is a Government that is determined to screw down on the British people, in order to bail out a failing currency."

Treasury Select Committee chairman Andrew Tyrie said the increase was "essential".

"The IMF is the only fire-brigade available to the global economy," he said. "It is vital that the IMF has the necessary tools to deal with the current eurozone crisis and the risks to wider global financial stability.

"Any IMF loans to the eurozone must be on rigorous terms, with full conditionality.

"The IMF must not flinch from its long-standing policy of negotiating only with member countries."

The Tory MP added: "Britain benefits more than most from having a tough global watchdog and no country outside the eurozone has more reason to want the crisis resolved than the UK."

In total, the IMF is believed to have secured about $400 billion (£248 billion) in extra funding from members. Half of that was pledged by eurozone countries last year.

Japan has committed $60 billion (£37 billion) and Switzerland $26 billion (£16 billion).

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George Osborne faced fury from the Tory back benches today after he announced Britain is to commit another £10 billion to the IMF. The chancellor said the increased funding was vital to protect jo...
George Osborne faced fury from the Tory back benches today after he announced Britain is to commit another £10 billion to the IMF. The chancellor said the increased funding was vital to protect jo...
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Southern law girl
Researching my viewpoint....
07:53 PM on 04/21/2012
There has to be change! We need fresh brains and new blood!
There are so many areas as a Country we could save money, but they, the Gov., don't seem to even want to go down these avenues. I was talking to someone the other day, apparently the charity who runs cars for the disabled have large call centres to sort out all the admininstrative issues with the Clients. My question was, why can't car dealerships HQ's who provide motability cars deal with the admininstration themselves? All they have to do is liaise with the Department of Works and Pension. That is just one issue.
Then the problem with the charities themselves, Age Concern UK, they are made up of the former Age Concern, and Help the Aged, so there is now just one charity. This may not be the way to go to be effective. I would love to hear some ideas on this one!
09:26 AM on 04/22/2012
Hello, yes I agree entirely that they could raise revenue in many other ways, firstly, stopping wealthy individuals and companies avoiding tax.
The call centres you mention are part of the charity Motability. The DWP's part in this scheme is to pay the disabled persons benefit to Motability instead of giving it to the disabled customer. The car is paid for from the persons benefit.
Motability fundrases, and they are a charity to run their own operation.
The Govt has slashed much of the support that all sorts charities used to have, leaving dozens of good schemes wanting.
The Govt has always got cash to spend when they want to, and cut funds to families where money is short. I too think we need some new input to sort this mess out. But who?
03:03 PM on 04/21/2012
Little George could not get this past Parliament so he adopted the wangle of keeping the amount below the need for a vote. Disgraceful. It is high time Tory MPs stood up for their constituents and got rid of this posh boy and his gestures with taxpayers' money.
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casual agent
Advocate for social justice
05:03 PM on 04/21/2012
No Chance'..They're all in it together...lol
02:43 PM on 04/21/2012
This money is not being used to help or support the ordinary people or there jobs . This money is being used to support and safe guard the rich wealth. How long can the ordinary people of this country and European countries keep paying the price for their mess. They are not interested what damage its doing to the ordinary people lives as long as there own wealth is secured they will continue to use the ordinary people to plug any debt fears that arises . This country is in a real mess yet this government continues to keep giving billions of pounds are our hard earned cash to other countries . I have to ask myself do we really have a British prime minister in power really looking after the welfare of his own country or do we have PM looking after himself and his wealthy friends.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Daviejohn
All the world's a stage,
02:03 PM on 04/21/2012
Information released after 5.00pm when everybody is on their way home. Do not even have the grace to release it when the major channels can announce it in the media.
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casual agent
Advocate for social justice
05:04 PM on 04/21/2012
.Must have been a good time to bury Bad News.?..lol
01:57 PM on 04/21/2012
Why does one person have the power to decide on what to do with £10 billion?
What qualifications does he have?
Surely all monetary decisions should be voted for by Parliament?
Do not MPs vote on all issues regarding the electorate and the good of our country?
TIME FOR A REALLY GOOD SHAKE UP AT WESTMINSTER
Listen to the PEOPLE
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casual agent
Advocate for social justice
05:05 PM on 04/21/2012
I agree'...But don't hold yer breath uh?
01:55 PM on 04/21/2012
This money will just disappear into the black hole that is Europe and they will be back shouting for more and telling us that we HAVE to contribute otherwise our economy will suffer.
BREAKING NEWS.....we already are suffering and this incompetent public schoolboy continues to use our money to boost his ego and his standing on the world stage.
Look after the intersets of this country first Mr Osbourne and if this loan goes pear shaped let's see you and your millionaire mates contribute to mitigate the losses.
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Daviejohn
All the world's a stage,
02:05 PM on 04/21/2012
Almost like the African Charity contributions really.
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casual agent
Advocate for social justice
05:07 PM on 04/21/2012
Mmm'...What happened to all those millions raised by Live Aid'..and the other Charity bashes'...??
Southern law girl
Researching my viewpoint....
01:42 PM on 04/21/2012
The thing has to be said that we are being told there is no money left in the coffers, but disabled, elderly, children, families, and many more are having to take and understand the excuse that we have no money to address their lack of care in one way or another. I put it simply to George O, where is this bailout money coming from if we have no money left? I have read other commentators who have said it is basically a matter of business, but we are not a business, we are a Country who should be looking after its vulnerable Citizens. Moreover, this Country taxes its Citizens higher than any other Country in the Western World, so that needs to be taken into consideration too. Anyone wants to criticise, fine, but make it constructive criticism, not just criticism for the sake of it. If anyone has concrete evidence there are other countries out there who do tax higher than the UK I would like to hear and know about it, but equally, I would like to see their assertions backed up by concrete evidence, otherwise those assertions mean nothing.

Vulnerable people as described above should not be the ones to suffer. Whilst I totally agree the chaff has to be sorted from the wheat, in that those claiming when they are not entitled should be dealt with, providing that investigation process is fair. I am not saying anyone can get anything, quite the opposite.
concodtob
16 stone athlete and intellectual
02:43 PM on 04/21/2012
This bunch of multimillionaires couldn't give a damn about the ordinary people in this country who are struggling to get by.Yet this sorry excuse of a government can write out loans to other countries etc...and conditions for people in this country get worse.

Cuts,cuts,and more cuts for British people is their motto.But we'll give,give,and give some more to anyone else who comes with a begging bowl.I've just had to fund a training program out of my own pocket to try and find work because i was told that due to "CUTS" i couldn't get financial support.I guess if i had Qatada as my second name,i would of qualified,Oh well, i guess the British public reap what they sow for voting in the same old parties.
Southern law girl
Researching my viewpoint....
07:37 PM on 04/21/2012
Good evening concodtob!
I agree with everything you say! But one thing, I am very, very sorry to hear you have had to fund training yourself. I would like to know what training you're embarking on, but if you would rather not say I understand totally. I ask because of certain funding I know to be available, and wondered if I could direct you to it. However, it depends on what your training course covers.
Talking about politics, same old parties, same old problems. We need some new blood, new brains on all the problems we face. I am about to put an e-petition on the No.10 Website, the idea is a communication network to combat the perception MP's are out of touch, thought it may help them. I also have some reasonable ideas how to eliminate Government spending on some charity quangos, which I know to be a drain on the Country.
Anyway, let me know if you want some ideas on funding, but you may already have exhausted what's available for your area of study/training.
Best wishes!
06:23 PM on 04/21/2012
Here here. !
01:24 PM on 04/21/2012
What i can't get about Mr Osborne's excuse that this loan to the IMF is to protect and secure jobs and growth for the UK,then why is it that we have no employment growth and no extra trade to promote jobs,it seems this money is a bribe saying if we dont donate we will get no trade, trade we are not getting anyway and employment we will never get.
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casual agent
Advocate for social justice
05:09 PM on 04/21/2012
I agree'...Seems we're last in the queue as usual'....Same ole' Tories'...same ole' excuses..
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rabidrightwatch
Green lefty & active environmentalist
01:19 PM on 04/21/2012
The is a loan: not a gift, not a donation, a loan... they won't raid the coffers and hand over cash, this won't be wrestled from the hard-pressed populace; it's likely to be loan guarantees... the country earns interest, helping the balance of payments; it's called business.

So the Tory backwoodsmen/women can calm down; they have no need to blow assorted gaskets or take even more blood pressure tablets; no wait, perhaps not.

Must we remind our politicians that we have an ongoing international obligation to contribute towards the IMF? - after all, in my lifetime, the IMF (with others) has bailed out the UK twice to my certain knowledge..

This loan will almost certainly be in the form of loan guarantees - as was the £7bn loan to Ireland - with no hard cash being proffered in suitcases.

The tory backbenchers' knee-jerk response to most things is 'NO, now what's the question?' and has been for decades, particularly when there's the remotest possibility that the IMF may contribute to a Spanish or Greek bailout - heaven forefend!!

Although anything that winds up this bunch of fogies - old and young - has my wholehearted support... it's time someone, somewhere rattled their collective cages.

If we expect help from others in times of crisis, then it's our obligation to help others in their times of need; that's the civilised, cooperative and inclusive response, which of course the Tories have absolutely no inking about whatsoever.
01:39 PM on 04/21/2012
you are missing the whole point of the matter ,if this so called loan can be guaranteed to the IMF then this money should be guaranteed to our own needs and not the needs of others.
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rabidrightwatch
Green lefty & active environmentalist
02:02 PM on 04/21/2012
...that's if you take the isolationist standpoint - I don't...
01:50 PM on 04/21/2012
And loans are never defaulted on are they not ? The whole reason we are in this mess is because of people and institutions borrwing too much money.
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rabidrightwatch
Green lefty & active environmentalist
02:40 PM on 04/21/2012
This is a pledge to the IMF which, on the international markets, is considered to be the safest destination for loans.... if IMF fails, the entire financial system goes down the bog anyway...
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PhilEssex
Statistically, 6 out of 7 dwarves are not happy.
12:35 PM on 04/21/2012
Sorry my last comment should of been 'is' on not does lol
12:34 PM on 04/21/2012
I am disabled and am one of the few to get through their rediculous new system. I am now receiving less money to live on. I see our country giving money to just about everyone as long as they are not British. We have to stop giving as it has got out of hand. Charity really must start at home.
Southern law girl
Researching my viewpoint....
01:35 PM on 04/21/2012
Yes kagoose2 you are absolutely right.
12:32 PM on 04/21/2012
THE CONS HAVE TOO GO NOW LETS VOTE.
12:26 PM on 04/21/2012
People wonder why our essential services are suffering, our schools, the elderly, our NHS, and there is no money to help the unemployed when we see our government not lending as some people say but giving tax generated in this country to others, money we will never see in our lifetime, their excuse as Mr Osborne has said is to secure jobs in the UK, if thats the case why are we loosing so many jobs, plus the government is giving 4 million to the Syria refugees,what are we working for to look after our own families or other peoples families, i suspect the the 10 BILLION he is donating to the IMF is to secure his own interests and not ours, what a sick excuse for a government this is.
12:18 PM on 04/21/2012
With Dav.CaMoron, Geo.Osberk & Nik.Clown in charge of this Con/Dim coalition, it springs to mind this country has the government it deserves!
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casual agent
Advocate for social justice
05:16 PM on 04/21/2012
Mmm'...Painful...But very true'...Lets hope no one is stupid enough to fall for it next time?lol.!!
Southern law girl
Researching my viewpoint....
10:07 PM on 04/21/2012
bagpuss250, hilarious! LOL!
12:13 PM on 04/21/2012
I think he needs to go with Dorothy to the Wizard of oz and get himself a BRAIN ?.
He hasnt a clue about running a country all he thinks about is the easy way out
TAX THE MOTORIST & PUT PEOPLE ON THE DOLE ?, Forgetting he as to pay them dole.
The Tories nat anthem, We the The rich are in power so f##h the working shower, just tax them to death then we dont have to pay them a pension .
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casual agent
Advocate for social justice
05:17 PM on 04/21/2012
Got it in one'..Well Said..