Update: A 'Charter Convention' is being held in Camden on Saturday 21st November, Bob Crow among others will be speaking. Details here.

I just signed up to The People's Charter. A charter laying out a vision of what I would describe to be a fairer Britain. The charter lays out a number of aims. These include tight regulation of the banking sector and fairer taxation in order to ensure wealth is distributed more fairly, decent homes for all, renationalisation of key services such as transport, water and energy and other key areas where intervention could close the wealth gap in society and ensure everyone has a decent standard of living.

The charter is already supported by several unions and claims to be 'well on the way to 1 million signatories.'

Here is the text of The People's Charter in full:

1. A fair economy for a fairer Britain.
Take the leading banking, insurance and mortgage industries fully into democraticpublic ownership run for the benefit of all. Regain control of the Bank of England and keep interest rates low. Tightly regulate the City markets to facilitate lending and to stop speculation and takeovers against the public interest. Ban hedge funds, raids on pension funds, asset-stripping and corporate tax loopholes. Restructure the tax system so big business and the wealthy pay more and ordinary people pay less.

2. More and better jobs.
Existing jobs must be protected. Public and private investment must create new jobs paying decent money. In particular in manufacturing, construction and green technology. More jobs mean more spending power to stimulate the economy, increased tax revenue and fewer people on benefit. Build full employment. Reduce hours, not pay, to create more jobs. Raise the minimum wage to half national median earnings and end the lower rate for young workers.

3. Decent homes for all.
Stop the repossessions and keep people in their homes. Offer ‘no interest’ loans. Control rents. We need three million new homes. Give local government the power and money to build and renovate affordable quality homes and buy empty ones, ending the housing shortage, and creating jobs.

4. Protect and improve our public services – no cuts.
Save public money: Bring energy, transport, water and telecommunications back, and keep the post in public ownership. End corporate profiteering in health, education,social and other public services. Stop the EU privatisation Directives.

5. Fairness and Justice.
Free heating and transport for every pensioner. Link state pensions and benefits to average earnings. Protect pension schemes and restore the lost value of private pensions. End childpoverty by increasing child benefits and tax credits and providing free nurseries and crèches. Enforce equal pay for women. End racism and discrimination in all its forms. No scape goating of migrant workers. Invest in young people and give them a real stake in the future. Provide youth, community, arts and cultural centres, sports facilities, and clubs for all.Guarantee training, apprenticeships and education with grants for everyone and no fees. Restore union rights to allow them the freedom to fight the crisis and to protect workers.

6. Build a secure and sustainable future for all.
End the cost of war in blood and money. Bring our troops home. Don’t waste billions on a new generation of nuclear weapons. And beyond the current economic disaster, climate change threatens us all. Our future must be based on massive investment for a greener, safer world now. Debt is crushing millions of people forcing them to move and producing war, famine and misery. Get rid of the debt economy in Britain and cancel the debts of the poor of the planet. A better future for all the people of the world.

I'd personally like to see things go further with regard to redistributing wealth and ensuring a decent standard of living is available to all; however I don't in all honesty see even this being achievable for a generation at least.

The People's Charter website is here.
There is a Facebook Group here.
There is also a Facebook group for this site here.You can invite other RMT members, post the group to your profile, and increase awareness of this site.