The Scottish Labour leader, Michael Marra, is calling on the Chancellor, John Healey, to raise the 3% corporation tax surcharge on big banks ahead of Wednesday's Budget. His call echoes the TUC.
"Labour governments should make progressive choices on tax."
According to PA, as carried by the Enfield Independent, Marra remains open to how tax on banks is raised, with an increase in the current 3% surcharge one possible route. PA says he will meet Healey and the Energy Secretary, Miatta Fahnbulleh, this week.
Marra says the biggest banks made around £15bn of profit in the first six months of this year, the Morning Star reports. The paper also says Barclays' profits rose 12% to £2.3bn while it plans to lay off 5,000 workers. Neither figure has been independently checked.
The Treasury would not engage with the suggestion. A spokesman told PA: "As has always been the case, decisions on tax are a matter for the Chancellor to set out at fiscal events, rather than routinely commenting on rumour, speculation or proposals".
Bloomberg and the Guardian have reported that Healey is weighing restoring the surcharge to 8%. The Treasury has not confirmed the measure.