Britain may demand vote on financial transaction tax

BRITAIN is threatening to bring the debate on a financial transaction tax to a head in Brussels today when chancellor of the exchequer George Osborne may call for a vote.

This follows proposals from the European Commission that show British banks could still be liable for the tax even if the country opted out but other countries adopted it.

France and Germany are pushing for agreement on the tax by March, their respective finance ministers said in Paris following discussions yesterday with their central bankers.