Lorely Burt MP joins Jason Donovan to support Vulture Funds Bill
10.52.00am GMT Mon 15th Feb 2010
Politicians, anti-poverty groups and churches unite against vultures funds.
Lorely Burt MP for Solihull has signed up to a parliamentary petition to prevent so called "Vulture Funds" in a campaign backed by Jason Donovan.
Vulture funds are where a small number of firms buy up the defaulted debts of the world's poorest countries, often at low prices. They then take countries to court to aggressively recoup the debts at full value for immediate repayment, often in UK and US courts. This action allows a small number of investors to take money which poor countries urgently need to spend on health and education for their citizens. Charity Jubilee Debt Campaign has been working to outlaw this practice for over a year.
Earlier this year Greater Manchester MP Andrew Gwynne decided to do something about the problem. He introduced a Private Member's Bill - something open to only a handful of MPs every year - to prohibit vulture fund activity against the poorest countries in the world. The Bill will receive its Second Reading on Friday 26 February and has support from MPs from across the political spectrum.
Lorely said:
"This Bill would represent a major step forward in tackling these funds. This proposal would heavily restrict the actions of creditors that do not participate in debt relief, dealing with the so-called "Vulture Funds."
For too long, some companies have been allowed to get away with exploiting the debt relief received by developing countries for their own profit; taking vital resources away from those that need it most. I aim to support this Bill and put a stop to it."
The campaign has also attracted attention from celebrities. Star of West End hit Priscilla Queen of the Desert Jason Donovan said:
"Like most people I want to see an end to global poverty. I certainly support this campaign, which aims to reduce third world debt and make a real difference to the lives of some of the poorest people in the world."
Jubilee Debt Campaign campaigned to highlight a case last November in which vulture funds won £20million against Liberia, one of the poorest countries in the world, in a UK court. Nick Dearden from Jubilee Debt Campaign said:
"We have seen that nothing short of legislation will stop these investors from their outrageous practices. It's great that so many MPs have expressed support for this Bill, and will be taking time out of their dairies to make sure it becomes law. We have to make sure vulture funds are stopped from feeding off the poorest."
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