Election 2010: Banking levy polarises party leaders in final TV debate

Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg have lurched into different directions over the timetable and rate of a levy on Britain's banks.

In the last of three live Prime Ministerial debates ahead of the General Election on 6 May, this time on the economy, Lib Dem leader Clegg launched a scathing attack on "irresponsible" banks and repeated his calls for a 10% tax on their profits, effective immediately. The Tory's Cameron agreed with Clegg on the timing of the tax, but, in a familiar move since announcing his support for a levy a month ago, shied away from putting a figure on the premium. Brown was the most cautious on bank reform, arguing against the UK imposing a unilateral levy straight away, saying he wanted to wait...