Future City - Bankers and Bonuses: What has the City ever done for London? October 4, 2010

Since the establishment of the Royal Exchange in 1565, London has grown rich from its status as an international banking centre. Innovations in finance have facilitated innovation across society. But recent events and the backlash against bankers raise important questions. Can banks return to their role of supporting innovation to fuel the growth of London? Have we become too reliant on banks? Should we curb their power?

Speakers include:

Daniel Ben-Ami, financial journalist, author of 'Cowardly Capitalism: The Myth of the Global Financial Casino' and 'Ferraris for All'
Billy Bragg
Luke Johnson, entrepreneur and chairman of Risk Capital Partners
John Micklethwait, editor-in-chief of The Economist

Chair: Paul Mason, economics editor, Newsnight

This event is one of five Future City debates which bring together leading forecasters, historians and practitioners, to look at the challenges that London faces and debate possible solutions. The debates will draw on the capital as a site of ideas and innovation in the past and present, and bring together competing visions of the future.

Special guest speakers include Billy Bragg, Ricky Burdett, Sir Terry Farrell, Tony Hall, Adam Hart-Davis, Hermann Hauser, Luke Johnson and James Woudhuysen.

The debates take place every week night from Monday 4 to Friday 8 October at the British Library:

Monday: Bankers and Bonuses: What has the City ever done for London?
Tuesday: Is London growing too big too fast?
Wednesday: London and the Olympics: Predicting the legacy of the twenty-first century
Thursday: Is London missing out on the potential of new technologies?
Friday: London and the future: Will we still be a major player in the world in 2050?

To book go to www.bl.uk/storyoflondon

The Future City debates are part of the Mayor's Story of London festival.

Explore the Story of London and its tale of innovation. From 1–10 October the Story of London festival will see London’s past unravel to reveal the future.

Everyone has a part to play in this epic tale. You can work with artists as they create new work about London or listen to experts exploring the legacy of Hendrix and the birth of the light bulb. Learn about the city’s rich brewing history or investigate London’s secret gardens. Alternatively, why not create a film about the city, record the sounds of the streets or map the London of tomorrow? It's a festival as diverse as the capital itself, celebrating London and Londoners from every part of the city; past, present and future. Come and take part or join the debate.

To join in visit www.london.gov.uk/storyoflondon