国际英语新闻：British government plays down rift with U.S. fiscal policy in run-up to G8, G20 summits

The BoE wants to see a minimum limit of capital and liquidity, so that if there is another financial storm like the last one they will be in better shape to weather it.

The BoE said in its bi-annual financial stability report, "UK banks need to maintain resilience in a difficult environment, while refinancing substantial sums of funding; they have a collective interest in providing sufficient lending to support economic recovery; and they will need over time to build larger buffers of capital and liquidity to meet more demanding future regulatory requirements."

But the BoE is keen that banks are not plunged into a strict regime immediately.

"The new Basel regulatory regime will be agreed in the autumn. An extended transition to this new regime would enable banks to build resilience through greater retention of earnings, while sustaining lending. The new regime should include a buffer of capital which banks can use to absorb stresses, as well as a hard minimum. That buffer might need to vary over the cycle," said the bank's report.

Britain has also moved with France and Germany to impose a bank levy, to both raise funds and to punish banks for their roles in the financial crisis. The move by the trio of nations threatens a rift with other members of the G20, notably the United States which wanted a tougher bank levy.

Cameron may also feel the tensions between British policy and American policy in Afghanistan. Publicly, Cameron backs the American surge, and supports British troops in their war in Afghanistan.