Bill Jamieson: Cometh the hour, cometh the man? If anyone can pull this rabbit from the hat, it's Thomson

Published on Monday 2 November 2009 21:22

BEN Thomson is a hard-to-place new kid in the Scottish power elite.

He is an investment banker, but not one drawn from the ranks of the tweeds-and-shooting set. He is close to the centres of influence – but is definitely not of the cement-for-breakfast Labour quangocracy.

A former Scots decathlon champion, an art lover and physicist turned banker and deal-maker, he set up his own political think-tank (Reform Scotland) and has been discreetly active in two of the financial dramas of the past year – marshalling opposition to the Lloyds TSB takeover of HBOS and seeking a Scottish buyer for the Dunfermline Building Society.

The opportunity presented by the divestment of Lloyds TSB branches in Scotland could mean it is third time lucky for his ambition to recreate a genuinely Scottish-owned, Scottish-managed and Scottish-headquartered bank out of the chaos in the industry in the country.

These are very early days – the European Commission-driven divestment of Lloyds TSB branches in Scotland has only just emerged and any disgorgement will not be a fire sale; the banks will be given up to four years to comply.

Thomson gave a strong indication yesterday that he would be interested in playing an active part in putting a Scottish consortium together at some future date.

Such an ambition is almost certain to draw support and encouragement, however unofficial, from Bute House.

But any such endeavour will need bags of supporting capital, a credible line-up of senior executives and managers, a detailed business plan, regulatory clearance – and time to get all these ducks in a row.

The big challenge will be in coming up with a competitive offer against possible rival contenders such as Tesco, Virgin and an ambitious overseas bidder anxious to gain a toehold in the UK.

Such a bank would also have to contend with intense competition from established brands such as Barclays, RBS and Clydesdale, as well as from Tesco, whose retail presence enables it to tear large chunks out of the household banking market.

Thomson, a "soft" Conservative with strong leanings to greater devolution and fiscal autonomy, has top-drawer business connections and is also known to be close to Alex Salmond.

Reform Scotland has also established considerable credibility in a country which takes its mark from the Left. Thomson is a man to watch.