Don’t cry for Bob

Published on 07/07/2012 00:00

Often, a neat result can be achieved without a costly year-long inquiry, judge-led or not. The former Barclays Bank chief Bob Diamond has gone, and if we can believe the press, this was achieved by Bank of England governor Mervyn King and Financial Services Authority chairman Adair Turner, probably in a couple of phone calls. Could they now start to work on the severance payment?

No need to weep for Bob. Like Wayne Rooney, he will be thought to have magical powers. Within six months he will have slid unctuously into another top job. He will call everyone by their first name, say warm things about his staff, even flash an expensive smile.

Being realistic, the severance pay issue will be a tougher one for King and Turner to handle, and they might have to get a bit heavier.

Crawford Mackie

Loughborough Road 

Kirkcaldy