Bankers get a kicking
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Discussion

ianash

Original Poster:

3,286 posts

212 months

Tuesday 10th February 2009
quotequote all
I'm just watching the ex heads of RBS and HBOS trying to explain to a select committee why it wasn't really my fault guv. Fulsome apologies from all, excruciatingly uncomfortable to watch. A bit like a latter day public stocks. Should we pelt them with tomatos or are they just misunderstood?

Simpo Two

92,658 posts

294 months

Tuesday 10th February 2009
quotequote all
They were simply operating within the understood rules of the day. The phrase is 'just following orders'. However only after some major catastrophe can it be seen that the understood rules of the day were perverse, witness Nuremburg.

Evil Jack

1,649 posts

257 months

Tuesday 10th February 2009
quotequote all
Bank Bosses Say Sorry For Crisis

Oh that's alright then. Let's all shake hands and carry on as before then. rolleyes

ShadownINja

79,983 posts

311 months

Tuesday 10th February 2009
quotequote all
Simpo Two said:
only after some major catastrophe can it be seen that the understood rules of the day were perverse
I think in any period, lending to someone who can't pay back is vaguely risky. Especially as every other person was muttering that this housing boom was going to end. IIRC it was discussed on PH, no less, in around 2005.

And apparently they're up to no good again: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&am...

Edited by ShadownINja on Tuesday 10th February 11:10

JRM

2,065 posts

261 months

Tuesday 10th February 2009
quotequote all
ShadownINja said:
Simpo Two said:
only after some major catastrophe can it be seen that the understood rules of the day were perverse
I think in any period, lending to someone who can't pay back is vaguely risky. Especially as every other person was muttering that this housing boom was going to end. IIRC it was discussed on PH, no less, in around 2005.
What, and you mean the CEO of RBS completely ignored what was written on PH? Well that's his fault entirely then isn't it rolleyes

A1GOY

1,521 posts

231 months

Tuesday 10th February 2009
quotequote all
They all look very uncomfortable.
I've not watched much - but Hornby looks the most uncomfortable. He can't look anyone in the eye. Oh dear.

ShadownINja

79,983 posts

311 months

Tuesday 10th February 2009
quotequote all
JRM said:
ShadownINja said:
Simpo Two said:
only after some major catastrophe can it be seen that the understood rules of the day were perverse
I think in any period, lending to someone who can't pay back is vaguely risky. Especially as every other person was muttering that this housing boom was going to end. IIRC it was discussed on PH, no less, in around 2005.
What, and you mean the CEO of RBS completely ignored what was written on PH? Well that's his fault entirely then isn't it rolleyes
Not what I meant. I was thinking of anyone who lent money to people who are high risk. I didn't mention RBS nor did Simpo Two.

Edited by ShadownINja on Tuesday 10th February 11:12

ianash

Original Poster:

3,286 posts

212 months

Tuesday 10th February 2009
quotequote all
Hornby was trying to explain his £60,000 per month retainer from Lloyds TSB. I actually felt quite sorry for the man. I think this is just one of those situations that whatever the miscreants say they're going to be found guilty. I'll bet they've never sat through an agm like this. Maybe all plc's agm’s should be run like select committees with the shareholders acting as a select committee.

andygo

7,390 posts

284 months

Tuesday 10th February 2009
quotequote all
Do you think the bankers are arsed?

They will go home tonight, quaff a nice glass of champagne and get out the holiday brochures. Not like they are skint is it? Not like they are going down for it.

Hard day at the office for them, then off into the sunset, a la Morecambe and Wise.

BOR

5,141 posts

284 months

Tuesday 10th February 2009
quotequote all
Maybe they'll have to pay back the money they stole ?

10 Pence Short

32,880 posts

246 months

Tuesday 10th February 2009
quotequote all
BOR said:
Maybe they'll have to pay back the money they stole ?
Are you really that stupid, or do you enhance it with some kind of pill?

Podie

46,649 posts

304 months

Tuesday 10th February 2009
quotequote all
10 Pence Short said:
BOR said:
Maybe they'll have to pay back the money they stole ?
Are you really that stupid, or do you enhance it with some kind of pill?
hehe

DPX

1,027 posts

229 months

Tuesday 10th February 2009
quotequote all
Lip Service .......................... They made more in a year that a lot of people make in a lifetime .

munky

5,328 posts

277 months

Tuesday 10th February 2009
quotequote all
ShadownINja said:
Simpo Two said:
only after some major catastrophe can it be seen that the understood rules of the day were perverse
I think in any period, lending to someone who can't pay back is vaguely risky. Especially as every other person was muttering that this housing boom was going to end. IIRC it was discussed on PH, no less, in around 2005.

And apparently they're up to no good again: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&am...

Edited by ShadownINja on Tuesday 10th February 11:10
The institutions mentioned in that article are not banks though

Boozy

2,427 posts

248 months

Tuesday 10th February 2009
quotequote all
Who's holding the government to account? or the man the controlled the purse strings for the UK for so long? no one! go onto moneysaving expert and see the hateful people who think it's ok to rack up thousands in debt and just walk away as it's the easy option

but go on, blame the banks because it was just them wasn't it?

idiot.

andy-xr

13,204 posts

233 months

Tuesday 10th February 2009
quotequote all
To me it just shows that the FSA dont add anything of value and shouldnt really exist as they are

BOR

5,141 posts

284 months

Tuesday 10th February 2009
quotequote all
10 Pence Short said:
BOR said:
Maybe they'll have to pay back the money they stole ?
Are you really that stupid, or do you enhance it with some kind of pill?
I'm stupid, but I'm not a thief.

silver.fox.2008

820 posts

219 months

Tuesday 10th February 2009
quotequote all
You could hardly blame them. They were allowed to get away with these risky strategies because the rules allowed them. Not much grilling of the FSA, just the heads of the banks.

If one of the large banks was not making as many billions as another you can bet your bottom dollar that they would have been grilled by the shareholders and board. If RBS was not taking in as mush as Lloyds the CEO's would be out and replaced by someone else and the only way they could stay on par was to do the same as the other banks i.e invest in the riskier investments. Obviously this has come home to roost for all the banks but during the boom times this was seen as where all the money was so you can hardly blame them for 'following the money'.




10 Pence Short

32,880 posts

246 months

Tuesday 10th February 2009
quotequote all
BOR said:
10 Pence Short said:
BOR said:
Maybe they'll have to pay back the money they stole ?
Are you really that stupid, or do you enhance it with some kind of pill?
I'm stupid, but I'm not a thief.
And who are the thieves?

Please be aware we might ask you to say a little more than just 'bankers'. You might want to get your copy of The Mirror and start revising.

NoelWatson

11,710 posts

271 months

Tuesday 10th February 2009
quotequote all
ianash said:
I'm just watching the ex heads of RBS and HBOS trying to explain to a select committee why it wasn't really my fault guv. Fulsome apologies from all, excruciatingly uncomfortable to watch. A bit like a latter day public stocks. Should we pelt them with tomatos or are they just misunderstood?
Agreed extremely uncomfortable. Who is that John Mann, and how did he become an MP?