DAY SIX – After Monday’s shock eviction, the competition continues – minus the Mail’s Alex Brummer who has packed his bags and departed the Click or Clunk house.
As allegations of vote-rigging continue to dog the contest, sections of the popular press relayed tales of automated über-clicking. The C or C authorities issue a statement:
The show must go on. Elvis lives.
Vote for your favourite City pundit by clicking on the link to their column below. Who will be the last scribe standing? Remember – you decide.
James Harding in the Times – on questions for Northern Rock at the Treasury committee
10. One final question for Mr Ridley: do you feel you have acquitted yourself well as chairman, do you feel qualified as a full-time zoologist to chair one of Britain’s banks and do you feel customers, shareholders and employees have confidence in your ability to oversee the sale process now?
Nils Pratley in the Guardian – on the Chancellor and CGT
The tax system will now not distinguish between different forms of successful investment: profits from speculation in art, property and shares will now be treated on a par with profits from creating and building companies. Is the enterprise economy really so secure that special incentives for entrepreneurs can be removed?
Damian Reece in the Telegraph – on questions for Northern Rock at the Treasury committee
7 Both the FSA and the Bank insist that they did not leak the story to the media on September 13. Did Northern Rock tell the media before the announcement? And does management believe the announcement was handled in the best possible manner?
8 On September 14, Northern Rock stated that the £59m interim dividend would be paid. Why, when the bank was now dependent on taxpayers’ money, was the decision taken to proceed with the payout to private shareholders?
Jeremy Warner in the Independent – on the banks’ “super fund”
No wonder Chuck Prince is referred to as the banker formerly known as chief executive of Citigroup. The only thing that sustains him in the job is the belief that to sack the boss now might make things even worse.
Banking is all about confidence, and the hope for Mr Prince is that simply announcing the MLEC may be enough. A bit like a nuclear weapon, the idea is that its very existence should mean it never has to be used.