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I appreciate its probably too early to apportion the blame game but I am surprised that its not emerged that there were lonely voices crying out against the hordes of cowboy bankers.

I know Vince Cable was talking about regulation and the amount of debt as were others.

I know Will Hutton was talking about the emphasis of the financial system and whether it was appropriate to future needs.

But if this segment of the financial crisis (assuming the worst of the derivatives and CDS subsets is yet to hit us) was due to the sub prime mortgages somebody must have known and hollered.

People say it couldn't have been predicted but I seem to remember from the outset of sub prime there were misgiving?

Perhaps I am wrong but with half the UK government seemingly filled with investment bank advisers it does seem strange that the problems appeared like a bolt from the blue.

COMETH THE HOUR

We are given to understand that The Queen watches over us with a caring heart and astute mind.

At a time of such peril, when her government is found weak and wanting and her subjects short of succour and direction, is it not time for you, The Loyal Medium, to ask her for an interview? I think it will put your ratings through the roof!

What a great idea Barrie. I'd love to see Jeremy interviewing the Queen!

The man you need on tonight's programme is none other than your own Paul Mason.

Time to give the money reformers airtime.

www.prosperityuk.com
www.moneyreformparty.org.uk

#2 barriesingleton &
#3 Mistress76uk

Yes - Paxo would be good.

I suggest the key question should be: Why haven't you dissolved Parliament to put "Duff" Gordon and the rest of us out of our collective misery?

Well I have to say that Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond - who is a former
bank economist - turns out to have been
ahead of the curve along with the Irish?!

In these times of fast changing, complex, economic times, I think it would be good for Paul Mason (and perhaps Michael Crick too) to take a step back from the day-to-day problems in markets and financial institutions, not to mention the political situations in different countries. He (or they) could then give us a broader picture of the massive changes we have seen over the past 18 months, where the problems started, and where they, and other commentators, think the future will take us. I think it could be a valuable thing, and a break from the day-in, day-out constant bombardment of economic news, much of which then changes the next day.

Although the European Union seems to be in disarray, I am certain that the UK's reluctance to fully integrate on all levels acts as an anchor on the progress of the rest. We will not be able to convince anyone in Europe that we are anything else but American lap dogs if we continue to spurn our nearest neighbours.

Until America's economy went pear shaped personal debt in Europe was frowned upon. Now we find that everyone and his dog is linked to the American financial model of anything goes. Although I am a Socialist, I do have some admiration for Churchill and Napoleon. They were extremes of difference but with a belief in a united Europe. I am astounded at the attitude of my fellow citizens who will blindly follow a United States of America yet baulk at the Idea of a United Europe.
Sean Appleby-Simpkin. Smug Socialist with hint of nausea at the "RETURN OF MANDY"

Lord, Oh lord, oh lord our help in ages past?

Strong sentiments from an atheist!

If on my retirement a decade ago I had put £50,000 savings into a bank account, and £50,000 with a stockbroking firm, my bank savings would be protected by the government (via the taxpayer).

My investment on the stock exchange would have suffered a 25% reduction so far. and may well go much lower, even zero.
(such as I experienced with Marconi).

The investment of both sums represent 'gambling' by me, with the keen help of financiers whose main interest is making themselves rich.

Why shouldn't both sums, or neither be bailed out by the taxpayer?

Who says there is no upside to the credit crunch? At last we have a perfect example of the EU at work in a crisis.
We can all look forward to the future knowing we are in safe hands!

Great comedy value from the German Ambaassador. Herr Flick would have been proud of him. There is an upside to all this financial turmoil. The EU fragmenting before your eyes as they all pursue self interest, the Euro getting hammered on the Forex markets and Gordon Brown hopefully being unable to find the £12 billion he wants to finance spying on our emails and phone conversations. Add to that, with a bit of luck, mass sackings of bureaucrats who make our lives a misery from here and the EU when they can no longer be afforded and the future begins to look slightly better than it has for a while. Wishful thinking maybe, but I reckon it's worth a bit of hardship to get all these ghastly organisations off our backs.

Unfortunately Kirsty just ruined her 3 way interview with Lamont, the german ambassador and UBS man. Her constant interrupting didnt allow Boomgaarden to make any coherent points when he had valid things to say. She denied viewers the chance to hear his piece by her heckling manner and non-sequiteur questions. Not her finest performance this evening.

VERBAL TILT

viewerLB (#14) You won't be surprised to learn that you're not the only one to have noticed this behaviour (#7,#8,#16 and #17 off the above link). It's not the first time, it is endemic, and it IS a bigger problem (related to spin) than many probably care to look into.