Alistair Darling warns against increased risk-taking by UK banks
Despite threatening to introduce one of the strictest regulatory environments in the U.K.'s history, Alistair Darling has this evening suggested he would go further if UK banks do not agree to withdraw from various high-risk investment areas. This comes at a time when big city fat cats are yet again attracting significant bonuses and significant remuneration packages, even though we have not yet left the recession - something Alistair Darling has promised to fight against.
However, as we covered in numerous posts in the past, Stephen Hester (the government appointed chief executive of the Royal Bank of Scotland) is himself in line for a potential £10 million remuneration package over the next two years. Even though the UK government appears to have the right mindset, in reducing risk and reducing massive bonus payments, the introduction of a £10 million package for Stephen Hester seems to go against this strategy.
The bottom line is that if London wants to retain its position at the top table of world financial markets it will need to pay top remuneration packages to attract the best brains in the world of finance. Any other strategy in the medium to longer term will seriously impact upon the competitive edge and high service standards offered from London and could see job losses in the future.
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