Sir Fred Goodwin was, until he stepped aside with his absurdly inflated pension after we (taxpayers) bailed out the company, the Chief Executive of the Royal Bank of Scotland.
But was he a banker?
Apparently not. Thanks to parliamentary privilege, we now know that he has managed to obtain a 'super-injunction' which bans the media from identifying him as such.
These super-injunctions, granted in secret hearings, are traditionally used by footballers attempting to prevent publication of some of their more nefarious activities off the pitch. And they are so strict that even the nature of the injunction itself cannot be published. It is forbidden to report what it is forbidden to report.
In this case, it is forbidden to publish the fact that Goodwin is or was a banker.
You can understand why he must be embarrassed by such an assertion. His successor, Stephen Hester, has just been awarded a pay package worth £7.7 million for 2010, during which the bank - 83% of which belongs to the tax-payer - lost over £1 billion.
In fact, RBS stock has lost 91% of its value since 2007.
But one suspects that the real reason for this injunction is to do with Goodwin's new role at RMJM, which seems to be imploding since his arrival. As the Scotsman wrote in an editorial: "RMJM is the architect of its own woes".
So is Goodwin. But in his case, the problem is compounded by the fact that he is the architect of many of ours as well.
I have been known to call him many things. But, he and his expensive legal team will be relieved to hear, banker is not one of them.
Today's listening: Further from the Orpheum Theatre, Boston, the other night. John Kadlicek is the new Jerry.
But was he a banker?
Apparently not. Thanks to parliamentary privilege, we now know that he has managed to obtain a 'super-injunction' which bans the media from identifying him as such.
These super-injunctions, granted in secret hearings, are traditionally used by footballers attempting to prevent publication of some of their more nefarious activities off the pitch. And they are so strict that even the nature of the injunction itself cannot be published. It is forbidden to report what it is forbidden to report.
In this case, it is forbidden to publish the fact that Goodwin is or was a banker.
You can understand why he must be embarrassed by such an assertion. His successor, Stephen Hester, has just been awarded a pay package worth £7.7 million for 2010, during which the bank - 83% of which belongs to the tax-payer - lost over £1 billion.
In fact, RBS stock has lost 91% of its value since 2007.
But one suspects that the real reason for this injunction is to do with Goodwin's new role at RMJM, which seems to be imploding since his arrival. As the Scotsman wrote in an editorial: "RMJM is the architect of its own woes".
So is Goodwin. But in his case, the problem is compounded by the fact that he is the architect of many of ours as well.
I have been known to call him many things. But, he and his expensive legal team will be relieved to hear, banker is not one of them.
Today's listening: Further from the Orpheum Theatre, Boston, the other night. John Kadlicek is the new Jerry.
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