Vince Cable has tabled a parliamentary question challenging the Treasury to reveal the contents of a Treasury dossier submitted in evidence to the Competition Appeal Tribunal last December by the Merger Action Group who were opposing the Lloyd’s – HBOS merger.

The document set out the reasons why Gordon Brown, Alistair Darling, and Lord Mandelson wanted to ride roughshod over the normal competition law.

Mr Cable’s parliamentary question asks if the original still exists, and if so whether Mr Darling will now reveal its contents. He said:

“There appears to be a lot of murky dealings surrounding the Lloyds TSB takeover of HBOS, involving the Government and the Lloyds board. It is important, both for taxpayers and shareholders, that we have more transparency about what actually went on when the takeover was being pushed through by the Government.
Now that the takeover has gone through and we know the extent of HBOS’s losses there would seem to be no longer any need for secrecy and that is why I am asking for this document, which was a key element of the Government’s case, now to be made public.”

Keep shinning that light Vince, there be rats lurking in those corners. 

Gloria Smudd
March 2, 2009 at 12:25

I favour trying them with …. MARMITE!

Ch March 2, 2009 at 11:40

I am always fan [for the people on “my” list] to start with pulling nails
…

Ch March 2, 2009 at 10:50

Excuse me: is the stocks same as pillory?

Anna Raccoon
March 2, 2009 at 11:34

It is indeed Chatelaine……..your English education continues apace!

Anna Raccoon
March 2, 2009 at 08:58

If he stumbles, he’ll be lost, a million screeching Britons will fall on
his carcass and devour him…….

The Dirty
Rat March 2, 2009 at 08:54

I think the big stumbling block will be with ‘Health and Safety’

Coco March 2, 2009 at 00:58

The Dirty Rat 03.01.09 at 8:20 pm

OK. Stocks first and then the
hanging.
********************************************************
No.
No. No. No. No!!! Dirt Rat – we have to use the stocks first for three days
and nights. Then you do a bit of flailing with a blunt knife – then you do the
rolling the flesh into salt – and then hanging.

We have to be seen to mean business. Stocks and hanging is too easy.
Especially if somebody takes a heavy turnip to the stocks! Christ! He could be
dead quicker than an adulterous Princess in an Arab country.
Let’s drag it out a bit!

Gloria Smudd
March 1, 2009 at 21:00

Are they cash-in-mere goats then?
………………………
They are Andorra Angora,
naturally.

janes March 1, 2009 at 20:58

I expect that depends entirely on what it is they are still
negotiating.
———————————————————————–

Gloria, now that was good for a laugh … and I’m still laughing!

Gloria Smudd
March 1, 2009 at 20:58

Mr Cable seems to be suffering from a chronic case of
‘finger-on-the-buttonitis’, doesn’t he?

Saul March 1, 2009 at 20:56

If there were football like transfers in Politics, then David Cameron would
have to launch a bid for Vince Cable. At the moment he seems to be doing the
Tories job for them.

Gloria Smudd
March 1, 2009 at 20:55

I wonder if they really can talk after their heads are off.
………………

I expect that depends entirely on what it is they are still
negotiating.

janes March 1, 2009 at 20:52

I quite fancy a ducking pool, don’t like hanging, how about a guillotine. I
wonder if they really can talk after their heads are off.

The Dirty
Rat March 1, 2009 at 20:20

OK. Stocks first and then the hanging.

Anna Raccoon
March 1, 2009 at 20:05

Are they cash-in-mere goats then?
Sorry, couldn’t resist!
I think its
a great idea personally but I tend towards the old fashioned stocks, I like a
bit of humiliation, it has more possibilities than instant death.

The Dirty Rat
March 1, 2009 at 19:57

A.R.
You know, I have a cunning plan.
When I cash in all my goats I
am going to set up a ‘fighting fund’.
I have the germ of an idea for the
latest thing in reality television. Every week the public will vote on whom
they consider to be the most corrupt in public office. Lets face it the list
is endless. We will hire a team of experienced detectives (Bit like the
McCanns) and investigate the bastard and when they are found to be guilty, as
I know they will, bring him/her to the gallows .
As I invented the game I
am going to be in charge of the lever.

Gloria Smudd
March 1, 2009 at 19:20

It IS perfect, isn’t it?

Gloria Smudd
March 1, 2009 at 18:33

I’m tempted to use Madoff and Paid Off in the same sentence …

Anna Raccoon
March 1, 2009 at 18:46

Loved your reply this afternoon Gloria, I had missed that quote from
Cable, its excellent – “privatising profit and socialising loss

The Dirty Rat
March 1, 2009 at 14:52

Perhaps we will get to the bottom of that freak Peston’s collaboration in
the murky dealings?

Anna Raccoon
March 1, 2009 at 15:09

There was an interesting article on that subject Rat, I shall look it out
for you right now…….

Right found it – here’s the link Rat.

http://tinyurl.com/aw9npv

Gloria Smudd
March 1, 2009 at 14:34

Vince Cable gave a lovely phrase to Parliament this week; he suggested that
this government was “privatising profit and socialising loss”. In a nutshell,
Mr Cable, in a nutshell.