The banking community today issued angry responses at those who criticised Barclays boss Bob Diamond's £6.5 million bonus payment.
According to insiders, poor old Bob is feeling the pinch, and needs a bit of extra cash just as much as the next man.
Banker, J Arthur Faeces-Head told reporters:
"The Middle East revolts are leading to increased fuel prices. The knock on effect is that the price of everything goes up. Unemployment soars - which all means that savings have to be made. That's what Bob is doing. He's stashing his cash for a rainy day. It's not his fault there's a recession on. He has to count the pennies the same as the rest of us."
A person speaking on behalf of Bob Diamond denied that he is so cash strapped that he has applied for a Provident loan, and that he has now abandoned shopping at Harrods, having registered on line with frozen food giant Iceland, from where he will in future source his frozen mini chicken Kievs. And that he has downsized, and no longer buys Bollinger by the case, opting instead for Co-Op own brand strong continental lager.
"That's just rubbish," he said.
