RBS made a loss of £5.2 billion last year, the fifth consecutive loss since being taken over by the state in 2008, yet it paid out bonuses of £607 million (of taxpayer money). Only last month the bank was fined £381 million for rigging Libor rates and has set aside a further £1.1 billion to pay compensation to customers mis-sold payment protection insurance, taking its total PPI bill to £2.2 billion.
It is reported that Downing Street has praised Royal Bank of Scotland for its ‘responsibility and restraint’. In what universe do these actions constitute ‘responsibility and restraint’?