I had a ringside seat as arrogant men nearly destroyed a great British bank. That dramatic tale offers a dire warning today: RUTH SUNDERLAND
This was no social call: Goodwin had come to beg for help to keep his bank afloat. His visit was Darling's first foreboding of the catastrophe that would engulf RBS a few months later, culminating in a £45 billion taxpayer bailout.
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Sheffield Wednesday players release statement amid club's financial turmoil
Sheffield Wednesday players have issued a statement saying that they are 'extremely concerned' at the lack of clarity around the club's financial situation. Players and staff at the Championship club have had to deal with late wage payments for three months in a row as a consequence of the club's financial issues, with the players deciding to withdraw from a planned friendly against Burnley last week. Wednesday have previously been placed under transfer embargo for payments owed to HMRC, while the EFL imposed ' a three-window fee restriction after exceeding 30 days of late payments between 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2025'. And the statement from the members of the squad highlighted how 'players and staff are now feeling real, practical impacts in their professional and personal lives', adding that they want to make sure that 'decisions taken like the one not to play at Burnley are avoided in the future'. 'As has been well publicised, players, coaching and club staff groups at the club have all been impacted by delayed and overdue payment of salaries,' began the statement. 'This has been a worrying time for us as players but, whist we are often the ones in the spotlight, we are not the only ones involved. We stand together in support with all our colleagues employed by the club who have been affected. 'The decision taken by the players to withdraw from the planned friendly with Burnley was not taken lightly or without consideration. We are fully aware of the added concern this will have caused supporters but trust there is a real understanding of the difficult position we have been put in,' it added. Naturally, the decision to not play the match against Burnley has led to concerns as to what action the players could take as the league season gets underway, with the Owls set to face Leicester City in their first match of the new Championship season. But the players explained that they 'want to reassure fans that there has not been, and will not be, any 'downing of tools' by any of us on the training ground, and we are all working as hard as we can'. 'However, we, like you, want our focus to be fully on what happens on the pitch and the new season ahead. This is proving to be really challenging and we have made it clear to the club that we want this situation to be addressed as soon as possible so decisions taken like the one not to play at Burnley are avoided in the future. We can then all move forward together as a club,' it added. The Owls's pre-season preparations have been thrown into chaos with the transfer embargo, the departure of Danny Rohl and the closure of the North Stand at Hillsborough, and there are doubts over whether they will be able to fulfil their first game of the season. That match comes against Leicester on Sunday, 10 August, with fans planning a protest against owner Dejphon Chansiri, who is under mounting pressure to sell the club.
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Planned Palestine Action protest will not try to overwhelm police
A campaign group has denied that its planned mass protest in support of Palestine Action will try to overwhelm the police and justice system. The Metropolitan Police and other forces nationwide have warned anyone found to be expressing support for Palestine Action will be arrested, following the Government's decision to ban the organisation last month. Defend Our Juries said it planned to bring together at least 500 people for its planned demonstration against the ban on Saturday with organisers 'very confident' they have recruited enough participants, a spokesperson for the campaign group said. A formal announcement will be made on Tuesday as to whether that figure has been reached and the demonstration will go ahead. More then 200 people were arrested at a wave of protests across the UK in response to the proscription last month, as part of the campaign co-ordinated by Defend Our Juries. Many of the protesters were detained after writing and holding up the message 'I oppose genocide I support Palestine Action' on placards or pieces of cardboard. A Defend Our Juries spokesperson told the PA news agency: 'It is wrong to characterise this (planned demonstration) as a plan to overwhelm the police and court systems. 'If we are allowed to protest peacefully and freely, then that is no bother to anyone.' In a further statement on its website, the campaign group said the Government had 'overreached itself' by banning Palestine Action and it was 'vital' that its campaign succeeded. 'Our groups and movements are coming together like never before, finding unity under repression,' it added. 'By refusing to give into fear and by standing together, we will face down this assault on us all.' No location for the protest has so far been shared, but it is understood that it will take place in London and will be the only demonstration that Defend Our Juries organises on Saturday. The Metropolitan Police said it would have 'the resources and processes in place to respond' to the planned large gathering. A force spokesperson said: 'We are aware that the organisers of Saturday's planned protest are encouraging hundreds of people turn out with the intention of placing a strain on the police and the wider criminal justice system. 'The Met is very experienced in dealing with large-scale protests, including where the protest activity crosses into criminality requiring arrests. 'While we will not go into the specific details of our plan, the public can be assured that we will have the resources and processes in place to respond to any eventuality. 'Our officers will continue to apply the law in relation to Palestine Action as we have done since its proscription. 'Anyone showing support for the group can expect to be arrested.' Those interested in joining the demonstration have been asked to come to briefing calls on Tuesday or Thursday, while some have had non-violence training arranged for them, Defend Our Juries said. The move to ban Palestine Action came after two Voyager aircraft were damaged at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire on June 20, an incident it subsequently claimed, which police said caused about £7 million worth of damage. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced plans to proscribe Palestine Action three days later, saying that the vandalism of the planes was 'disgraceful' and the group had a 'long history of unacceptable criminal damage'. A High Court ruling on Wednesday decided that Palestine Action's co-founder Huda Ammori had several 'reasonably arguable' beliefs in her challenge over the group's ban that would be heard at a three-day hearing in November, but a bid to pause the ban temporarily was refused. The ban means that membership of, or support for, Palestine Action is now a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison, under the Terrorism Act 2000.
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Starmer pays tribute after death of ex-Labour general secretary Tom Sawyer
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has led tributes following the death of former Labour Party general secretary Lord Tom Sawyer. He said the former trade unionist's 'place in our party's history is assured' as one of the leading figures in the build-up to the 1997 general election success. Lord Sawyer had been one of the key figures in the New Labour era and was credited with helping to steer through the reforms to the party in the run-up to Tony Blair's landslide win. Sir Keir said: 'I am deeply sorry to hear of the death of Tom Sawyer. From the factory floor to the House of Lords, he was driven throughout his life by an unrelenting belief in the dignity of working people and opportunity for all. 'As a trade unionist, he drove that mission forward. As general secretary of the Labour Party, he was integral to delivering the victory in 1997 that transformed the nation. 'His place in our party's history is assured and his loss will be felt deeply by the many people who admired and loved him. 'My thoughts are with his family at this time.' Lord Sawyer served as Labour's general secretary from 1994 until 1998 when he stood down and was made a peer as Lord Sawyer of Darlington. Before becoming Labour's general secretary he served as deputy general secretary of the National Union of Public Employees and deputy general secretary of Unison. Labour's current general secretary Hollie Ridley said: 'Lord Tom Sawyer served the Labour Party and Labour movement with distinction. 'As general secretary, member of the National Executive Committee and as a trade unionist, he played a significant role in the transformation of our party from years in opposition before leading Labour through the 1997 landslide general election victory. 'Tom's legacy is the legacy of those great Labour governments that rebuilt Britain's public services, lifted millions out of poverty and delivered change to the lives of people throughout his beloved north east of England. 'On behalf of the whole Labour Party, I send my deepest condolences to his family, friends and all those who were close to him.'
