University provides none of the answers

Last year, Bradford University scored a significant triumph by awarding an honorary doctorate to former HBOS chief exec Sir James Crosby for his services to (wait for it) financial services.
Sir James's role in the credit crisis came early (but was undoubtedly significant) as it was he who developed HBOS's increasingly aggressive strategy - before ignoring the numerous warnings of his head of risk, Paul Moore, and then whacking the whistleblower.
So, I wonder, now this has all been aired in front of the Treasury Select Committee and Sir James has resigned as deputy chairman of the FSA, has anybody at Bradford considered asking for that ridiculous gong back?
My enquiries along this line fail to gain a response in February and it is only when I send another email asking if I'm being ignored that I finally get an answer (of sorts).
One Adrian Pearce in the Bradford press office sniffs: "I note the content of your recent email to the University. It is not University policy to discuss the status of any of our graduates, including honorary graduates."
Which seems slightly disingenuous. Bradford University was more than happy to discuss the status of Sir James, when pushing out a press release on his award back in November.

Arcane row leads the news agenda for days

As the repercussions of Paul Moore's whistle blowing to the Treasury Select Committee continue to lead the news agenda (i.e., Sir James Crosby resigning from the FSA etc etc), it is good to see Guardian business supremo, Dan Roberts, calling the mood so perfectly.
His 11.37am entry, on his live blog covering the hearing, reads: "They've now wasted best part of half an hour on an arcane row about a supposed whistleblower at HBOS. I wish we could get back to the meat. Fred Goodwin is about to walk off into the sunset any minute now."
D'oh!

Moore's the pity

Also spotted at the Treasury Select Committee this morning was lefty comedian, Mark Thomas.
Thomas was there to hear how HBOS's former head of risk, Paul Moore, had submitted written evidence revealing how he'd informed the Board of concerns about their approach to banking, only to be "summarily dismissed".
Moore was whacked by former HBOS chief, Sir James Crosby, who (coincidentally) has something in common with Thomas.
In November, both Sir James and Thomas simultaneously received nominal mortar boards from Bradford University - a story which the Bradford Telegraph & Argus reported under the headline Comedian to get honorary degree.
That heading was a reference to Thomas. Possibly.

Sideline: is Thomas planning a television series on the financial crisis?

Update: For a hard copy of SlackBelly's stories (only published a day later) please buy a copy of The Times and read their City Diary.