Obit

We are sad to report the death of Slackbelly, who according to conflicting reports has been variously stabbed to death by a jealous lover, been persuaded by friends to check in at Dignitas or has become a victim of gastric band surgery gone-wrong. Either way, he's definitely dead.

Not to worry. Slackbelly started as a joke and hopefully remained one. The Independent on Sunday was kind enough to ask him to file a column, which was awfully nice of them.
Folk sometimes asked what the point of it was. Slack's answer: to irritate a great many people. In this he was a qualified failure. He is now moving on to other ventures where he expects to perform similarly.
Many thanks to everyone who read it, contributed or liked it.
Both of you.

A complete Bor?

Why is this dry clip of Susan Bor of RBS suddenly being emailed around the City?

Bryant and his Straw sucking

Chris Bryant might be right when he says that Prince Andrew is now a "national embarrassment", but is he really the man to make the point?

The former Minister for Europe famously once sent a photo of himself wearing only Y-fronts to a gay dating website while he is no stranger to unquestioningly obeying instructions from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

On a trip to the House of Commons gym during 2004, the biddable MP spotted Jack Straw attending one of his spinning classes. Chris immediately commandeered the machine in front of the then foreign secretary and began an ostentatiously energetic workout. Noting the display, Jack called over: "Give me 20, Chris!" And quick as a flash, the irksome lackey hit the floor and proceeded to thrash out 20 press-ups. "Ten more," ordered Straw. Did Chris comply? Of course he did.

Exclusive: Spot the difference

Exclusive: Diamond Gets £6.5m Barclays Bonus

March 07, 2011 9:34 AM - Written by Mark Kleinman

Bob Diamond, the new chief executive of Barclays, will be paid a bonus of £6.5m for last year after agreeing with boardroom colleagues that his payout should reflect continuing pressure on bankers' pay, I can exclusively reveal.

The surprise cut to Diamond’s bonus for 2010, which will be confirmed by Barclays later today and which includes no up-front cash…

Exclusive: Barclays' Diamond In Line For £9m-Plus Bonus

Mark Kleinman February 04, 2011 5:48 PM

I have learned that directors at Barclays are preparing to award Bob Diamond, the bank’s new chief executive, an annual bonus for last year of more than £9m.

NB: it seems that the original "exclusive" will forever remain exclusive, although it's amazing how many fellow Slackers have grassed Kleinman up by emailing this in. Who'd have thought it?

Sindy Column...

For this week's small contribution to the kicking of Sir Howard Davies, click here.

Sindy Column...

For this week's effort, click here.

All Mail

Alex Brummer, the Daily Mail's respected City commentator, tackles Lord Davies' "Women on Boards" report in this morning's paper. He welcomes bringing the "issue to centre stage", identifies excellent female bosses already running public companies and adds: "More the pity, then, that small-minded male board chieftains are so clubby and conservative in their thinking on women directors".
And who are these "clubby and conservative" chieftans? Surely not Brummer's masters at DMGT, the Daily Mail's owner which has no female board representation?