Clegg says suspend Goldman Sachs contract

Goldman Sachs should be suspended as an adviser to the government until fraud allegations are investigated, Nick Clegg has said. This is the first reaction to this troubled topic of toxic banking. It is a step in the right direction.

The Liberal Democrat leader referred to US allegations that the investment bank had defrauded investors. He said it was a reminder of the "recklessness and greed" that had "disfigured" the banking industry and said the allegations were "extraordinarily serious". They are and such activity in the financial markets is not only wrong on a criminal point but are a source for destabilising trust in the banking industry.

Nick Clegg said today, "We believe that Goldman Sachs should now be suspended in its role as one of the advisers to the government until these allegations are properly looked into." Vince Cable added, "The Goldman issue is not simply an issue for the US, it is emerging that the British taxpayer may have lost something in the order of £500m, perhaps more, as a result of the guarantee for the complex derivatives that were given by ABN Amro, which of course is now part of RBS, so there is a very strong British interest in this."

Slowly but surely getting to the bottom of the banking crisis? Hopefully so.

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Ross Grant - Conservative - Leicester South

I'm slightly miffed all the Conservative candidates are getting their campaign sites through Central Office. This tends to give the same touch to each. I'm looking at Ross Grant's site and he comes across well but nothing too exciting about Ross himself. Seeing as he "conducted research for a variety of industry sectors including public sector, international post services, retail and wholesale banking sectors" he could have given himself a really snazzy site.

That's where this "on message" stuff gets in the way of proper campaigning. By the time a real gem from Ross has done the rounds, been sanctified, sanitised and specially sanctioned, his electioneering message has lost its shine. Pity. He seems to have lots going for him. My advice is - read between the lines to get the real message.

I give Ross Grant's Campaign Site a Voter Friendly 4/10 for Election Information

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Eric Pickles is an online champ!

Whatever one may think of Eric Pickles, you can't fault his eagerness for internet campaigning. It's a mixture - sort of Yorkshire Terrier meets Essex Man - and I think he puts the Conservative cause quite nicely here.



His own website gives the impression of being a subtle blend of old Liberal campaign favourites "spot the pothole" and my mum's diary "I have always felt very proud to be super-common.”

I give Eric Pickles' Campaign Site a Voter Friendly 6/10 for Election Information (plus an extra point for personal bio!).

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