Nationalised Rock could cause another bank run

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Northern Rock's special status as a state-owned bank could lead to a run on other privately owned banks, according to a financial services lawyer.

Nigel Frudd, head of financial services at Rosenblatt Solicitors, says the move to nationalise the bank would also breach EU subsidy regulations. He says a nationalised Northern Rock would be backed by taxpayers' money, making it an almost risk-free place to deposit money and leading to an un-competitive market. Commenting on yesterday’s decision by the Chancellor, Frudd says: “It [nationalisation] provides Northern Rock with a guarantee that other banks cannot match and, in fact, could indirectly have exactly the opposite effect of what the government was trying to avoid – another run ...

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