Going out with a bang: King fires parting shot at banks

clock

Outgoing Bank of England (BoE) governor Mervyn King has accused banks of attempting to influence financial regulation by putting pressure on senior politicians - including the Prime Minister.

In his final public comments before stepping down - King is being replaced by Canadian Mark Carney next month - the governor said some banks had contacted Downing Street to protest against upcoming regulatory decisions. These included a requirement from the BoE that banks raise billions in additional capital. Five of the biggest banks need to raise an extra £13bn to meet the new regulations, according to the latest estimates. "It is...

To continue reading this article...

Join Professional Adviser for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, industry insights and market intelligence
  • Stay ahead of the curve with spotlights on emerging trends and technologies
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletters
  • Make smart business decisions with the latest developments in regulation, investing retirement and protection
  • Members-only access to the editor’s weekly Friday commentary
  • Be the first to hear about our events and awards programmes

Join

 

Already a Professional Adviser member?

Login

More on Economics / Markets

UK inflation falls to 3% to give BoE 'green light' for rate cut

UK inflation falls to 3% to give BoE 'green light' for rate cut

In line with expectations

Michael Nelson
clock 18 February 2026 • 2 min read
Interest rate cuts expected after UK GDP edges up 0.1%

Interest rate cuts expected after UK GDP edges up 0.1%

Construction output lowest since 2021

Patrick Brusnahan
clock 12 February 2026 • 2 min read
Leaked Budget document viewed almost 25,000 times ahead of speech

Leaked Budget document viewed almost 25,000 times ahead of speech

Office for Budget Responsibility chair Richard Hughes quit as a result

Jenna Brown
clock 11 February 2026 • 2 min read