Today Lloyds TSB shareholders voted to accept a taxpayer subsidy while also voting to buy out one of their biggest rivals.  People must be wondering why a bank that can afford to be buying other banks needs a state subsidy.  It is like asking for housing benefit so that you can afford to but a second home.

Meanwhile, the Government spend more public money on TV advertisements calling on people to report benefit fraud.  Today we have witnessed a glaring example of an undeserving and dishonest claim for state help, get phoning!

The SNP answer was to have HBOS taken over by their wealthy supporter Sir George Matthewson.  According to Alex Salmond Sir George is the man to protect Scottish banks.  When Matthewson was in charge of the RBS he presided over 18,000 job cuts, and he is still paid by RBS as a consultant.

Solidarity believe in the democratic nationalisation of the banks and financial institutions to provide cheap credit for housing and for the economy as a whole.  To read Capitalism in Crisis - A Socialist Reponse, passed unanimously at the recent Solidarity Conference, click 'read more' below