By their greed and folly they have helped to bring their ancient institutions to their knees. They have helped to trigger a bankogenic recession that is now rippling out with appalling consequences through the wider economy. They have come so close to causing a complete financial meltdown that it was necessary to bail them out with £37 billion of cash from the hard-pressed taxpayer. And these bankers now have the cheek, the epic and obscene cheek, to say that at least some of that money – that taxpayers' money! – should be used to "incentivise" the former masters of the universe. Incentivise them to do what? Reward them for what? You might as well give Lord Cardigan a bonus for the Charge of the Light Brigade.