Clegg proposes 'government bank'
The government should consider lending directly to businesses and mortgages as banks fail to live up to promises to lend more, Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg has suggested. He said the government has been "supine" and "weak" in not forcing banks to act, despite giving them billions of taxpayers' pounds. Mr Clegg said these were "not normal times" and solvent businesses were being put at risk by lack of funding. There was "growing public anger" and urgent action was needed, he added.
20 Nov 2008
