Typical punter thickos and media morons condemn bonuses to bankers - why? Because they hate others getting money.

Would the critics give away even a penny of their earnings? Not if they could avoid it.

Envy, jealousy, vindictive hypocrisy - the mark of yer average moron.

His role is a bit of a poisoned chalice and this bonus was probably offered as a carrot to get him on board and therefore wriiten into his contract. Why should he give it back? Despite RBS's losses they still have many of billions in the bank and its peanuts compared to the US banks paying their CEO's $100s of millions as bonuses knowing the perilous state of their investment strategy in 2008.

If it were a trusted brand like John Lewis Rolls Royce or Tesco, no-one would have batted an eyelid.

I think in this case the thicko's might be right. Why give someone a bonus that's not relative to performance? Its not exactly been a great year for RBS has it?

There is one very easy way to deal with the merchant bankers, and that's to vote with your feet. I cannot understand why the general public don't just move their current and savings accounts to a mutual, where these obscene excesses aren't the norm? I moved all mine over to the Nationwide about 13 years ago, and I've never looked back since!

"Robert Peston says the Treasury feared that Hester and the board would have resigned if it had vetoed a bonus. Now, whether this threat was serious or not, and whether the resignations would have been anything worse than a short-term inconvenience, are separate questions. The point is that this shows that bonuses are a reward for power, not performance."

stumblingandmumbling.typepad.com/stumbli...n-hesters-bonus.html

Unless this bonus is now going to be re-distributed directly to people directly affected by RBS wrong-doing this is pointless, in the same way large-scale charity is pointless. I suspect this guy will get his bonus one way or another in a less headline-grabbing way.
I do love how it's rarely mentioned about how many finanical pies politicians have their fingers in as a direct result of their political influence.

But didn't Hester decide not to take the bonus after all. Does that make him a thicko too? In the final analysis, he obviously agrees with all the critics (and thickos, and jealous bastards)! 1-0 Ken!

Nope; he should have insisted on his contractual rights (disgraceful that we are being ruled by media headlines) and given the bonus anonymously to a charity for Libyan injured.

He accepted the job based on a "Contract of Employment" which, I assume, told him his salary and the structure upon which bonuses would be paid. (I gather that was drawn up in conjunction with Gordon Brown's government). So, now he's decided not to take it, due to unfair pressure, he should be renegotiating his contract, or leave. And I suspect there is a huge payment in the event of early termination - by either side! He would then be free to get a job in the proper Private Sector.

Just wait until you hear how big Bob Diamond's bonus is going to be!