Hester bonus row will release a flood of Labour hypocrisy A nationalised bank operating in commercial markets, with taxpayers as both shareholders and customers, was always going to be awkward. An arms length arrangement was the mature way of doing things requiring trust, respect and patience on all sides. That principle has now been shredded because politicians from all sides find it too challenging to handle while at the same time explaining to voters why the economy continues to struggle. Having won on RBS pay, politicians will now expect to win on RBS lending. They'll demand more, regardless of the long term consequences, and good money will be thrown after bad. The Opposition will feel encouraged to wheel out the threat of a Commons vote every time unpopular business decisions are taken. The Government appears unwilling to resist this growing tide of hypocrisy from a group of MPs and their supporters who were among the chief authors of the country's troubles.