Can't see why the need for a quick sale. As they stay in business, as the credit situation eases, as they keep making a profit (albeit smaller), as time passes, the brand name will recover and confidence that they can stay in business will return.

Ken Poole, london, uk

Will the British Tax payer be refunded should a successful bid/rescue materialise? Any party who seriously considers buying Northern Rock should factor in a payment to the Treasury.

Rob, Colchester, UK

Rob Hughes, COLCHESTER, uk

Definition of The Rock in the property industry; It's made of stone. It's been bashed, some might say it's even been demolished, but it still has a rocky foundation. Therefore it's worth building on.
The Rock helped many achieve their dreams in property.
It deserves a future. Good luck to it's saviours!

Abid, Shipley, UK

Well there we are. One for the books and House Price Crash thought that Abbey were in trouble with their Sub Prime book...

Perhaps they were wrong then.

Austin Tassletine, Bristol, UK

A BANK that is capitalized at GBP 700 Million approx. that has had to "borrow" GBP 50 BILLION to cover it's default position.

Was the bank even legal in its dealings? Why aren't criminal charges pending? Where were the regulators? Is the Bank 0f England so compliant because it's a case of CYO?

Every few years we have one of these financial scandals that shows either The City are plain stupid - or criminal. You pays your money . . .

Mike Richards, Pedreguer, Spain

The B of E is becoming the owner of NR by default.(£23 billion) Why not just accept this and subsume the company into National Savings as , with it's treasury guarantee it is (defacto) already. Instead, I guess someone is going to make a huge amount of money, whilst standing behind the treasury deposit guarantee. I don't really understand how that would be fair or competative for other banks unless this guarantee was extended to all other competitors.

Diddly Do, Liverpool,

OH, YES PLEASE! As a small shareholder, I have been advocating the dismissal of the dismal N. Rock board who got the institution into this awful mess, by not having [or being apparently able to consider] any alternative business or rescue plan themselves. The rest of the downfall is due to other [largely political] factors I believe, but the " Officers of the Stricken Ship" deserve no less that a court-martial! Luqman Arnold sounds just the right man to sort out this "fine mess you've gotten me in!" Just, please, get rid of the useless ones!
S. Barraclough.

S. Barraclough, Huddersfield, W. Yorkshire

By the way, has everyone forgotten that the support the BofE has been "lending", is exactly that? And against very good security too! S. Barraclough.

S. Barraclough, Huddersfield, W. Yorkshire

Why should anyone, including the goverment (ie our hard earned tax) 'rescue'this business?
Where were all the saviours for Equitable Life to help millions of conscientious workers saving for their retirement?

Mr W. Wilson, Barnstaple, UK

This is the funniest thing I have ever read !!
Luqman Arnold ??? Did a great job at Abbey, where he sold it at the first sniff of interest (didn't even try to haggle !) because even in the self-delusional rarefied atmosphere inhabited by senior bankers he had managed to grasp that he wasn't up to the job !!! Handsomely rewarded for his stunning lack of success he was too - and all he had to do was be slightly less incompetent than those that preceded him - not the greatest of challenges was it ?

If ever you want a man who will be able to sink to the challenge then Luqman Arnold is the man for you. Honestly how these morons get away with it is a mystery I will never understand.

If Luqman Arnold takes over believe me those shares will be a raging sell at anything over fourpence !!

I wouldn't willingly put him in charge of running my bath.

Abby Staffer, Milton Keynes,

I wrote weeks ago that Branson was just seeking publicity about buying Northern Rock, so it proved to be true. Where is Sir Richard on his white horse? In space maybe?

george lee, london, uk