It wasn't me.

Did you?

From the front page of today's theguardian "HBOS rescue in jeopardy", President Brown is quoted as saying "We have already dealt with this by helping the merger between these two banks. We have changed the competition law."

Later in the article, "The takeover - which will allow a combination of Lloyds TSB and HBOS to dominate the high street in breach of all the competition rules - is controversial for big City investors".

It had better be controversial for the rest of us too.

This is Presidential politics at its worst

Gordon Brown has changed a fundamental law of the land without consulting parliament.

This is not only bad economics, it is undemocratic. Members of Parliament are going to lose their seats in the next election because of the arrogance of an unelected Prime Minister acting as though he has Presidential powers.

It is bad economics for Scotland.

Scotland doesn't need a high street dominated by Lloyds TSB and HBOS.

Scotland needs The Bank of Scotland rid of the mortgage baggage of The Halifax.

If Gordon Brown would stop meddling in the market place, HBOS shares would find their proper level, The Bank of Scotland could be bought for the proper price, The Halifax sold on and banking customers in Scotland get the banking services they deserve from a bank established in 1695 to serve the interests of Scotland.

Get rid of this unholy alliance between Lloyds TSB and HBOS. Let HBOS fail and a new Bank of Scotland rise from the ashes.

Get rid of President Gordon Brown.