Investor rage that bank rescue did not include medals for bravey, hand relief

The Government has come under heavy fire, as disgruntled investors in HBOS and LloydsTSB learned that simply having lots of money does not constitute a guarantee of making lots more. Reacting angrily to the news that dividends may be frozen until at least 2012, the banks’ shareholder groups reportedly spent much of the morning screaming, rolling around on the floor and throwing away even their favourite toys.

“It’s not fair,” commented Gerald Cutmore, head of the Lloyds Shareholder Alliance, after he had calmed down and was ready to talk properly. “We received some lovely dividends while the bank was making all that money in securitised loans, so why not now? I mean, what’s the point of convincing the Government to fork over £15 billion in taxpayers' money to safeguard our investment if we’re not allowed to share in that success immediately? 2012 is ages.

“Don’t they know who we are? We’re the engine of the economy, for christ's sake."