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Barclays manages to win endorsement from archbishop of Canterbury Barclays manages to win endorsement from archbishop of Canterbury
(about 1 hour later)
It has become something of a Christmas tradition to criticise the BBC for airing repeats, but rarely does it get slammed for broadcasting commercials. Yet on Tuesday morning Radio Four somehow managed both. It has become something of a Christmas tradition to criticise the BBC for airing repeats, but rarely does it get slammed for broadcasting commercials. Yet on Tuesday , Radio 4 somehow managed both.
The stage was the Today programme which, this week, is being guest-edited by various notables. Tuesday was the turn of the Barclays boss, Antony Jenkins, who modestly chose a story about himself to feature in the show's initial news run.The stage was the Today programme which, this week, is being guest-edited by various notables. Tuesday was the turn of the Barclays boss, Antony Jenkins, who modestly chose a story about himself to feature in the show's initial news run.
So at a few minutes past 6am, Chris Aldridge obediently announced to a nation of banker-bashers that Jenkins reckons it will take "up to a decade to rebuild people's trust in his bank following the financial crisis and a succession of scandals".So at a few minutes past 6am, Chris Aldridge obediently announced to a nation of banker-bashers that Jenkins reckons it will take "up to a decade to rebuild people's trust in his bank following the financial crisis and a succession of scandals".
That line had been pretty well aired in February when Jenkins smoothed: "I see becoming the 'go-to' bank as a five to 10 year journey," but no matter. It was repeated throughout the show's three hours as a constant reminder to listeners that – whatever Barclays' staggeringly broad sins of the past (mis-selling, rigging interest rates, violating sanctions) – it is now firmly on the side of the angels. That line had been pretty well aired in February when Jenkins smoothed: "I see becoming the 'go-to' bank as a five to 10-year journey," but no matter. It was repeated throughout the show's three hours as a constant reminder to listeners that – whatever Barclays' staggeringly broad sins of the past (mis-selling, rigging interest rates, violating sanctions) – it is now firmly on the side of the angels.
But for those still too sleepy to grasp right there the show's theme of simultaneously serving God and Mammon, there was more. Somehow, Jenkins then managed to introduce an endorsement for his bank from the Lord himself – or at least one of his representatives on earth – in the form of the show's star guest, Justin Welby, the archbishop of Canterbury. For those still too sleepy to grasp the show's theme of simultaneously serving God and Mammon, there was more to come. Somehow, Jenkins then managed to introduce an endorsement for his bank from the Lord himself – or at least one of his representatives on Earth, in the form of the show's star guest, Justin Welby, the archbishop of Canterbury.
Jenkins' main spinner, Giles Croot, is a former breakfast television producer so knows the odd trick. But presenter Sarah Montague should perhaps have seen this one coming. Jenkins' main spinner, Giles Croot, is a former breakfast television producer, who knows the odd trick. But presenter Sarah Montague should perhaps have seen this one coming.
She asked Jenkins what he "wanted to hear from the archbishop" when he invited him on to the programme, and within a matter of seconds the banker's prayers were spectacularly answered. She asked Jenkins what he "wanted to hear from the archbishop" when he invited him on to the programme, and within seconds the banker's prayers were spectacularly answered.
"People like Antony are dealing with the impact of 30 years in which there was strong pressure to go in one direction," the archbishop mused, before explaining how reversing that culture was "a massive, massive challenge"."People like Antony are dealing with the impact of 30 years in which there was strong pressure to go in one direction," the archbishop mused, before explaining how reversing that culture was "a massive, massive challenge".
"They're doing it though?" probed Montague obligingly."They're doing it though?" probed Montague obligingly.
"I think a number of them are doing it," Welby said. "I think Barclays is working very hard at it"."I think a number of them are doing it," Welby said. "I think Barclays is working very hard at it".
The Today programme has form in this regard, of course, and has previously permitted the Barclays boss to explain how bankers need to restore the public's trust and be good citizens. The Today programme has form in this regard, having previously permitted the Barclays boss to explain how bankers need to restore the public's trust and be good citizens.
The irksome point about that worthy sentiment, however, is that it was delivered in 2011 by Jenkins' predecessor, the subsequently disgraced Bob Diamond, when he was allowed the microphone for the inaugural BBC Today programme business lecture.The irksome point about that worthy sentiment, however, is that it was delivered in 2011 by Jenkins' predecessor, the subsequently disgraced Bob Diamond, when he was allowed the microphone for the inaugural BBC Today programme business lecture.
So it was left to the some schoolchildren to ask the programme's only challenging questions of Jenkins (he ducked them), leaving the banker to depart from the studio no doubt congratulating himself and his PR handlers on a sermon skilfully delivered.So it was left to the some schoolchildren to ask the programme's only challenging questions of Jenkins (he ducked them), leaving the banker to depart from the studio no doubt congratulating himself and his PR handlers on a sermon skilfully delivered.
Four years ago, at the height of the public backlash against bankers, the chief executive of similarly mistrusted investment bank Goldman Sachs, Lloyd Blankfein, quipped that his firm was doing "God's work".
Miraculously, Jenkins has now gone one better. On Tuesday the holy(ish) alliance of the BBC and the Almighty appeared to be working for Barclays.
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