North West Hants Lib Dems express dismay over pledge to keep "jobs in Scotland" in the newly merged Lloyds TSB/HBOS

5.26.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Sat 20th Sep 2008

The Chair of North West Hants Lib Dems has today written to Lloyds TSB CEO Eric Daniels expressing the party's concerns over the deal that sees Lloyds TSB purchase HBOS.

In a highly unusual move for a bank merger, the company insisted it would retain its Scottish HQ and that its "management focus is to keep jobs in Scotland". This statement is considered by many commentators to mean that a political deal has been done by Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling to limit the job losses in Scottish banking at the expense of the English operations of Lloyds TSB/HBOS. This announcement coincides with the Glenrothes by election which happens to be the neighbouring constituency to Gordon Brown.

Lib Dem Constituency Chairman Rob Cooper speaking today said "our fear is that Lloyds TSB jobs in Andover will be at risk to save the skin of Gordon Brown, this is simply unacceptable. I will also be copying in Lib Dem Economic spokesman Vince Cable to ensure that our concerns for Andover Lloyds TSB staff and ancillary businesses are raised at the highest level"

"We are keeping a very close eye on developments in this merger to ensure that the hundreds of Lloyds TSB and subsidiary jobs in Andover are not involved in Gordon Brown's tinkering with his political future. The Lloyds TSB staff at Andover having given years of service to the banking industry and we are keen to ensure that Andover retains its operations despite this blatant and shameful attempt to save Gordon Brown's political skin"