Boom and bust

Barclays’ chief executive Bob Diamond has received £6.5 million to become Britain’s best paid bank boss. Siobhan Kennedy says the pay out makes a mockery of the Merlin agreement.

Britain faces the possibility of a new financial crisis because of imbalances in the banking system, according to Bank of England Governor Mervyn King.

Fianna Fáil will bear the brunt of an angry Irish electorate, but is a Fine Gael government more of the same, asks Dr Peter Stafford, an economic and political analyst based in Dublin.

State-backed bank RBS announces losses of £1.1bn for 2010, but will still pay almost £1bn in bonuses. Former City boy Geraint Anderson says there will be another crash unless the system changes.

In 21st century Britain, you would not expect people across the country to need food handouts to survive – particularly those with jobs. But that’s exactly what Political Editor Gary Gibbon finds.

Banking giant Barclays reports pre-tax profits of £6.1bn for 2010 and reduces bonus payments, but former City boy Geraint Anderson tells Channel 4 News the system has not changed too much.

Prime Minister David Cameron uses his New Year’s message to warn next year will be “difficult” – but insists Britain has a “really bright future” ahead. Julian Rush looks at what is to come in 2011.

Predictions in politics are a mug’s game: defining moments, from 9/11 to the banking collapse, often come from nowhere. But caveats aside, here’s some tips for 2011, from Gaby Hinsliff.

Exposure to Ireland’s crippled economy will force Lloyds Banking Group to write down more than £4bn of loans – a “not helpful, but not life-threatening” step, one analyst tells Channel 4 News.

A report into the collapse of the Royal Bank of Scotland will not be a “blow by blow account”. Business Secretary Vince Cable tells Channel 4 News it’s “a highly unsatisfactory position”.

The art of numerology is de rigeur among today’s crop of stat-tastic politicians, but do their numbers stack up, asks broadcaster Peter McHugh.

The Prime Minister has denied the G20 summit is “meaningless” and given his views on the student protests and waterboarding in a wide-ranging interview with Political Editor Gary Gibbon.

As the UK and France agree to share military capabilities including aircraft carriers, a defence expert tells Channel 4 News he is surprised at the “sexy” top-level deal.

A huge risk that’s hard to justify – or a viable strategy to restore balance to the economy? Two leading economists offer their views to Channel 4 News.

Join the debate as Ed Miliband delivers his first speech as Labour leader – the biggest speech of his political career.