Rogue Trader II: Nick Leeson Reviews Gordon Brown Sequels
ROGUE Trader II promises to be the summer’s big British blockbuster. In Rogue Trader, Nick Leeson managed to bring down merchant bank Barings Bank and find fame.
Gordon Brown watched and made notes and can be seen, as Lesson says, “throwing someone else’s money at the problem rather than facing up to his original mistakes”. Gordon’s well-thumbed copy of Leeson’s Fiscal Guide is always to hand.
Others looked on with envy. Could they do a Leeson and be just as famous? The Leeson franchise was born:
Northern Rock – Bankers and customers do battle with knives and pointy pens on chains on the beaches of Whitby Bay. Staring Ben Kingsley as Adam Applegarth and Darren Day as “Disgruntled Pensioner” 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Royal Bank of Scotland (Take The High Road) – Englishman Sir Fred ‘Longshanks’ Goodwin is run out of town. Scottish nationalists tear down RBS London’s presence brick by brick and recreate it as a small croft on the Isle of Raasay. Featuring Robert Peston as himself.
Bradford & Bingley (working title Withnail & I – 2). More madcap fun as the heroic duo piss way a fortune on toxic products. Starring Keith Richards as Mr Bradford and Pete Doherty as Mr Bingley. Jerome Kerviel of Société Général features as their clueless French valet.
Lehman Brothers – Made-for-TV American version set in a time of heroes as two German brothers attempt to get Tom Hanks’ autograph and sell it for a small but tidy profit, featuring a cameo by David Schwimmer as Bernard Madoff.
As for Leeson, well he is the star of Carry On Nick, earning money as a successful after-dinner speaker.
Says he of they who have come after him:
“A couple of friends rang up to tell me I wasn’t number one any more…”
But he is famous. Leeson has declined the invitation to appear in I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here! And he commands respect:
“I had status through my notoriety – they were impressed by the fact that I’d got through more than £800 million.”
Or $567, in today’s money…
Posted: 9th, January 2009 | In: Key Posts, Money Comments (2) | TrackBack | Permalink
