A Very British Rebellion?

Hats off to the Recessionairs for taking on those ghastly banks. A very British rebellion against corporate greed has taken place in Westbourne, Bournemouth this past weekend.

As reported through the Daily Echo, a group calling themselves the 'Recessionairs' bricked up the entrance to a branch of Barclays bank in the seaside suburb in protest against the whole banking network's refusal to loan money to small businesses, calling in overdrafts and paying punitive interest rates on savings while charging higher rates on loans.

Property developer, Cameron Hope, 59, organised the protest along with fellow developer, Charlie Townsend, 49, from Poole. Friend Les Dawson, 66, is the other member of the rebellious triumvirate.

Dawson's comments strike at the heart of the nature of the trio's expression of anger.

“Somebody’s got to say something. We’re all too apathetic in this country; we need to be a bit more like France.

“We’re not here for a jape, we’re here to bring a serious problem to people’s attention.”

Shortly after the bricks were put up, two police officers arrived to ask the men to remove their protest though not before a photo opportunity with the local press.

As Dawson points out, this kind of direct action is usually anathema to the majority of Britons who still regard the stiff upper-lip as the dignified way of dealing with problems.

When it comes to the subject of banks and bosses' pay though, even the rage of a middle England normally full of hot-air and bravado is being translated into concerted action.

Whether you agree with the views of a few property developers obviously out to make a quick buck themselves, the feelings evident are clear. The British Bankers' Association stressed that "The UK’s banks have established a taskforce to report to the government on exactly this issue – addressing how banks can further help small businesses through the recovery."

For the time being at least, this might not be enough. People want decisive action, not more bluster.