Interest Free

Perhaps the electorate has not noticed but Ed Miliband has shown coniderably more political maturity of late.

His 'two stage' inquiry suggestion into corrupt practises at Barclays at setting the LIBOR and beyond, was a neat political solution. It would have preserved the 'quick fix' element of a Parliamentary inquiry while actually exposing many other banks' nefarious ways over the next 12 months.

Cameron has too much political arrogance to accept a good thing when it is offered and continues to play his 'doublethink' strategy which is to blame Labour but not allow a level of inquiry which show exactly want went on in 2006-9. Pointing incessantly, all wide-eyed, at Ed Balls will not convince a cynical electorate.

Miliband also looked more the statesman when he cited the national interest to Cameron who responded like a rabid political beast. Cameron was found to be, "slow to act and supporting the wrong people" over phone-hacking and eventually appointed Leveson. It was partly because of Rebecca Brooks' warning that there was "more to come."

It would be fairly astonishng if the banks' misdemeanours stopped with the Barclays and their top dog, Bob  Diamond (pictured). 'Red's' relentless stonewalling before the Treasury Committee yesterday was a good indicator of what will ensue. In a judge led inquiry such blatant obfuscation would have been met with the irresistable force of a barrister such as Leveson's Robert Jay QC.

Cameron's political immaturity was succicntly captured by Steve Richards' excellent piece in the Independent this week. He may not yet realise but he is exactly where he said he didn't want to be when he became PM: shouting loudly to MPs much to the annoyance to the general public of the pure partisanship.

Transport Secretary Justine Greeming was howled down at last week's QT whenever she tried to blame, "the last Labour Government." To the public it as boring as someone who joins a company and bangs incessantly about what used to happen "at my last job."

After a succession of budget U-turns, if he is forced to back down again, Cameron's stature will be certainly diminished. He may not have noticed the public are watching.