The Royal Bank of Scotland is in danger of failing within the next decade and putting the British taxpayer’s £45 billion stake at risk, according to a new study. Ian Fraser, a financial expert, in a book, has warned that there is a £100 billion ‘black hole’ in the disgraced bank’s finances despite the massive bailout it received. Fraser blames ‘five broad areas of alleged criminality and wrongdoing’ and said Gordon Brown and David Cameron’s governments failed to reform it properly. RBS, which had a bonus pool of £900 million last year, brought the UK to the brink of financial ruin under the stewardship of Fred ‘The Shred’ Goodwin in autumn 2008. Since then RBS has been at the centre of a string of scandals that have cost the bank – still 81% owned by taxpayers – billions in fines and settlements. It has already paid out £2.2 billion on PPI loan insurance, £750 million for interest rate swaps and £390 million for its role in the Libor scandal and some £60 million for violating US sanctions.
