The Old Lady of Threadneedle Street has a reputation for calm and considered behaviour. Over the centuries, she has relied on her ‘eyebrows’ as a nuclear deterrent to indicate her concerns or indeed to punish miscreants.
Not any more. In a highly unusual move a few weeks ago, the Bank of England Governor, Andrew Bailey, didn’t so much as twitch the Old Lady’s eyebrows but rather pulled up her skirts to show some rather toned calf muscles. Bailey – who has some pretty mean eyebrows himself – said the Bank is ready to kick back against those deemed to be obstructing business or undermining UK financial services and risking financial stability.
