So now bankers who make big mistakes or are reckless with the future of the economy will face trial and imprisonment.

Hoorah!

No doubt there was much clapping and nodding of heads when the long-awaited government report into the state of British banking concluded only the most draconian penalties would suffice to bring banks to heel.

And that’s fine me, as it was with the Prime Minister who backed the proposals in the House this week.

But why stop at bankers? Surely we could point the finger at a whole host of companies and industries, vital to the future prosperity of the nation, and say that if bosses get it wrong then it’s off to clink?

The – oh let’s say – vacuum cleaner manufacturer who decides to close down factories in the UK and move production to Malaysia? The security firm boss that gets it woefully wrong at some world-class sports event and loses the UK prestige and future contracts?

The share holders who agree to sell off the chocolate business to an American conglomerate which promptly closes UK factories?

Off to pokey with all of them, I say.

But, you might reply, it’s different for bankers, they, after all, earn such whopping amounts of cash. They run the risks, they should face the penalties. And true, the new proposals also call for bankers who earn whopping bonuses to be forced to pay them back if it all goes pear-shaped later.

But if we apply that logic, then why not the footballer earning millions who simple can’t score? Or the rock band whose latest CD is a flop? Or the Brit Hollywood star who brings out a turkey? All those failures could be said to lose the UK economy future prosperity. Will we expect a Saints player given a lovely large bonus for helping secure Premier league status this season to hand it back if, long after he has left the squad, they then plunge back down the divisions in years to come – or the chairman for that matter?

In the end much of this comes down to envy. When times are tough we bay for the rich to pay more. Usually we do this by increasing the tax on those who earn a lot. This doesn’t on the whole work, but it makes us feel better.

Threatening bankers with the clink is just another way of keeping the mob at bay while the clowns get ready their painted faces for the next circus performance.