Let's expose all the blame!

The Phoenix Four are coming in for all sorts of opprobrium, and they probably deserve it.

But what of the government? It was before Lord Mandelson became business secretary, so he does not not need to wriggle, but others do.

Kenneth Clark, shadow business secretary, asks why the government on 10th April 2005, and after two days into administration, offered a £6.5 million loan. He suggests the main reason, - that there was an election less than four weeks away, and some Birmingham Labour seats could have been at risk.

Leaving aside the possibility of blatant electioneering with public funds, there is another question. Did the relevant officials and their advisers not see that MG Rover had failed, or were they so keen to do something, - anything, that they did not use due diligence?