The Rescue of Northern Rock: Nationalization in the Shadow of Insolvency

Corporate Rescue and Insolvency, Vol. 1, No. 4, pp. 109-111, 2008

8 Pages Posted: 22 Jun 2009

See all articles by Roman Tomasic

Roman Tomasic

University of South Australia; Durham University - Law School

Date Written: June, 19 2009

Abstract

The collapse of Northern Rock plc in September 2007 as a result of the financial crisis that had its origins in the sub-prime mortgage bubble in the United States focussed attention on the limited nature of governmental powers in the UK to deal with banks in distress or facing insolvency. The Banking (Special Provisions) Act 2008 was hurriedly introduced on 21 February 2008 so as to give the UK Treasury wider powers to effect a rescue of failing banks such as Northern Rock, without a recourse to ordinary insolvency procedures such as those under the Insolvency Act 1986. The Act gave the Treasury wide powers, including the power to overcome statutory provisions and to absolve directors of any deposit taking institution of any personal liability as a result of any act or omission whilst the bank was under Treasury control. This temporary legislation was a classic illustration of emergency legislation which allowed government in a state of crisis to act contrary to normal rule of law constraints or procedures, such as in regard to the compulsory acquisitions of property. The Act provided Treasury with powers to make various Orders, such as Compensation Scheme Orders and Transfer Orders. Despite its significance, the legislation passed through the UK Parliament with little or no debate and came into force the day after it was introduced into Parliament.

Keywords: Financial Crisis, Bank Failure, Northern Rock, Rescue, Nationalisation

JEL Classification: G21, G28, G33, K22

Suggested Citation

Tomasic, Roman A., The Rescue of Northern Rock: Nationalization in the Shadow of Insolvency (June, 19 2009). Corporate Rescue and Insolvency, Vol. 1, No. 4, pp. 109-111, 2008, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1422571

Roman A. Tomasic (Contact Author)

University of South Australia ( email )

GPO Box 2471
ADELAIDE
City West, 5001
Australia

Durham University - Law School ( email )

Palatine Centre
Stockton Road
Durham, Durham
United Kingdom

HOME PAGE: http://www.durham.ac.uk

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