"The rescue plan is a lot more appealing than the alternative - nationalisation."

Northern Rock Small Shareholders' Group founder Robin Ashby made an appearance in an article in the Daily Mirror yesterday about the Rock. Robin set out the position of the NRSSG:

The rescue plan is a lot more appealing than the alternative - nationalisation. That would sound the death knell for the Northern Rock name and be a disaster for the bank and its employees. It would also do much damage to Britain's reputation as an international financial centre. It could also signal the end of the Northern Rock Foundation. This pumps around £20million a year into regional charities. In short, it would be a disaster. The Chancellor's proposals hold out prospects that the investments of small shareholders might be worth something in the long term. It gives the three would-be buyers a platform to come up with firm proposals in the tight timescale set. I think small shareholders would favour the Olivant bid because it offers us the most realistic prospect of maximising our stake. We could have sold out but we didn't because we believed in The Rock then - and we believe in it still.

Robin's contribution was counterpointed against one by Matthew Elliott of the Taxpayers' Alliance. You can view the article in full on the Daily Mirror website.