Act of financial vandalism

If the Government was to force the sale of the Dunfermline Building Society it would be a betrayel of 130 years of mutual borrowing and saving tradition - and of the hundreds of people who work for the society.

The Government has contributed to the difficulties at the society, through the 7.2m pounds compensation levy and excessive capital requirements, and therefore must accept some responsibility to save it.

There is an offer on the table from the UK's building societies which would inject finance into the society so keeping mutual and independent.

This is Gordon Brown's building society. He should step in.