Branson tipped to snatch Northern Rock

Northern Rock has been moored to the government long enough. Both Virgin Money and NBNK Investments are now offering serious bids for it. Part of the selection criteria inevitably has to be jobs: imagine the embarrassment to the government were the new owner to start suddenly firing P45s in all directions. Yet it's not much of a race - just two horses - and the taxpayer isn't coming out of it ahead either.