Great appointment. Mike Ashley is just the sort of no-nonsense operator who may give Barclays' non-executive directors some collective backbone on the remuneration front.

The Sports Direct founder didn't make his fortune by sanctioning million-pound bonuses when returns were sub-par.

Hold on, it's the wrong Ashley. Barclays has actually recruited Michael Ashley, head of quality and risk management for KPMG Europe, as a non-executive.

Shame: KPMG's Ashley may be the firm's "designated ethics and independence partner" but the other Ashley would be a cultural shock.