"The lady doth protest too much, methinks."

The CML and the banks know they are responsible for this mess. For once, the guilty parties must be made to take the consequences.

John, Reading,

Disgracefull that the taxpayer should shore up irresponsible lending by the banks, the banks are the ones that encouraged people to borrow above their ability to repay, it's about time they once again showed a good example to borrowers, if not then let them go bust!

Jeff, Norwich, UK

Of course the banks don't want to wait until the Autumn because each passing day the mortgages they have on their books become worth less.

They want to unload these bad debts on the government a.s.a.p. otherwise their massive fat cat bonuses could be in jeopardy this year.

Fred, Moray, Scotland

These RMBS devices are exactly the reason we find ourselves in this mess. They allow banks to abdicate all responsibility for the risk (using a dubious rating system), and then continue selling debt to fuel this insane housing bubble.

Disgraceful, this is just pure greed!

David, London, UK

Housing purchase loans should be stopped. Only those who need to refinance an existing loan should be considered. People need to be forced to rent until the financial crisis has been brought under control, or go live with mum and dad or the grandparents. Its an opportunity to reunite families.

Jim Wills, Brisbane, Australia

'...could encourage irresponsible lending.'

Or, the banks could further hoard the cash and we are still not out of the situation, but the banks have enough to pay bonuses, short, trade oil etc. and boost profits. It would still take time for this to go through the system. So no point for us then!

Alistair Kipling, Birmingham,

I have heard that in South Africa an Act of Parliament has declared that where lenders have lent irresponsibly the courts will not help them to recover their money. That sounds like a good idea, though I wonder how 'responsible' lending is defined.

Peter, Paphos, Cyprus

One minute the banks are saying they want an end to free banking while scoffing down billions in profit if the government and OFT rule against their charges the next they're crying foul and want that same government to bail them out of the turmoil that their lending practises helped create.

mike townsend, York, uk

Consensus is a resounding NO to bailing out banks with more taxpayers money. House prices are not sustainable & global money will move out of sterling if there is an attempt to pump liquidity in via the taxpayer.
Many will be moving assets & themselves to Eurozone where inflation is taken seriously

Steve Marchant, Newton Abbot, UK

Banks were a major cause of this whole thing by the loans and morgages they offered over the last 5 years!

Why should they be helped by the goverment (tax payers) when they managed bussiness badly. They should have though about long term!

You reep what you soe, the chickens are home to roost!

Andrew Towell, Hartlepool, England

The CML should be ashamed of themselves. It is their members that have got us into this horrendous mess. Seeking the backing of taxpayers money to prop up the crumbling edifice of the overpriced property market is a disgrace. Interest rates should go up and banks should be allowed to fail.

Simon, London, UK

The banks are using SLS (Taxpayers) money to speculate on the commodity markets, thus driving up food and fuel prices that the same taxpayers must pay. Neat trick. Don't give them a penny.

Fred, Rolvenden, England

"The Bank [of England] is thought to fear that assisting new mortgage sales could encourage irresponsible lending."

Too damned right it will! Lending can only return to recent years' levels if the money is again chucked around like confetti to anyone with a pulse. And look where that has got us!

Mike, London,

Banks/lenders are starting to be taken to court in the US for knowingly miss selling. Watch what happens in the UK...

Any use of UK Taxpayers money to prop up Banks who created the problem is obscene in the highest order.

Is the CML/FSA being fully investigated?

Watch what New Labour do now.

Paul, London, Canada

Anyone who reads this and thinks that high commodity prices are a cause of inflation, rather than a symptom, needs to do some reading.

This includes Chancellors, past and present.

Dave Hall, Stafford, UK

Furious taxpayers are sick and tired of having to bail out these insolvent institutions, which should be put into administration.

Paul, Coventry,

Labour happy to tax people but not a happy giving it back

steve tea, manchester, cheshire