Outside the Commons, protesters shook placards with old Roop as Darth Vader, imploring MPs to “smash Murdoch’s evil empire” while inside a gaggle of demonstrators were quietly removed by PC Plod. Seated strategically between Murdoch Sr and Murdoch Jr in the public gallery was a shock of candyfloss pink containing the media mogul’s third wife, Wendi Deng, who would, unexpectedly, play a Prescottian role in the day’s drama. From the off, the billionaire tycoon adopted the Uriah Heep defence, saying to the guardians of democracy how very, very ’umble he was. THE golden moment finally arrived as the Sun King, resplendent in his crisp blue suit, progressed to the Wilson Room surrounded by an entourage of adoring well-scrubbed acolytes.

The layoffs and reduced company earnings will be a hit on New York City and state revenues, where profits from the big banks spit out big spending by all those fat cats. Goldman Sachs, the Darth Vader of Wall Street, reported profits that fell far short of expectations. They, in turn, spit out fat tax revenues, which fund schools, cops and libraries. That's on top of the 230 jobs it already said would be cut in the New York area. Those who think class warfare is the answer to America's problems and lust for fat-cat comeup pance must be very happy campers today. Goldman says it will be forced to cut bonuses and lay off about 1,000 workers. So that means less consumer spending and more unemployment all around.