(1) The latest criticism, from France's central bank governor Christian Noyer, was splashed on the front page of Monday's Financial Times: "France central bank chief says Robin Hood tax is 'enormous risk'" ran the headline.
(2) Privately, officials said it was a "strange thing" for Noyer to speak as he did, but there was no desire in London to inflame the situation.
(3) "The rating agencies fuelled the crisis in 2008," raged Christian Noyer, the governor of the Bank of France, in December, "and we can question whether they are not doing the same thing in the current crisis."
(4) Noyer's view highlights the paradoxical position ratings agencies find themselves in.
(5) Christian Noyer, the head of the Bank of France , also joined the fray, coming right out with the suggestion that before reducing France's AAA rating, the agencies should hit Britain.
(6) Noyer and others worry unnecessarily that the tax will lead to an exodus of bankers from participating countries.
(7) As Lagarde called for unity, there were strong attacks on Britain from both the French finance minister, Francois Baroin, and the governor of the French central bank, Christian Noyer, in what appeared to be a concerted attempt by Paris to escalate a war of words with London in the wake of Britain's decision to veto a new EU treaty.
(8) "The UK has no industry any more," Sarkozy said in a response that recalled recent outbursts by his finance minister, François Baroin, and the Bank of France governor, Christian Noyer, that Britain should have had its credit rating downgraded before France because the UK had a weaker economy and higher deficit.
(9) Noyer, speaking amid financial market speculation that the Standard & Poor's ratings agency was about to strip France of its coveted AAA rating, said Britain's credit rating should be downgraded first.
Toyer
Definition:
(n.) One who toys; one who is full of trifling tricks; a trifler.