Picture the scene: Threadneedle Street, in the heart of the Square Mile, a bowler hat’s throw away from several of City Spy’s best-capitalised pubs and bars.
A tall, immaculately dressed middle-aged man, resplendent in Charles Tyrwhitt, is climbing the steps of the Royal Exchange, with the bluff stone cliffs of the Bank of England behind him.
He poses for a younger man with an iPhone. “Is this right for the ‘higher-for-longer’ shot?”, he asks, receiving a thumbs up in return.
It is Governor Andrew Bailey, posing for the BoE’s latest innovation to connect directly with the public: An Instagram account.
Yes, you heard it here first, the Bank’s getting an Insta. And why not? Spy has long been a fan of Bailey’s steely grip on monetary policy, but his dashing looks and suave attire have so far gone unnoticed. No longer.
Could you make Spy’s Christmas, Mr Bailey? A snap of you in a Santa suit is all I want.
The Instagram habit may not catch on amongst BoE workers, however. A PRA staffer tells Spy no one is allowed to take photos inside the Bank. An exception was recently made for pics of the office Christmas tree -- but only from certain angles. Ho ho ho.
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