How Jes Staley must have envied the rave reviews received by BP’s Bernard Looney. After unveiling a pledge to cut its greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050, BP’s new chief executive was praised by climate change campaigners for taking a lead in the industry’s transition to a low-carbon future. Even investors gave the statement a cautious welcome, with shares of the oil company ending 1% higher.

What a contrast with Staley the next day. Not only was the Barclays boss forced to push back the bank’s return-on-capital target, he also had to explain why financial regulators were investigating what he told the board about his relationships with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.