As millions in the United States, Europe, and throughout the world continue to suffer from the devastating losses of wealth and crippling austerity sparked by the 2008 global financial crisis, former staffers at the failed Wall Street giant Lehman Brothers—which was at the center of the greed-fueled economic crash—are reportedly planning to hold lavish gatherings in London, Hong Kong, and New York to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the firm’s collapse.
“It’s particularly disgraceful in the context of all the people who lost their jobs and homes to pay for bailing out these bankers who caused the financial crash.”
—John McDonnell, Labour Shadow Chancellor First reported by the London-based Financial News, the planned celebration—which will apparently feature plenty of “cocktails and canapés”—was immediately denounced by Labour Party Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell as an “absolutely sickening” display of shamelessness “after a decade of people suffering austerity.”
“It’s particularly disgraceful in the context of all the people who lost their jobs and homes to pay for bailing out these bankers who caused the financial crash, as well as against a backdrop of firefighters, police officers, and other public servants facing years of brutal Tory pay restraint. People will be absolutely disgusted about this unacceptable and highly inappropriate gathering.”
While the anniversary party was supposed to be kept secret to prevent public backlash, Financial News obtained an email invite addressed to former Lehman employees which declared, “It’s hard to believe it’s been 10 years since the last of our Lehman days!”
“One of the best things about Lehman was the people,” the email continues. “What better way to celebrate the tenth anniversary than getting everyone from former MDs to former analysts back together again!”
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