Pair rule themselves out of governor’s job

Deputy Governor Paul Tucker, a long-time central banker, appears the best-placed candidate. The former head of the civil service, Gus O’Donnell, and Goldman Sachs economist Jim O’Neill – best known for coining the ‘BRICs’ acronym for Brazil, Russia, India and China – both said they were not interested in the job.

The next governor will be Britain’s most powerful unelected public figure, responsible for setting monetary policy as well as regulating the City of London following a shake-up of financial supervision after the 2008-09 crisis.

“You need a governor who desperately wants the job and is willing to serve eight years,” Mr O’Donnell told the Financial Times. Mr O’Neill too confirmed that he would not apply for the role.

The deadline for applications passed on Monday morning.

Mr Tucker, Adair Turner, the chairman of the FSA, and economist John Vickers, who chaired a commission into banking, are all thought to have applied.