Bunhill: Equity gap

UNDER fire from irate shareholders last week, Andrew Buxton, Barclays chairman, boasted: 'I am a substantial shareholder in Barclays and have bought shares in my own name and that of my daughter within the last two months because I have a lot of confidence in the future of this company.'

How many shares? Well, he has 25,000 shares and options, which cost nothing, on 200,000 shares. His recent purchases? He bought 800 shares under a SAYE scheme with a current value of less than pounds 3,500. Barclays will not reveal if Buxton has dipped any deeper into the coffers for his daughter. As Barclays struggles under a mountain of debt, Buxton clearly believes in keeping a tight grip on his own money.

AFTER the weather forecast, the pollen count. Who is the new sponsor of the pollen count on GMTV? Seldane, the anti-hay fever treatment. Naturally.