Smaller bonuses and bigger headlines

Alistair Darling's decision today to slapdown plans for big bonuses at The Royal Bank of Scotland will win cheers from people losing their jobs, plaudits from politicians and a loud raspberry in the City of London's financial district.
What does it do for our hobbled economy? Um, er....
If Lloyds Banking Group has to follow suit (because the taxpayer has a big stake in this outfit too) it raises an interesting question about the future of the two banks.
Will they be able to hang on to the high-flying talent who lived off that big bonus pool in the past? Or will the talent be firing off their CVs to Barclays and HSBC, which conspicuously declined the offer of Government money?
It could mark the high watermark for the international ambitions of RBS and Lloyds, who may no longer be seen as part of the global banking big league.
If Barclays and HSBC continue to chase international ambitions, perhaps RBS and Lloyds will become simpler, more conservatively run 'basic banks' which act as safe havens for borrowers and savers.
But hold on a minute - isn't that what building societies already do? And doesn't international banking actually earn money for UK plc?
Ending the supposed 'big bonus culture' at banks may win a few headlines. Whether it does anything to solve the financial problems facing the economy is another issue.