Health inspectors have been called in following reports pigeons have forced a branch of Greggs to throw away food and close for business.

BBC: Oxford pigeons prove a pest for Greggs shop staff

But the chief executive of Lloyds, Antonio Horta-Orsorio - with the full backing of Lloyds' board - is implacably opposed to selling "even one extra branch" on top of the 600 branches Lloyds is already being forced to sell, according to well-placed Lloyds sources.

BBC: Osborne and Lloyds at odds over break-up

In contrast, the executive branch has articulated a strong and highly specific reason for withholding the documents at issue: Forced disclosure to Congress of internal deliberations concerning how best to interact with Congress would undermine the executive's capacity to function as a co-equal branch.

CNN: Why contempt case against Holder may be doomed