Central Bank chief tipped for ECB job

Central Bank governor Philip Lane looks set to land a top post at the European Central Bank and could leave his post early in the new year.

Mr Lane, who has endured a rough two weeks as governor amid considerable criticism of his handling of the tracker mortgage scandal, is a firm favourite to secure a senior post at the Frankfurt bank.

Several senior government sources have confirmed a “concerted lobbying effort” on Mr Lane’s behalf is currently underway in a bid to try and secure a post on the six-person ECB executive board.