British Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne welcomed the resignation of Barclays Chief Executive Bob Diamond on Tuesday, saying he hoped it was the first step in a new culture of responsible British banking. "I think it's the right decision for Barclays, I think it's the right decision for the country because we need Barclays bank focused on lending to our economy and not distracted by this argument about who should be in charge," Osborne told BBC Radio. "I hope it's a first step to a new culture of responsibility in British banking." Diamond announced his resignation with immediate effect on Tuesday following a market-rigging scandal, Reuters reported. Outgoing chairman Marcus Agius, who announced his resignation on Monday, will become full-time chairman and lead the search for a new chief executive.
