Dave Hart, the City of London anti-hero who first appeared in At Bonus Time, No One Can Hear You Scream and Trust Me, I’m A Banker, is back and continuing his quest to achieve investment banking world domination in the latest David Charters book Where Egos Dare, published next month. In the final extract, Hart makes his appearance in front of parliament and the world’s press to defend himself, his firm… and the entire investment banking industry

Portcullis House is a newish office building a short walk from the House of Commons. It's modern and characterless, complete with trickling ponds, fig trees and the inevitable glass atrium. It's apparently considered relatively lavish by public sector standards - MPs aren't known for holding back where their own perks are concerned - but by investment banking standards it doesn't make the grade. MPs are little people who really don't understand excess.