The Chancellor will move to take control of the Royal Bank of Scotland today by injecting £20 billion of taxpayers’ money. The Government is also expected to take over HBOS in the most dramatic extension of state ownership in the British economy since the war. The bank’s rescue takeover by Lloyds TSB appeared to be on the brink of collapse last night. As governments around the world scramble to prevent the collapse of the global financial system, Alistair Darling will unveil plans for a £40 billion “recapitalisation” of the banking sector. Related Links * Lloyds TSB / HBOS deal thrown into uncertainty * Job-slashing banker faces the axe at RBS * Cost of bailout rising as market falls The announcement, expected to be made before the London Stock Exchange opens this morning, could involve the taxpayer taking big stakes in other banks including Lloyds TSB and Barclays, if investors do not answer the call to buy shares. The Chancellor will also offer government guarantees on interbank lending, a key part of the financial system that has virtually dried up.The scale of the nationalisations dwarfs the rescues of Northern Rock and Bradford & Bingley and represents a potentially huge risk for the taxpayer. In return, the Government will insist on putting its own representatives on the banks’ boards and require them to reopen lending to small businesses and restrain bonus payments.