A "super-injunction" was granted to the knighted ex-boss of Royal Bank of Scotland

A "super-injunction" was granted to the knighted ex-boss of Royal Bank of Scotland - bailed out by £20billion from taxpayers.

It was exposed in the Commons when Lib Dem MP John Hemming shopped Sir Fred, 52, over his "secret hearing".

Mr Hemming demanded: "Is there one law for the rich, such as him, and another law for the poor?"

The media had been barred from even reporting the draconian gag - but Mr Hemming dramatically used parliamentary privilege to expose it.

MP... Lib Dem John Hemming
He bluntly told fellow MPs: "In a secret hearing, Fred Goodwin has obtained a super-injunction preventing him from being identified as a banker."
He then asked: "Will the Government have a debate or a statement on the issue of freedom of speech and whether there is one law for the rich, such as Fred Goodwin, and another law for the poor?"

Sir Fred was in charge when ailing RBS had to be bailed out with £20billion of taxpayers' cash.

A condition of the rescue was that he had to go - but there was then uproar at him getting a payoff of almost £3million plus a £700,000-a-year pension.

He eventually agreed to reduce his package to £342,500 a year.

Super-injunctions have been slammed as a blow to press freedom.

Leader of the House Sir George Young yesterday said a looming Westminster Hall debate would explore freedom of speech.

Banker ... Sir Fred
Goodwin as RBS boss
He said of Mr Hemming's demand: "I will raise with the appropriate minister the issue he has just raised."
Sir George warned MPs about addressing legal proceedings and court responsibilities, saying: "I think any minister would be cautious about commenting on that."

Sir Fred - knighted thanks to Tony Blair in 2004 for services to banking - revelled in his "Shred" nickname, earned by him wielding the axe.But he went on to be dubbed "the world's worst banker" after his recklessness brought world-famous RBS to its knees in 2008.The bank had to be saved from collapse by the Government.He has since kept his head down - while more than 20,000 RBS staff have lost their jobs.