The story was sourced from four senior South Yorkshire police officers, he says, and "copper-bottomed" by a Conservative MP.

BBC: Kelvin MacKenzie wants Hillsborough apology from police

Even so, the country's plight ought to give pause to those who preach that Latin American countries should eagerly adopt the dollar, whatever their circumstances or trading patterns: green-backed does not necessarily mean copper-bottomed.

ECONOMIST: Aid for Argentina