1690351675NatWest boss Alison Rose quits after admitting Farage leak to BBCNatWest boss Dame Alison Rose resigned from her position after admitting to being the source of an inaccurate story about Nigel Farage’s finances.
In a statement released early on Wednesday morning, NatWest Group chairman Sir Howard Davies said: “The Board and Alison Rose have agreed, by mutual consent, that she will step down as CEO of the NatWest Group. It is a sad moment.
Rituparna Chatterjee26 July 2023 07:07
1690362011Dame Alison Rose will step down from government rolesDame Alison Rose will step down today from her two government roles.
The former NatWest boss will quit the prime minister’s business council, which she joined last week.
And she will quit the government’s energy efficiency taskforce, which she joined in February.
It follows her resignation from NatWest for leaking details about the closure of Nigel Farage’s Coutts account.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain26 July 2023 10:00
1690361312Labour: Government should hold itself to same standards as Dame AlisonLabour has said it was “astonishing” to see ministers condemn Dame Alison Rose when it “has not been holding itself to that same standard”.
Shadow international trade secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds said the country would be “in a much better position” if the government acted as quickly to deal with problems in its own ranks.
“The chancellor and the prime minister have never shown such a desire to intervene when they’ve had their own problems,” Mr Thomas-Symonds said.
But he told Sky News Jeremy Hunt and Rishi Sunak “could not wait to come out to make those criticisms last night”.
Mr Thomas-Symonds, the first member of Sir Keir Starmer’s top team to speak out over the Dame Alison’s resignation, said: “It is astonishing to see the chancellor and the prime minister, under pressure from outside, weighing in so quickly against a business leader like Dame Alison Rose when you think about the situations we’ve had in government.
“Whether it is with Nadhim Zahawi, whether it is with Gavin Williamson or whether it is with Dominic Raab, the government certainly has not been holding itself to that same standard when it comes to dealing decisively,” he said.
And Mr Thomas-Symonds added: “When it comes to dealing decisively with colleagues in government, the prime minister has invariably been slow to act.
“But when it came to this situation last night with a business leader, they moved straight in.
“If only the government would hold itself to those same standards of speed, I’m sure we’d be in a much better position generally.”
Asked whether ministers were right to intervene, Mr Thomas-Symonds said it “was a matter for NatWest”.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain26 July 2023 09:48
1690361195Dame Alison Rose and Natwest statements Howard Davies, chairman of the NatWest Group Board, said in a statement: “The Board and Alison Rose have agreed, by mutual consent, that she will step down as CEO of the NatWest Group. It is a sad moment.
“She has dedicated all her working life so far to NatWest and will leave many colleagues who respect and admire her.”
Dame Alison said: “I remain immensely proud of the progress the bank has made in supporting people, families and business across the UK, and building the foundations for sustainable growth.
“My NatWest colleagues are central to that success, and so I would like to personally thank them for all that they have done.”
(PA Archive)
Maryam Zakir-Hussain26 July 2023 09:46
1690360544Farage calls for a ‘cultural change’ at the bankNigel Farage called for a “cultural change” at the bank and within the wider industry, as he promised to continue to campaign on account closures.
It came as shares in the lending giant fell by three per cent in the wake of Dame Alison’s resignation, with other banks also seeing their shares hit.
He said what is needed is a “cultural change within NatWest – they ought to go back to being a bank, rather than being a moral arbiter for political positions”.
He added: “But I think this culture runs deep through the entire banking industry. I think there is a massive anti-Brexit prejudice and I think the whole thing needs to change.”
Maryam Zakir-Hussain26 July 2023 09:35
1690359915Who is Alison Rose? NatWest boss who quit after admitting Nigel Farage leak to BBC Dame Alison Rose is a prominent figure in the finance industry who achieved the historic milestone of becoming the first woman to assume a top leadership role at one of the UK’s renowned “Big Four” banks.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain26 July 2023 09:25
1690359315Lloyds Bank boss insists industry does not need to change policiesThe boss of Lloyds Banking Group has insisted the UK banking industry does not need to significantly change de-banking policies, amid pressure on banks following the resignation of NatWest Group chief executive Dame Alison Rose.
Charlie Nunn stressed Lloyds primarily considers financial crime risks when closing a customer’s bank account, and does not consider their political beliefs.
He said: “At this stage, I have no concerns that the Government, or what we’re being asked to do, conflicts with our ability to protect the UK economy and customers from economic crime.”
It follows the Treasury announcing stricter rules for banks when it comes to forcibly closing a customer’s account.
He added: “In terms of lessons from the current environment… financial services is core to how the economy operates, it’s a hugely important service for the economy, for people’s everyday lives, and it’s politically very important.
“We know which society we’re supporting, we know our role in society, and we take it very seriously.”
Maryam Zakir-Hussain26 July 2023 09:15
1690358715Nigel Farage and Nick Robinson clash during Radio 4 interviewNigel Farage lashed out at a BBC presenter after a jibe about his failed attempts at becoming an MP.
“I am sick to death of your condescending tone,” Mr Farage told Radio 4’s Nick Robinson.
Nigel Farage and Nick Robinson clash during Radio 4 interview
Maryam Zakir-Hussain26 July 2023 09:05
1690358115NatWest Dame Alison Rose’s resignation ‘had to happen’ says Nigel Farage, but now ‘whole board must go’Nigel Farage has called for a “cultural change” at NatWest and within the wider industry, as he promised to continue to campaign on account closures.
Mr Farage said NatWest “ought to go back to being a bank, rather than being a moral arbiter for political positions”.
He hit out at the wider NatWest Board in wake of the resignation of Dame Alison Rose. He said: “Anybody on that Board that backed that statement that was put out at 17.42 yesterday, a totally unsustainable and untrue statement, anybody that backed that behaviour, should be gone.”
Nigel Farage demands whole NatWest board ‘must go’ after Alison Rose’s resignationNigel Farage has called for a “cultural change” at NatWest and within the wider industry, as he promised to continue to campaign on account closures. Mr Farage said NatWest “ought to go back to being a bank, rather than being a moral arbiter for political positions”. He hit out at the wider NatWest Board in wake of the resignation of Dame Alison Rose. He said: “Anybody on that Board that backed that statement that was put out at 17.42 yesterday, a totally unsustainable and untrue statement, anybody that backed that behaviour, should be gone.”
Maryam Zakir-Hussain26 July 2023 08:55
1690357581Grant Shapps welcomes resignation of Natwest bossEnergy secretary Grant Shapps welcomed the resignation of Dame Alison Rose as Natwest’s chief executive in the row over the closure of Nigel Farage’s Coutts bank account.
Mr Shapps tweeted: “As someone referenced in the Coutts dossier used to outrageously remove banking facilities from Farage, I welcome the NatWest/Coutts CEO stepping down.
“However, it’s equally important banks stop applying political (PEP) tests to people (& families) opening new bank accounts too.”
(PA Wire)
Maryam Zakir-Hussain26 July 2023 08:46
