A top Treasury minister has said it is “right” that NatWest’s CEO has finally quit after a month of scandal over the political closure of Nigel Farage’s Coutts bank account.
Dame Alison Rose resigned from her position in the early hours, after admitting she had been the BBC’s source behind an inaccurate story about Mr Farage’s account being closed for commercial reasons.
At 2am, NatWest’s 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.”
Dame Alison thanked her colleagues “for all that they have done”, adding: “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.”
This morning, city minister Andrew Griffith said it is “right” she resigned.
Mr Griffith added: “This would never have happened if NatWest had not taken it upon itself to withdraw a bank account due to someone’s lawful political views.
“That was and is always unacceptable.
“I hope the whole financial sector learns from this incident. Its role is to serve customers well and fairly – not to tell them how or what to think.”
Fellow Tory MP David Jones agreed that her resignation was the “right thing to do, albeit very belated”.
He said: “The next question is: what will the NatWest board do?
“Only yesterday they were declaring full confidence in her. How can they expect customers, shareholders and the taxpayer to retain confidence in them?”
Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson backed her move, saying: “A cashier at the local post office would’ve be sacked for this.
“A boss of a bank should know better.”
The Labour Party is yet to issue any statement on the events.
