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New Labour Party MP for Blackpool South, Chris Webb (C) reacts as his win is announced at the count centre in Blackpool, north-west England on May 3, 2024, during the Blackpool South by-election. The opposition Labour Party won a Blackpool South by-election, taking the seat from the Conservatives. The Reform UK party, founded by Brexit proponent Nigel Farage, came in third. Labour leader Keir Starmer posted on the social media platform X that the "swing towards Labour in Blackpool South is historic." Angela Richardson, deputy chair of the Conservative Party, told the BBC the result "was not unexpected," especially given the circumstances that sparked the by-election.

Persons: Chris Webb, Rishi Sunak's, David Jones, Nigel Farage, Scott Benton's, Keir Starmer, Angela Richardson Organizations: New Labour Party, Blackpool South, Blackpool, LONDON, Rishi Sunak's Conservative Party, Labour Party, Conservatives, New Labour, Conservative, Reform UK, Labour, Conservative Party Locations: Blackpool, England, Britain

☆ Rwanda bill: UK passes controversial bill to send asylum seekers to East Africa after two years of challenges
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Luke Mcgee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —The UK parliament has finally passed a contentious bill that will allow the government to send asylum seekers to Rwanda for their claims to be considered by the East African nation. In theory, the legislation will see some landing in the UK sent to Rwanda where their asylum claim will be considered. And it makes clear that the UK Parliament is sovereign, giving the government the power to reject interim blocking measures imposed by European courts,” he added. The European court has previously barred it from sending asylum seekers to Rwanda. To date, the Rwanda policy has cost the British government £220m ($274m), and that figure could rise to £600m after the first 300 people have been sent to East Africa.

Persons: Rishi Sunak’s, Sunak, ” Refoulement, Bill, James, Rwanda Bill, –, Rishi Sunak, Toby Melville, Nigel Farage – Organizations: CNN, East, of Human, European Convention of Human Rights, Commons, Sunak, University of Oxford, Conservative Party, Reform UK, Labour Party Locations: Rwanda, United Kingdom, France, ”, East Africa

☆ ‘Canceled’ for Protesting Cancel Culture, Europe’s Right-Wingers Rejoice
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Andrew Higgins | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

“This is what we are up against. We are up against a new form of communism,” declared Nigel Farage of Britain. Mr. Farage, a former member of the European Parliament and a champion of national sovereignty, who helped drive his country’s exit from the European Union, was getting ready to speak when the authorities arrived. “This is like the old Soviet Union. No alternative view allowed,” he said.

Persons: Viktor Orban of Hungary, Emir Kir, ”, Nigel Farage, Farage Organizations: Tuesday, Socialist Party, National Conservatism Conference, European Union Locations: Brussels, Europe, Britain, Soviet Union

☆ ‘It felt so wrong’: Chumbawamba wants New Zealand politician to stop playing ‘Tubthumping’ at rallies
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Dhruv Tikekar | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

But those headlines were soon eclipsed by Chumbawamba publicly condemning Peters’ use of its song. “Everything that Peters stands for is counter to Chumbawamba’s world view,” the band’s founding member and former vocalist, Dunstan Bruce, told CNN. Chumbawamba, which broke up in 2012, has asked its former record company, Sony Music Publishing, to issue a cease-and-desist letter to New Zealand First. In response to CNN’s request for comment, New Zealand First Party President Julian Paul said the party had nothing further to add. “As we rise, the dirt will start all over again,” he said during a party convention in July, according to a transcript published by New Zealand First.

Persons: Winston Peters strode, Peters, ” Peters, Chumbawamba, Dunstan Bruce, Winston Peters, Hagen Hopkins, ” Chumbawamba, “ Tubthumping, ”, Bruce, “, Peter Dungate, ” It’s, Eminem, Vivek Ramaswamy, Donald Trump, Rihanna, Pharrell Williams, Bruce Springsteen, Nigel Farage, Hutton Supancic, Julian Paul, Emmanuel Heisbourg, Heisbourg, “ tubthumping, You’re, — Peters, ‘ Organizations: CNN, New Zealand First, Labour, New, National, ACT, New Zealand, General Motors, Sony Music Publishing, APRA, NZ, New Zealand’s National Party, rapper’s, Republican, Independence Party, UKIP, Southwest, SXSW UKIP, University of Montreal Locations: Palmerston, British, Nazi Germany, New, New Zealand

☆ NatWest profit jumps 20% as Thwaite confirmed as CEO
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The logo of NatWest, a retail unit of RBS, outside a bank branch in London, U.K., on Tuesday, June 26, 2012. British bank NatWest confirmed Paul Thwaite as its permanent chief executive on Friday and reported forecast-beating profit for 2023, as it gears up for a crunch sale of state-owned stock in the company after a scandal-hit year. The taxpayer-backed lender reported pre-tax profit of 6.2 billion pounds ($7.81 billion) for the 12-month period, up 20% on 5.1 billion pounds the prior year and ahead of a 5.95 billion pounds average of analyst forecasts compiled by the bank. NatWest also announced a final dividend of 11.5 pence per share and a share buyback of 300 million pounds. NatWest set aside 578 million pounds for potential soured loans, up from 337 million pounds the prior year - but the figure came in below analyst forecasts.

Persons: Paul Thwaite, Thwaite, Alison Rose, Nigel Farage, Rose, Peter Flavel Organizations: NatWest, RBS, Brexit Party Locations: London

☆ Problems mount for UK PM Rishi Sunak as his party suffers heavy defeat in two parliamentary elections
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Luke Mcgee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

London CNN —British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is facing difficult questions after his governing Conservative Party lost two seats in parliament on Thursday. The Conservative Party traditionally beats Labour on issues like economics and immigration. Of particular concern to Conservatives is the rise of Reform UK, the new party of Nigel Farage. As leader of both the UK Independence Party and the Brexit Party, he forced the Conservatives into increasingly right-wing positions. He is honorary president of Reform UK but still has a habit of forcing issues onto the news agenda.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Sunak, –, Nigel Farage, Farage, David Cameron, Liz Truss, Boris Johnson, isn’t Organizations: London CNN, British, Conservative Party, Labour, Reform UK, Conservatives, UK Independence Party, Brexit Party, UKIP, EU, Conservative, Reform, Sunak Locations: England, France, Israel

☆ Analysis: How Iowa became a chaotic curtain-raiser for a fateful political year
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +17 min

Des Moines, Iowa CNN —The storied history of the Iowa caucuses has never seen anything like this. Haley: ‘The fellas are scared’Unlike DeSantis, Haley isn’t wagering her campaign on Iowa. Icicles hang from the roof as people arrive for a Haley campaign event at the Thunder Bay Grille on January 13, 2024, in Davenport, Iowa. Chip Somodevilla/Getty ImagesYet Iowa has has raised existential questions for the DeSantis campaign. And time is short, because the Iowa campaign is ending just as it began — with the former president on top.

Persons: shivers, Donald Trump, they’re, ”, Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis, Iowans, ” Trump, Trump, –, DeSantis, Haley, Chris Christie’s, she’d, Vivek Ramaswamy, Xi Jinping, Nigel Farage, “, ” –, patriotically, we’re, caucusgoers, Ramaswamy, —, Haley slugged, admonitions, Judge Arthur Engoron, Sharon Mancero, ” Mancero, Mancero, Joe Biden, he’s, Clinton, ‘, Haley isn’t, She’s, ” Haley, Will Hurd —, Trump —, That’s, Win McNamee, that’s, George W, Bush, “ We’re, Mark Harris, Haley’s, Lovisa, Swede, ” Tedestedt, Chip Roy, Louis, Stanley, Chip Somodevilla, Joel Rudman, “ I’ve, ” Rudman, It’s, ” DeSantis, Biden, it’s, ” CNN’s Kit Maher, Veronica Stracqualursi Organizations: Des Moines , Iowa CNN, House, Former South Carolina Gov, Trump, Trump –, New, New Jersey Gov, “ Trump, Iowa Republicans, Capitol, Iowa, Des Moines Register, NBC, Republican, GOP, Republicans, Des Moines, Senate, CNN, New York Stock Exchange, Social Security, Jimmy Centers, Iowa Republican, South Carolina, Former Texas GOP, “, White House, Ankeny, Haley, America, South Carolina Republican, Texas, Florida Panhandle, Centers Locations: Des Moines , Iowa, Iowa, week’s, Hampshire, Florida, New York, Washington, Cedar Rapids, Waterloo, Sioux City, New Jersey, British, Indianola, Clinton , Iowa, DeSantis, Des, Fox, Wall, Manhattan, New Hampshire, Cedar Falls, Ankeny, South, Davenport , Iowa, Granite, St, Hubbard , Iowa

☆ Geert Wilders: A ‘Trump moment’ in the Netherlands shows that Europe still has a populist problem
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Luke Mcgee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —The shock election results in the Netherlands have taken Europe by surprise, and left many onlookers unsure exactly what happens next. Far-right populist Geert Wilders and his Freedom Party (PVV) are now seeking to form a government after an unexpected win in Wednesday’s national vote. It would be very unusual for a party that comprehensively won the most seats to be locked out of government. Beyond those immediate concerns, there are questions as to what Wilders’ victory means for the direction of Dutch and European politics more broadly. Congratulations to Geert Wilders on winning the Dutch elections,” Hungarian PM Viktor Orban said late on Wednesday.

Persons: Geert Wilders, “, Donald, Trump, ” Catherine de Vries, Wilders, Mark Rutte, Robert Fico, Giorgia, Tiziana Fabi, Viktor Orban, Marine Le Pen, Carl Court, Emmanuel Macron, Le Pen, Giorgia Meloni, Nigel Farage, Farage Organizations: CNN, Freedom Party, Wednesday’s, Italy’s Bocconi University, European Union, Democracy Party, VVD, New, Labour, Green, Italy's, Albania's, Edi, Getty, –, EU, ”, Conservative, firebrand, Conservatives, Conservative Party Locations: Netherlands, Europe, Ukraine, Italy, Slovakia, Rome, AFP, EU, Brussels, ” Hungarian, France, United Kingdom

NatWest Group bank logo and decreasing stock graph are seen in this illustration taken March 12, 2023. "I will explore options for a NatWest retail share offer in the next 12 months subject to supportive market conditions and achieving value for money," Hunt said on Wednesday. NatWest shares dipped on Hunt's comments and were last down 1.1% at 204.7 pence, compared with a 0.2% fall in the FTSE 100 (.FTSE) index. The stock is the worst performing FTSE 100 British bank stock this year, down more than a fifth, according to Eikon data. That investment turned sour for many and shares in the renamed holding company International Distributions Service (IDSI.L) are now worth 25% less than its 330 pence offer price.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Jeremy Hunt, Hunt, Sid, Alasdair Haynes, Nigel Farage, Alison Rose, Iain Withers, Sinead Cruise, David Milliken, Sarah Young, William James, Elaine Hardcastle, Alexandra Hudson Organizations: NatWest Group, REUTERS, Companies, NatWest, Aquis, Royal Mail, Distributions Service, Alexandra Hudson Our, Thomson

☆ UK watchdog finds potential NatWest 'regulatory breaches' in Farage fiasco
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( Iain Withers | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Signage is seen for the FCA (Financial Conduct Authority), the UK's financial regulatory body, at their head offices in London, Britain March 10, 2022. REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Oct 27 (Reuters) - British watchdog the Financial Conduct Authority said on Friday that it had identified potential "regulatory breaches" in NatWest's handling of a decision to close former Brexit party leader Nigel Farage's accounts. NatWest said it would disclose a decision on whether to dock its former CEO Alison Rose's pay over the matter "as soon as possible". "This report, and additional information we have considered, has highlighted potential regulatory breaches and a number of areas for improvement," the FCA said in a statement, adding it was reviewing the firm's governance, systems and controls. Reporting by Carolyn Cohn and Iain Withers, editing by Lawrence WhiteOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Toby Melville, Nigel Farage's, Farage, Alison Rose's, Travers Smith, Alison Rose, Carolyn Cohn, Iain Withers, Lawrence White Organizations: FCA, Financial, Authority, REUTERS, British, NatWest, Thomson Locations: London, Britain

A man walks past ATM machines at branch of the NatWest bank in Manchester, Britain September 21, 2017. The bank's shares fell as much as 18% in early trading before closing down 12% - their largest daily drop since the Brexit vote in June, 2016. Farage said in a statement on Friday that he viewed the report as a "whitewash" and its findings "laughable". She added that the review showed she did not leak detailed financial information and had been unaware of "deeply unpleasant and unfair" internal staff comments made about Farage. A NatWest document unearthed by Farage in July found that an internal committee had deemed his views did not align with the bank's own.

Persons: Phil Noble, Nigel Farage, Coutts, Farage, Alison Rose, Travers Smith, Howard Davies, Rose, Mr Farage, Davies, Paul Thwaite, Rick Haythornthwaite, Iain Withers, Lawrence White, Samuel Indyk, Jason Neely, Sharon Singleton, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: NatWest, REUTERS, Financial Conduct Authority, Barclays, Rival, Lloyds, Thomson Locations: Manchester, Britain

☆ UK's data watchdog to review handling of Farage's NatWest privacy complaint
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A man walks past ATM machines at branch of the NatWest bank in Manchester, Britain September 21, 2017. Picture taken September 21, 2017. The ICO had found former NatWest CEO Alison Rose infringed Farage's data rights when she discussed his relationship with the bank with a BBC journalist, according to a copy of the ICO decision seen by Reuters and other media on Wednesday. In a statement on Friday, the ICO said Rose had since expressed concerns. An ICO spokesperson reiterated on Friday that the regulator had upheld two parts of Farage's complaint, but did not intend to take further regulatory action for now.

Persons: Phil Noble, Nigel Farage, Alison Rose, Rose, Ms Rose, Iain Withers Organizations: NatWest, REUTERS, ICO, BBC, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Manchester, Britain

☆ NatWest admits 'serious failings' in Nigel Farage incident; shares slide after earnings
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The logo of NatWest, a retail unit of RBS, outside a bank branch in London, U.K., on Tuesday, June 26, 2012. Simon Dawson | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesTrading in NatWest shares was briefly suspended on Friday morning as the stock slid after a combination of lacklustre earnings and regulators flagging possible rule-breaking in a highly mediatized case. NatWest CEO Alison Rose then admitted to discussing Farage's bank account with a BBC reporter, supplying information that was used in a story and later proved to be inaccurate. Alison Rose, NatWest chief executive, (right) departs 10 Downing Street in London, after meeting with Chancellor Jeremy Hunt. NatWest Group Chairman Howard Davies said the report "sets out a number of serious failings in the treatment of Mr Farage."

Persons: Simon Dawson, Coutts, Nigel Farage, Farage, Alison Rose, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, James Manning, Howard Davies, Mr Farage, Davies Organizations: NatWest, RBS, Bloomberg, Getty, Trading, Authority, NatWest Group, BBC Locations: London

☆ NatWest ex-CEO infringed data rights of former Brexit party leader Farage, ICO says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Iain Withers | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Britain's data watchdog said on Wednesday that former NatWest CEO Alison Rose infringed Nigel Farage's data rights when she discussed the former Brexit party leader's relationship with the bank with a BBC journalist. "We fully co-operate with the ICO (Information Commissioner's Office) in its assessment of any customer complaint but it would not be appropriate for us to comment on this individual case," a NatWest spokesperson said. The ICO said in its response to Farage's complaint about the incident, seen by Reuters, that in its view Rose shared "misleading information" and that Farage's rights were infringed as a result. Farage welcomed the response and said NatWest should cut Rose's notice pay and bonuses. "It would be an outrage if she walked away with a huge sum of money," Farage said on television channel GB News.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Alison Rose, Nigel, Coutts, Rose, Farage, Travers, Iain Withers, David Gregorio, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: NatWest, REUTERS, BBC, ICO, Reuters, Financial Times, Natwest, Thomson

And if you do, you should stand with me," Sunak said, referring to what he described as 30 years of political short-termism. "It may be helpful, but it won't be sufficient" to help them win the next election. Chris Hopkins, political research director at the polling firm Savanta, said he could not see how Sunak could win. Cabinet ministers have given speeches to sparsely populated rooms and some party members have openly talked what they may do in opposition. Writing by Elizabeth Piper; editing by Kate Holton and Philippa FletcherOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Sunak, Goldman Sachs, Andy Street, Suella Braverman, pollsters, John Curtice, Chris Hopkins, Savanta, Liz Truss, Nigel Farage, Steve Tuckwell, Elizabeth Piper, Kate Holton, Philippa Fletcher Organizations: Conservative, Conservatives, Labour, University of Strathclyde, European Union, Republican Party, London's Labour, Thomson Locations: MANCHESTER, England, Manchester, British, Birmingham, West Midlands, United States

☆ Britain’s Sunak issues rallying cry for a party that is already planning life without him
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Luke Mcgee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

While the party establishment loathes Farage, Conservative members greeted him with open arms and requests for selfies after he arrived on Monday afternoon. The Conservative Party has always been a broad church, with competing factions jostling for supremacy. But Conservative Party members are rather different to the general public. Supporters applaud as Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaks during the Conservative Party annual conference on Wednesday. Bookmakers' odds on the next UK general election are displayed outside the Manchester venue for the Conservative Party Conference on October 4, 2023.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, –, steadying, ” Sunak, Sunak, Nigel Farage, loathes Farage, Hannah McKay, Kemi Badenoch, don’t “, Justin Tallis, Jeremy Hunt, Jon Super, Brexit, Johnson, didn’t, “ He’s, ”, Braverman, Grant Shapps, Suella Braverman, James, Stefan Rousseau, Christopher Furlong, Rishi Organizations: England CNN — British, Conservative Party, Conservative, CNN, Conservatives, Euroskeptic, Independence Party, European Union, selfies, Britain's UK Independence Party, PM, Labour Party, European, Human, Labour, British, Getty, Conservative Party Conference Locations: Manchester, England, “, North, Midlands, London, Sunak

☆ UK PM Rishi Sunak's leadership on rocky ground as party rebellion mounts
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak listens to a speaker address delegates at the annual Conservative Party Conference in Manchester, northern England, on October 2, 2023. (Members) should not blindly support a Conservative Party that no longer represents our values (and is) headed for electoral disaster. Independence Party (UKIP), was also in attendance and later said that a wing of the Conservative Party is "very much coming in [his] direction." "Two-thirds [of voters] think it's time for a change, and that's the real struggle that the Conservative Party has to turn around." Medical workers marched outside of the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester, England in a dispute with the government over pay.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Oli Scarff, Sunak, Tory psychodramas, Liz Truss, —, Truss, Ronald Reagan, faithfuls, Priti Patel, Peter Cruddas, Patel, Boris Johnson —, Lord Peter Cruddas, I've, Lord Cruddas, Johnson, Nigel Farage, Farage, Gideon Skinner Organizations: Britain's, Conservative Party Conference, Afp, Getty Images, Conservative, Labour Party, Conservative Growth Group, Conservatives, Conservative Party, Conservative Democratic, Conservative Democratic Organisation —, Independence Party, UKIP, News Agents, Tories, Labour, CNBC Locations: Manchester, England, Getty Images MANCHESTER, ENGLAND

☆ Trump says he would 'love to debate' Meghan Markle: 'I didn't like the way she dealt with the Queen'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Madison Hall | Talia Lakritz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

In an hour-long interview with Hugh Hewitt, Trump said he'd "love to debate" Meghan Markle. "I didn't like the way she dealt with the Queen," Trump said of Meghan. Advertisement Advertisement Watch: Scowling Trump makes history with first presidential mugshotHe added, "I'd love to debate her. When asked by Piers Morgan to clarify his comments about the duchess being "nasty," Trump said, "I wasn't referring to her as 'she's nasty' — I said she was nasty about me." Outside of debating Meghan, Trump said he "certainly will" debate the Democratic presidential nominee in 2024, despite missing out on the first Republican presidential debate in August.

Persons: Hugh Hewitt, Trump, Meghan Markle, Markle, Prince Harry, Donald Trump, Duchess of Sussex, Joe Biden, it's, Billie Jean King, Bobby Riggs, Hewitt, Meghan, Queen, Biden, Scowling Trump, Harry, Piers Morgan, —, Queen Elizabeth herself, Buckingham, King Charles III, Nigel Farage, Ron DeSantis Organizations: Service, British, House, Democratic, FiveThirtyEight, Republican, Florida Gov Locations: Wall, Silicon, Canada, United States, Florida

☆ NatWest weighs clawing back bonus from former CEO Rose
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The logo of NatWest Bank, part of the Royal Bank of Scotland group is seen outside a branch in Enfield, London Britain November 15, 2017. Rose stepped down on July 25 after admitting to a "serious error of judgment" in discussing Farage's relationship with NatWest-owned Coutts with a BBC journalist. Natwest said Rose would continue to earn a fixed salary and fixed share awards totalling 2.4 million pounds ($3.03 million), and pension contributions worth 10%, in line with her 12-month notice period and pending the outcome of the inquiry. "Like other employees where an investigation outcome is pending, Alison is currently receiving her fixed pay," a NatWest spokesperson said. The lender will pay new CEO Paul Thwaite 1.05 million pounds ($1.39 million) in fixed salary, just below the 1.16 million it paid Rose, in addition to a fixed share allowance of about 1.1 million pounds, NatWest said.

Persons: John Sibley, Alison Rose, Nigel Farage's, Rose, Coutts, Alison, Farage, Rose's, Paul Thwaite, Chandini, Lawrence White, Sinead Cruise, Sharon Singleton Organizations: NatWest Bank, Royal Bank of, Enfield , London Britain, REUTERS, NatWest, BBC, Natwest, Thomson Locations: Enfield , London, Bengaluru, London

☆ HSBC CEO on Farage-Coutts spat: 'We do not exit clients based on their lawful personal views'
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

HSBC's U.K. headquarters are seen at the Canary Wharf financial district of London on July 31, 2018. Although refusing to discuss details of other banks and their clients, HSBC boss Quinn told CNBC on Tuesday that "our policy is not to de-bank or exit a client based on their lawful personal views." "We also have a responsibility as an institution to look at any areas of financial crime compliance or we have an obligation to collect information on KYC (Know Your Customer), so we have those competing obligations but to reiterate, as a policy we do not exit clients based on their lawful personal views." The closure of Farage's account triggered a heated debate in the U.K. and rocked the domestic banking industry. NatWest CEO Alison Rose was forced to resign, after she admitted discussing details of Farage's Coutts account with a BBC reporter in the wake of his allegations.

Persons: Tolga Akmen, Noel Quinn, Coutts, Nigel Farage's, Farage, Coutts —, —, Quinn, Alison Rose, Farage's Coutts, Peter Flavel, Rishi Sunak, Jonathan Bachman Organizations: AFP, Getty, LONDON, HSBC, Trump, NatWest Group, CNBC, NatWest, BBC, Brexit Party, UKIP Locations: London, U.K

☆ UK financial watchdog urges NatWest chair to stay put
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, July 31 (Reuters) - The chairman of NatWest (NWG.L) Howard Davies should remain in office to ensure stability for the bank, a senior official at Britain's Financial Conduct Authority said on Monday. "I agree with his view that it's important to have stability at NatWest and that having a chair remain in place will help support that," Mills told reporters. Davies said he intended to stay on at the bank for now - after also facing calls to resign. "The FCA position is that ultimately it's a decision for the board and its shareholders. We urge those shareholders and board to achieve stability," Mills said.

Persons: Howard Davies, Sheldon Mills, Andrew Griffith, Davies, Alison Rose, Mills, Rose, Nigel Farage's, Huw Jones Organizations: NatWest, Britain's, Authority, FCA, BBC, Thomson

Davies said he intended to stay on at the bank for now - after also facing calls to resign - and confirmed for the first time that political pressure forced the board's hand in Rose's exit. "The political reaction to that was such... that her position was then untenable," he told reporters. Britain's finance ministry said the decision for Rose to depart was made by her and the bank's board. "The NatWest board is responsible for the bank's strategic and operational management," a Treasury spokesperson said. ($1 = 0.7820 pounds)Reporting by Iain Withers and Lawrence White, editing by Sinead Cruise and Tomasz JanowskiOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Davies, Nigel Farage's, Rose, Howard Davies, Alison Rose, Nigel Farage, Coutts, Peter Flavel, We've, Alison, Travers Smith, Paul Thwaite, Iain Withers, Lawrence White, Sinead Cruise, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: NatWest, Rose NatWest, BBC, Treasury, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Britain's, Rose's, Britain

☆ NatWest reports profit rise amid fallout from Farage fiasco
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

A sign outside a NatWest Group Plc bank branch in the City of London, UK, on Tuesday, July 25, 2023. Natwest is due to report first-half results on Friday, July 28. NatWest reported pre-tax profit of £3.6 billion ($4.6 billion) for the period, compared to £2.6 billion the prior year and above the £3.3 billion average of analyst forecasts compiled by the bank. NatWest remains under pressure over the Farage scandal. NatWest is nearly 40% taxpayer-owned following its bailout during the 2008-2009 global financial crisis, adding more weight to the government's position.

Persons: Hollie Adams, Nigel Farage, Alison Rose, Coutts, Rose, Peter Flavel, Paul Thwaite, Howard Davies, Thwaite Organizations: NatWest Group, City of, Natwest, Bloomberg, Getty, NatWest, BBC, Reuters, Rivals Barclays, Lloyds, Barclays Locations: City, City of London, Britain

[1/2] A man walks past ATM machines at branch of the NatWest bank in Manchester, Britain September 21, 2017. Davies said he intended to stay at the bank for now and confirmed for the first time on Friday that political pressure had played a part in Rose's exit. "The political reaction to retaining Alison as CEO was such that her position was untenable," he told reporters. NatWest reported pre-tax profit of 3.6 billion pounds ($4.6 billion) for the period, compared to 2.6 billion pounds the prior year and above the 3.3 billion pound average of analyst forecasts compiled by the bank. NatWest booked a 233 million pounds charge for potential loan defaults - compared to the release of 54 million pounds last year - and lowered its net interest margin forecast for the year to below 3.2%, with an expectation of it hitting 3.15%.

Persons: Phil Noble, Davies, Nigel Farage's, Rose, Howard Davies, Alison Rose, Nigel Farage, Coutts, Peter Flavel, Alison, We've, NatWest's, Paul Thwaite, Thwaite, Iain Withers, Lawrence White, Sinead Cruise, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: NatWest, REUTERS, Rose NatWest, BBC, Reuters, Rivals Barclays, Lloyds, Barclays, Thomson Locations: Manchester, Britain, Britain's, Rose's

"The culture wars are coming to UK businesses, including the financial sector," said Andre Spicer, dean of City University's Bayes Business School. It also cited "risk factors including... controversial public statements which were felt to conflict with the bank's purpose". However, data from watchdog the Financial Ombudsman Service showed complaints about account closures represented a tiny fraction of a bank's overall customer base. Experts say other banks will now be scrambling to ensure their own policies and committees are behaving appropriately, to avoid further scandals. The CEO of Britain's biggest domestic bank Lloyds said on Wednesday the bank's own policies did not include looking at customers' political or personal beliefs.

Persons: Nigel Farage, Coutts, Andre Spicer, Howard Davies, Alison Rose, Rose, Peter Flavel, Charles Dickens, Queen Elizabeth II, Spicer, Harriet Baldwin, Bill Winters, Samuel Gregg, Banks, Gregg, University's Spicer, Rupert Younger, ", Sinead Cruise, Iain Withers, Lawrence White, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Brexit Party, NatWest, Bayes Business School, Coutts, Treasury, Bank of England, BBC, Standard Chartered, Farage, American Institute for Economic Research, Facebook, Financial, Service, Barclays, Lloyds, Centre, Oxford University's Said Business School, Thomson Locations: America

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