NatWest Group CEO Alison Rose resigned on Wednesday after a media storm over the termination of Brexit figurehead Nigel Farage's bank account.
NatWest Group CEO Alison Rose admitted on Tuesday to having discussed the details of Nigel Farage's bank account with a BBC reporter.
In a statement, Rose said she remained "immensely proud of the progress the bank has made in supporting people, families and business across the U.K., and building the foundations for sustainable growth."NatWest is 39% owned by the British taxpayer following the 2008 crisis, heightening the public interest in the bizarre saga.
Alison Rose, NatWest chief executive, departs 10 Downing Street in London, after meeting with Chancellor Jeremy Hunt.He subsequently filed a subject access request to obtain a dossier the bank held on him which he then published, claiming it showed the bank account was being terminated due to his political views.
Coutts said that upon expiry of Farage's mortgage repayments, it "did not have the appetite to renew his mortgage or provide banking facilities" and had therefore implemented an "exit plan" that allowed for the bank to terminate Farage's account earlier in the event of further controversy in the meantime.
"Particularly given the manner in which he states those views - deliberately using extreme, hatful[sp?] and emotive language - at best he is seen as xenophobic and pandering to racists, and at worst, he is seen as xenophobic and racist," it said. Coutts acknowledged that Farage's commentary "remains within the law regarding hate speech and arguably on the right side of 'glorifying or promoting harmful behaviour' ."Farage told Sky News Wednesday that he was "shocked with the vitriol" contained within it, and is calling for the resignation of the entire NatWest Group executive board along with a regulatory overhaul of Britain's banking sector.
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