Labour chaos over NatWest as MPs slam No10 for forcing chief executive to quit in ‘woke’ de-banking row – but Keir Starmer says it was right for Alison Rose to go after briefing BBC that Nigel Farage was too poor for a Coutts account
Labour descended into chaos over the Nigel Farage de-banking scandal today as MPs slammed No10 for forcing the NatWest boss to quit.
Senior figures complained it was ‘astonishing’ Downing Street waded into the row overnight, after the board mounted a desperate last-ditch effort to keep Alison Rose in post.
A frontbencher griped that ministers had been ‘so quick’ to intervene against the ‘business leader’.
But divisions were laid bare as Keir Starmer backed the dramatic departure of Dame Alison, insisting NatWest ‘got this one wrong’ and she ‘had to resign’.
Labour divisions were laid bare as Keir Starmer backed the dramatic departure of Dame Alison Rose, insisting NatWest ‘got this one wrong’ and she ‘had to resign’
Sir Keir’s MPs complained about No10 putting pressure on the NatWest boss to quit over the row with Nigel Farage (pictured last night)
Dame Alison initially attempted to cling on last night, before falling on her sword
Speaking to Nicky Campbell on BBC Radio 5 Live, Sir Keir said: ‘NatWest got this one wrong. And that’s why Alison Rose had to resign.’
Asked if he felt sorry for Mr Farage, he said: ‘Yeah, he shouldn’t have had his personal details revealed like that.
‘It doesn’t matter who you are, that’s a general rule.’
Sir Keir’s scramble came as his MPs took aim at Downing Street rather than the outgoing NatWest boss.
No10 and the Chancellor voiced ‘significant concerns’ last night after the bank’s board voiced confidence in Dame Alison despite her admission that she briefed the BBC on details of Mr Farage’s finances.
Shadow trade secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds said Dame Alison’s position was a ‘matter for NatWest’ rather than for the Government to intervene.
With a 38.6 per cent stake, the Government remains the biggest shareholder in NatWest after the taxpayer bailed out the bank during the 2008 financial crisis.
But Mr Thomas-Symonds questioned why No10 and the Treasury heaped pressure on Dame Alison when they were ‘slow to act’ in pushing out scandal-hit ministers.
He told Sky News: ‘It’s astonishing, isn’t it, to see last night the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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’s with Nadhim Zahawi, whether it’s with Gavin Williamson, whether it’s with Dominic Raab, when the Government certainly hasn’t been holding itself to that same standard.
‘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 the same standards of speed, I’m sure we’d be in a much better position generally.’
He added: ‘It was a matter between Dame Alison Rose and the NatWest board. The Chancellor and the Prime Minister never showed such a desire to intervene when they had their own problems.’
Darren Jones, who chairs the Commons Business and Trade Committee, argued that the intervention was because of the ‘power Farage seems to have over the Tories’.
Darren Jones, who chairs the Commons Business and Trade Committee, argued that the intervention was because of the ‘power Farage seems to have over the Tories’
Mr Farage was in good spirits as he was seen out and about near his home in Kent this morning
The Labour MP said he does not question that Dame Alison ‘did something wrong’ but asked why ‘the PM got involved’.
He acknowledged the public stake in NatWest, but also referred to the Government’s complete ownership of the Post Office.
Mr Jones tweeted: ‘Has the PM told the CEO to pay back bonuses based on false accounts? Or asked him to resign? No. Spot the difference?’
Mr Jones later clarified that Boris Johnson had asked the P&O chief to quit.
A No 10 source said Dame Alison ‘has done the right thing in resigning’, saying the Prime Minister ‘was concerned about the unfolding situation’.
‘Everyone would expect people in public life – whether that’s in a business leadership role or otherwise – to act responsibly and with integrity,’ they added.
Tory ministers including Energy Secretary Grant Shapps also welcomed Dame Alison’s resignation.
City minister Andrew Griffith said: ‘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.’
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