Nigel Farage needs ‘spotlight’ on NatWest over supply of BBC story
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igel Farage is searching for to place stress again on NatWest after profitable an apology from the BBC, because the row over the closure of his checking account continues.
The BBC on Monday apologised to Mr Farage for suggesting he lacked the funds wanted to carry an account at Coutts after the non-public financial institution minimize ties with the previous Ukip chief.
It got here after he acquired dossiers indicating his account was shut by Coutts, owned by NatWest Group, as a result of it had discovered his public statements did “not align” with its values.
The ex-Brexit Party chief, who accepted the company’s apology, mentioned the “spotlight” ought to now be on NatWest over how his non-public monetary data turned public.
“Can I ask whether you have initiated any internal investigation into the leaking of my banking status and current account balances?” he requested NatWest Group chairman Sir Howard Davies on Monday.
Mr Farage has already obtained an apology from NatWest chief govt Dame Alison Rose, who instructed him she was sorry for the “deeply inappropriate comments” about him in official papers.
But he has continued to place stress on the lender’s management to analyze the leak.
In a letter to Mr Farage, a section of which was shared on his GB News programme, BBC News chief govt Deborah Turness instructed him: “I have reviewed what happened since we received your letter on Saturday.
“It’s clear that the story we originally published, based on information provided by our source, turned out to be inaccurate.
“While our teams took the correct steps in rectifying this on air and on our corrections and clarifications page, I can understand why you feel this story has contributed to you being put through a considerable and humiliating amount of publicity.”
She mentioned that as a part of the reporting course of, the BBC “went back to the source to check they were happy for us to publish the information. They said they were”.
The BBC’s enterprise editor Simon Jack additionally apologised.
The unique story was up to date final Friday, with the BBC acknowledging “that the information we reported – that Coutts’ decision on Nigel Farage’s account did not involve considerations about his political views – turned out not to be accurate”.
It instructed readers that the headline and article had been up to date to replicate the truth that the “closure of Nigel Farage’s bank account came from a source”.
On Monday, Mr Jack tweeted: “The information on which we based our reporting on Nigel Farage and his bank accounts came from a trusted and senior source.
“However, the information turned out to be incomplete and inaccurate. Therefore I would like to apologise to Mr Farage.”
In a press release, the broadcaster mentioned: “We have since changed the headline and the copy on the original online article about his bank account being shut for falling below the wealth limit to reflect that the claim came from a source and added an update to recognise the story had changed.
“We acknowledge that the information we reported – that Coutts’ decision on Mr Farage’s account did not involve considerations about his political views – turned out not to be accurate and have apologised to Mr Farage.”
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s PM programme, Mr Farage mentioned the main focus ought to return to NatWest and there was “no fault or no blame on the BBC”.
“If a very senior source gives you a good story, of course you run it. There’s no question about that,” he mentioned.
“It’s just that I had to go to very great lengths and great personal damage to undo the story.
“Some will say the BBC could have acted more quickly but there’s no fault or blame.
“This now goes right back to the NatWest banking group. Somebody in that group decided that it was appropriate, ethical and legal to leak details of my personal financial situation.
“That, I think, is wrong at every level and that’s where the spotlight should be now, and it will.”