The board of NatWest Group was holding emergency talks on Tuesday evening because the almost four-year tenure of chief government Dame Alison Rose appeared set to finish in ignominy over her admission that she had mentioned Nigel Farage’s financial institution particulars with a BBC journalist.
Sky News has learnt that administrators of the taxpayer-backed lender had been locked in discussions, with sources saying Dame Alison was virtually sure to step down within the wake of briefings by Downing Street that she had misplaced the boldness of the prime minister and chancellor.
One insider cautioned, nevertheless, {that a} closing resolution had but to be taken, whereas NatWest, which is 39%-owned by British taxpayers, declined to remark.
Dame Alison's departure would trigger enormous embarrassment to the NatWest board, which simply hours earlier had issued an announcement saying it "retains full confidence in Ms Rose as CEO of the bank".
If confirmed, it could additionally convey an abrupt and untimely finish to the manager profession of the one lady to run one in every of Britain's largest excessive avenue banks.
Read extra:Key points from Coutts' dossier on Nigel FarageNigel Farage: NatWest boss position is 'totally untenable'
A press release might come inside hours, however is probably going earlier than the inventory market opens on Wednesday morning, a supply stated.
Dame Alison has been embroiled for the final ten days in an intensifying row over the disclosure of inaccurate data to BBC enterprise editor Simon Jack, in regards to the resolution to shut Mr Farage's accounts with Coutts, a NatWest subsidiary.
Mr Farage has accused the financial institution's administration of a "serious breach", calling for Dame Alison's dismissal.
He advised Sky News: "I think her position is totally untenable. Anybody, even a junior clerk in the bank, if they breached the confidence of a customer would have to go... I don't believe for a moment she will be there by the end of Friday."
His name was echoed by Tory former cupboard minister David Davis, who stated Dame Alison had "little choice but to resign".
The former UKIP chief extracted apologies from each the NatWest chief government and the BBC over the affair, with Dame Alison acknowledging on Tuesday that she had been chargeable for the inaccurate briefing that his accounts had been terminated purely for commercial reasons.
The Times reported on Tuesday evening that Downing Street and the Treasury had been eager for Dame Alison to step down.
NatWest stated it could "commission an independent review into the account closure arrangement at Coutts, and the lessons to be learnt from this", with the City watchdog demanding an inquiry into the breaches of consumer confidentiality.
Dame Alison stated earlier: "I would like to say sorry to the Board and my colleagues.
"I began my profession working for National Westminster Bank.
"It is an institution I care about enormously and have always been proud to be a part of. It has been the privilege of my career to lead the bank and I am grateful to the Board for entrusting me with this role.
"It is subsequently all of the extra regrettable that my actions have compounded an already troublesome situation for the Group."
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