![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/chancellor-has-concerns-as-natwest-boss-dame-alison-rose-admits-serious-error/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/130450520_gettyimages-1241972883.jpg&description=Image source, Getty Images The chief executive of NatWest, Dame Alison Rose, is facing pressure from the government to resign. Downing Street and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt have "serious concerns" over her conduct, BBC News has been told. She has apologised for discussing the closure of Nigel Farage's account at NatWest's private banking arm Coutts with a BBC journalist, saying it was a "serious error of judgement". NatWest earlier said it still had full confidence in Dame Alison at the helm. Dame Alison's apology on Tuesday afternoon comes after the BBC apologised for its inaccurate report earlier this month which said Mr Farage's account was being closed because he no longer met the wealth threshold for Coutts, citing a source familiar with the matter. Mr Farage, the former leader of the UK Independence Party and Brexiteer, first reported in early July that his account had been closed. In her first admission that she had been involved, Dame Alison said in conversations with BBC business editor Simon Jack "she had confirmed that Mr Farage was a Coutts customer and he had been offered a NatWest bank account". She said she had believed this was public knowledge. The NatWest boss said she had not revealed any personal financial information about Mr Farage. "In response to a general question about eligibility criteria required to bank with Coutts and NatWest I said that guidance on both was publicly available on their websites. "In doing so, I recognise that I left Mr Jack with the impression that the decision to close Mr Farage's accounts was solely a commercial one," she said. She added: "I was wrong to respond to any question raised by the BBC about this case. I want to extend my sincere apologies to Mr Farage for the personal hurt this has caused him and I have written to him today." Dame Alison has also faced calls to resign from Mr Farage and several Tory MPs including former cabinet minister David Davis. Simon Clarke, Conservative MP for Middlesbrough South and East){kind=link}
The chief executive of NatWest, Dame Alison Rose, is facing pressure from the government to resign.
Downing Street and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt have “significant concerns” over her conduct, BBC News has been told.
She has apologised for discussing the closure of Nigel Farage’s account at NatWest’s private banking arm Coutts with a BBC journalist, saying it was a “serious error of judgement”.
NatWest earlier said it still had full confidence in Dame Alison at the helm.
Dame Alison’s apology on Tuesday afternoon comes after the BBC apologised for its inaccurate report earlier this month which said Mr Farage’s account was being closed because he no longer met the wealth threshold for Coutts, citing a source familiar with the matter.