Rishi Sunak welcomes NatWest CEO’s resignation after Nigel Farage Coutts scandal

A No. 10 source has told the Express that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak believes Dame Alison Rose has done the ‘right thing’ in resigning as the CEO of NatWest. Dame Alison Rose resigned from her position in the early hours, after admitting she had been the BBC ‘s source behind an inaccurate story about Nigel Farage’s account being closed for commercial reasons. At 2 am, NatWest’s chairman Sir Howard Davies said: ‘The Board and Alison Rose have agreed, by mutual consent, that she will step down as CEO of the NatWest Group. It is a sad moment’. Dame Alison thanked her colleagues ‘for all that they have done’, adding: “I remain immensely proud of the progress the bank has made in supporting people, families and business across the UK, and building the foundations for sustainable growth.’ The source confirmed reports last night that Mr Sunak had been ‘concerned about the unfolding situation’. The NatWest chairman announced Dame Alison’s resignation at 2am this morning (Image: Getty) The source close to Mr Sunak said: ‘Everyone would expect people in public life – whether that’s in a business leadership role or otherwise – to act responsibly and with integrity.’ City Minister Andrew Griffith has also said it is ‘right’ that Dame Alison resigned. The top Treasury minister added: ‘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.’ ‘I hope the whole financial sector learns from this incident. Its role is to serve customers well and fairly – not to tell them how or what to think.’ Minister Andrew Griffith said it is “right” she’s quit (Image: Getty) The news of Dame Alison’s resignation came just hours after it became public knowledge that Chancellor Jeremy Hunt had ‘significant concerns’ about how position following the bombshell BBC admission. Fellow Tory MP David Jones agreed that her resignation was the ‘right thing to do, albeit very belated’. ‘The next question is: what will the NatWest board do? “Only yesterday they were declaring full confidence in her. How can they expect customers, shareholders and the taxpayer to retain confidence in them?’ Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson backed her move, saying ‘A cashier at the local post office would’ve be sacked for this’. ‘A boss of a bank should know better.’ The Labour Party is yet to issue any statement on the events, however senior Labour MP Stella Creasy said: “If only this government would apply the same haste and attention to helping those struggling with these legal loan sharks”.