Banking

Sale of UK government’s NatWest stake at risk of delay amid leadership crisis at bank

Former Bank of Ireland chief is in the running for the top job at the bank following Nigel Farage account controversy

The UK still remains NatWest’s biggest shareholder about 15 years after bailing out what was then Royal Bank of Scotland in a £45.5 billion rescue. Picture: SOPA Images/LightRocket

The leadership upheaval at NatWest Group sparked by the Nigel Farage account controversy now risks delaying the UK government’s plan to sell the remainder of its stake in the lender it rescued during the global financial crisis.

After the shock exit of Alison Rose last month, NatWest named its former head of commercial lending Paul Thwaite as interim chief executive officer for an initial period of 12 months.

Several candidates, including Thwaite, are being considered ...