BBC apologises to Nigel Farage over its reporting of Coutts scandal

BBC apologises to Nigel Farage over its reporting in the Coutts scandal as pressure grows on the NatWest boss alleged to have been source of ‘inaccurate’ information

• Coutts justified ‘exiting’ Farage as his political views did not match their values
• Read more: BBC updates article about closure of Nigel Farage’s Coutts account

The BBC yesterday finally apologised to Nigel Farage for publishing an ‘incomplete and inaccurate’ story about why Coutts closed his bank account.

The broadcaster’s business editor, Simon Jack, had claimed the former Ukip leader’s account was shut because he had ‘fallen below the wealth threshold’, citing a senior source at the prestigious private bank.

It has since emerged that Coutts staff compiled a 36-page dossier to justify ‘exiting’ Mr Farage because his political views did ‘not align’ with the lender’s values.

Mr Jack was accused of regurgitating a briefing from Dame Alison Rose, the chief executive of NatWest – which owns Coutts – to play down Mr Farage’s complaint. The BBC had faced mounting calls from MPs and former journalists to say sorry.

Former Cabinet minister Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg told GB News: ‘The BBC really ought to have given this apology when it first emerged that they had been served a pup by a ‘source’ at NatWest. ‘This is characteristic of the torpor with which the BBC operates.’

Coutts staff compiled a 36-page dossier to justify ‘exiting’ Nigel Farage (pictured) because his political views did ‘not align’ with the lender’s values

The BBC’s business editor Simon Jack was accused of regurgitating a briefing from Dame Alison Rose (pictured), the chief executive of NatWest – which owns Coutts – to play down Mr Farage’s complaint

He added: ‘Dame Alison must answer that question [over whether she briefed Mr Jack]. If you can’t trust your bank to keep your secrets, who can you trust?

‘If Dame Alison has broken this, she must go.’

In his column for the Daily Mail on Saturday, Boris Johnson called on Dame Alison to go if she was ‘in any way responsible’ for the false briefing to the BBC about Mr Farage’s banking affairs.

And former banker Philip Augar, who previously served on the board of TSB, has warned that the NatWest boss could lose her job over the debacle.

Mr Jack said yesterday: ‘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.’

Mr Farage, who wrote to BBC director-general Tim Davie at the weekend to demand action, said: ‘The BBC’s business editor Simon Jack has fully apologised to me publicly and I thank him for that.

‘It’s not often that the BBC apologise. I have also received a letter of apology from the BBC News CEO, Deborah Turness. I am very grateful to both.

Simon Jack (pictured) had claimed the former Ukip leader’s account was shut because he had ‘fallen below the wealth threshold’, citing a senior source at the prestigious private bank

‘The role of banks is to provide banking services, not become a moral arbiter for the ‘accepted’ view of the day.’

In her apology to Mr Farage, Ms Turness said: ‘It’s clear that the story we originally published, based on information provided by our source, turned out to be inaccurate.

‘I can understand why you feel this story has contributed to you being put through a considerable and humiliating amount of publicity. I would therefore like to apologise to you on behalf of BBC News.’

Mr Farage has called on Howard Davies, chairman of NatWest Group, to confirm whether he had launched an internal investigation into the ‘leaking’ of details about his banking status.

READ MORE: ‘Your accounts are to close, please be gone by this date’: Nigel Farage reveals ‘condescending’ Coutts letter – as City minister hauls in banks over ‘victimising people for political views’

Following Mr Jack’s original report on July 4, it emerged that the journalist had sat next to Dame Alison at a charity dinner the night before.

This prompted Mr Farage to accuse the NatWest boss of briefing the BBC about his personal banking details. He made a ‘subject access request’ – a demand for copies of personal information about you that an organisation holds – to Coutts.

He obtained the dossier, in which the bank’s staff branded him a ‘disingenous grifter’ and took issue with his views on Brexit and climate change.

Dame Alison has apologised to Mr Farage for the ‘deeply inappropriate comments’ made by Coutts staff contained in the dossier. Ex-minister David Davis said the BBC’s decision to apologise was ‘quite right’, adding: ‘Frankly, as a national broadcaster not subject to commercial pressures, it should have done the decent thing more quickly. But better late than never.’

The scandal has led to ministers concerned about the curbing of free speech taking swift action to discipline the banking sector.

The bosses of 19 banks and financial services firms will be hauled in front of ministers to warn them about ‘de-banking’ customers over their political views, a Treasury spokesman announced yesterday.