Theresa May's husband sparks outrage over club admission of NatWest chief behind Nigel Farage debanking scandal

A bitter internal revolt has erupted at one of Britain's most venerable private institutions after the disgraced former NatWest chief executive behind the Nigel Farage debanking scandal was granted membership.

Sir Philip May, husband of former Prime Minister Theresa May, was accused of "totally ignoring" significant opposition to the application of Dame Alison Rose to the Athenaeum Club by fellow members.

Thirty members penned a letter to Sir Philip, who chairs the Pall Mall establishment founded in 1824, expressing their "strong opposition" to Dame Alison's admission.

The letter, sent in February last year, accused the former banking executive of "unprofessional behaviour that renders her unsuitable to be a member" and warned that her presence risked bringing the club into disrepute.

Dame Alison departed NatWest in July 2023 after Nigel Farage's bank account at Coutts, a subsidiary of the banking group, was shut due to his political views.

The bank initially maintained the closure was for commercial reasons, but it subsequently emerged that Mr Farage's backing of Donald Trump and what Coutts described as "xenophobic, chauvinistic and racist views" had influenced the decision.

Mr Farage branded the allegations an "appalling slur".

Dame Alison acknowledged a "serious error of judgment" after admitting she was the source behind an inaccurate BBC report claiming Mr Farage's account was closed simply because he lacked sufficient funds.

A Travers Smith investigation concluded that despite NatWest acting lawfully, there had been "serious failings" in the affair.

Mr Farage received an undisclosed settlement from Coutts in March last year.

Members of the historically apolitical club contend that Dame Alison's treatment of the Reform UK leader went "directly against the traditions of the club," as their February letter said.

One member said: "It is unclubbable to ignore such a substantial number of blackballs and it is very divisive to force through controversial candidates in this disgraceful manner. No one has the right to join; you have to be elected by consensus."

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The club traditionally barred candidates who received one blackball in every 10 votes.

Its membership, capped at 2,000, has historically included Charles Dickens, Benjamin Disraeli and Isambard Kingdom Brunel.

Sir Philip, who assumed the chairmanship in June 2024, has been accused of operating with a "strong, Left-leaning lens" and behaving in a "dictatorial fashion."

Current and former members argue that Dame Alison was admitted primarily for her wealth and "woke credentials" rather than any intellectual distinction, which the club, styling itself "a club of the mind", has traditionally demanded for entry.

One member said: "She does not have any outstanding intellectual attainments, but with her banking wealth and her new job in DEI [at a city law firm], May was happy to tread down any objection to her joining."

Dame Alison took up a role as an equality, diversity and inclusion adviser at Mishcon de Reya, the City law firm that reportedly assisted her during the debanking controversy, in September last year.

The Athenaeum Club and Reform UK were approached for comment.

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