Britain’s Information Commissioner has apologised to former NatWest Group PLC (LSE:NWG) chief executive Dame Alison Rose, for suggesting she had breached data protection rules over the debanking scandal involving Nigel Farage.
Last month, an ICO report said that Rose had broken data protection rules, first by revealing to the BBC that Farage had a banking relationship with its private bank, Coutts; and secondly by providing “misleading information” that led the BBC to believe the bank was closing his accounts for purely commercial reasons, linked to his wealth.
The ICO said it had incorrectly given the impression that it had examined the actions of Alison Rose, when it was NatWest that was under investigation.
The agency said its investigation did not find that Rose had breached data protection law when she discussed the closing of Farage’s bank account with a reporter, and said it regretted giving the impression that she had.