Nationwide chair first major British lender boss to publicly engage with Reform UK

Nationwide building society said the visit to the Reform UK breakfast was part of ‘routine’ engagement with parties across the political spectrum. Photograph: Michael Kemp/Alamy

Nationwide building society has defended its chair, Kevin Parry, after he became the first boss of a big British lender to engage publicly with Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party.

It emerged on Wednesday that Parry, who has been chair of the member-owned building society since 2016, attended a breakfast event this week meant to help companies understand Reform’s approach to business.