Banking leader meets Tice
Nationwide’s chair Kevin Parry has emerged as one of the first senior figures in UK finance to sit down with Reform UK, as Nigel Farage’s party seeks to improve its standing in the business community.
Parry was among attendees at a breakfast hosted by reputation advisers Sanctuary Counsel earlier this week, where he was placed beside Reform deputy leader Richard Tice.
The meeting is being viewed as a notable moment given the caution most banks have shown toward direct engagement with the right-wing populist movement.
Balancing risk and reputation
Corporate advisers told reporters that many boardrooms remain wary of the reputational risks linked to Reform. Despite the hesitation, Tice has been running what he calls “bacon and egg roundtables” to court executives, public affairs advisers and professionals. He has promised to hold about 20 more before the year’s end.
Reform’s overtures come as it struggles to broaden its financial backing. The Conservatives pulled in almost £6.3mn in donations in the first half of 2025, compared with just £2.1mn for Reform, which is still heavily reliant on insiders.
Nationwide’s stance
Nationwide, the UK’s biggest building society with 17mn members, insisted the chairman’s attendance was routine. A spokesperson said the chair meets political representatives “across the spectrum” as part of his duties. The institution recently posted annual underlying profits of £1.9bn and completed a £2.3bn acquisition of Virgin Money, cementing its position as the country’s second-largest mortgage lender.
Wider corporate caution
While Reform has held events with a number of lobbying and PR firms, its own party conference drew little corporate sponsorship compared with Tory and Labour gatherings. One senior adviser noted that until more substantive policies are produced, the C-suite is unlikely to embrace Reform fully.
