Kevin Parry, chair of Nationwide Building Society, has come under scrutiny after attending an event hosted by the Reform UK party, marking him as the first significant figure from a British lending institution to publicly engage with the party. The breakfast gathering took place earlier this week and aimed to familiarize businesses with Reform’s policies.
Parry has been the chair of the member-owned building society since 2016. The event, organized by Sanctuary Counsel, was attended by Reform’s deputy leader, Richard Tice, and focused on promoting a dialogue between Reform and the business community. Nationwide defended Parry’s participation, stating that it aligned with their practice of engaging with various political parties. A spokesperson emphasized that such meetings are routine and intended to foster constructive discussions on important issues.
Reform UK, a political party led by Nigel Farage, has proposed several controversial policies, including significant changes to immigration regulations, energy contracts, and regulatory oversight of the banking sector. Despite its recent gains in local elections and increasing poll support, many businesses remain cautious about publicly aligning with the party. Although hundreds of businesses attended Reform’s recent conference, many were represented by junior staff due to concerns about reputational risks associated with the party.
The recent event featured sponsorship from major companies, such as Heathrow, which provided logistics for business delegates, and JCB, among others. TikTok also sponsored a reception where party members mingled with corporate representatives. Nonetheless, some industry leaders expressed discomfort about appearing associated with Reform, with one corporate affairs executive noting that there is a prevailing sense of unease about attending such events.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/sep/17/nationwide-chair-first-major-british-lender-boss-to-publicly-engage-with-reform-uk