The Financial Conduct Authority has pushed back the publication of its review into the treatment of politically exposed persons until after the general election.  

The findings from the review were due to be published in line with the end of June deadline in accordance with the Financial Services and Markets Act.  

But this would have come before the 4 July national poll.  

However, the FCA says it would not be “appropriate” to publish the review in the pre-election period and will now be published later in July once Parliament has returned.

The review was launched last year following a row between populist right-wing politician (now leader of the Reform party) Nigel Farage and NatWest’s Coutts arm over the closure of his account by the lender.  

The aftermath of the affair led to the resignation of NatWest chief executive Alison Rose last July, then the most powerful woman in UK banking, after she admitted discussing Farage’s relationship with the bank to the media.  

NatWest confirmed Paul Thwaite as its next full-time chief executive in February.