. @thetimes.com reports on calls to update the 40-year-old Building Societies Act. An open letter signed by parliamentarians and governance leaders calls for the government to consider strengthening governance ahead of @nationwideuk.bsky.social #AGM on Weds. james4nationwide.co.uk/burnham-urge...

Yesterday the House of Lords held a significant debates on Building Society governance. Baroness Bowles of Berhamsted proposed minimum governance standards incl. fair elections & voting, #ExecutivePay, Member representation on Boards & no to #VirtualOnlyAGMs. james4nationwide.co.uk/amendment-14...

#BreakingNews from Mark Kleinman @skynewsrss.bsky.social via link below. +More on how #Nationwide has sought to influence this #election & my fight for better #governance standards, increased member #representation & more #transparency 🔗 james4nationwide.co.uk/twelve #AGM voting closes next week.

Inspired by the brilliant cartoons of Alan Baker, we've launched #slowVOTE. 🚧 Read. Think. Decide. Vote. A simple campaign encouraging @nationwideuk.bsky.social Members to take a little more time before voting, but most importantly, to #VOTE, with just 9 days left. slowVOTE.com #Nationwide #AGM

1/3 Yesterday in Parliament, MPs called for Government time to debate the Building Societies Act 1986. I'd argue that — like me — it's showing its age and could do with some work. 🎥 Watch: youtube.com/watch?v=TEtA... #BuildingSociety #Democracy #Membership #Mutual #Governance #Fairness #Quickvote

1/4 "It's me, hi. I'm the problem, it's me." 🎤 A sunny day in Horsham interviewing people about @nationwideuk.bsky.social, #FairerShare and #Member #democracy. 🎥 New video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TYs... #Nationwide #AGM #NationwideAGM

600 jobs to go at Nationwide is difficult news for everyone affected. My concern is for the people and the culture. If more mutual minded Nationwide people leave than Virgin Money staff, what impact will that have? This is why Member #democracy matters. #slowVOTE www.theguardian.com/business/202...

After 4 weeks, the FCA has declined to investigate my complaint that #Nationwide edited my Election Address before sending it to Members. I've now asked whether this means Nationwide complied with the law, or simply didn't meet the threshold for investigation. james4nationwide.co.uk/fca-declines...

Alan Debenham called me last week after opening his #Nationwide #AGM pack. He said reading the #voting form made him “the angriest I’ve been in my life.” Alan is nearly 84. 🧵1/12

What does “independent” mean? Civica Election Services (CES), formerly Electoral Reform Services (ERS), describes itself as an “independent service provider/scrutineer” and says “democracy is in our DNA”. That DNA seems to have mutated considerably. 🧬 🧵 1/7

Fellow Nationwide building society members, you should have received your “Review of the year” and voting pack. Only this time is a bit odd. There’s a member-nominated candidate @jss4nw.bsky.social who the board are very obviously trying to prevent from being elected. It’s utterly blatant.

Not much to add really. Other than it’s the grit in the oyster that makes the pearl. Thank you Mike Olley of GRIT for this piece - check him out on Substack www.midlandsgrit.co.uk/p/dame-rich-... #democracy #mutual #memberowned #governance #nationwide #buildingsociety

🤖 Anyone online will have the chance to ask me questions live and direct in an "ask me anything" #AMA on #Reddit. 🗓 Thursday 25th June 2026 🕧 12:30 - 13:30pm 📍 Live on Reddit 📥 Watch this space for updates or subscribe to email updates 🔗 james4nationwide.co.uk/ama #Nationwide #Members #Election

The #APPG on Investment #Fraud & Fairer Financial Services met Monday. I spoke about #Member #democracy, #mutuality, #BuildingSociety #governance & the #FCA role as #Mutual Society Regulator. i.e. why I'm standing for Election to @nationwideuk.bsky.social Board 💬 james4nationwide.co.uk/speech

🧵 What would a UK General Election look like under a “Quick Vote” system used by some Member governed organisations? A supporter built this parody site so you can try it yourself. Enter your postcode or constituency and see your ballot. 🔗 quickvote.uk #QuickVote #Democracy #Makerfield

TWELVE* ways @AskNationwide’s Board has biased an election of 9.3 million people against me – and some notable🥇Firsts along the way Inspired by Alan, a new supporter I’ve never met, who gets it. Be more Alan. [*there might be more] james4nationwide.co.uk/12-ways-nati...

I recently spoke to the @transparencytf.bsky.social about a simple question: Why does #member #democracy matter? 🧵 A short thread on the key arguments, but you can also see the video, slides and transcript from my talk in Tuesday here: 🔗 james4nationwide.co.uk/ttf-event-vi... 👇 1/14

Two articles in @thetimes.com today. I'm the first Nationwide Member Nominated Candidate to reach the ballot in 20 years. The Financial Editor at The Times says the Board has "tilted the playing field". Voting is expected to start next week. Join the campaign: james4nationwide.co.uk/elect-james/

🚨 Nationwide election dispute escalates, days before #AGM voting begins I issued this today, covering: 1. #Nationwide refused edits to my Election Address 2. The Board is recommending Members vote AGAINST me 3. Nationwide edited my Address without permission 4. #FCA are reviewing bit.ly/4vtNaME

Battling the #BuildingSocieties — and Why We Must Win 📅 Tues 9th June 🕕 6:00pm (Zoom) 🎟 Free (link below) I’m joining Andy Agathangelou, founder @transparencytf.bsky.social, for a deep-dive into #governance, #democracy & #accountability in UK #mutual sector. james4nationwide.co.uk/battling-the...

3 questions, 1 (non) answer. Navendu Mishra MP submitted 3 Questions to HM Treasury on #BuildingSocieties #governance. Yesterday, all 3 got the same answer from the Minister. I will write to Rachel Blake MP for a meeting. We are both soon @cooperativesuk.bsky.social Congress 2026. bit.ly/4eias29

Update: TheFCA has acknowledged my request for urgent intervention challenging @nationwideuk.bsky.social's 2026 Board election process. “We are aware of the urgency of your request and we will respond fully as soon as we are able.” #SpotTheDifference james4nationwide.co.uk/member-nomin...

"I'm not surprised, I'm just disappointed." @nationwideuk.bsky.social has now formally confirmed that it will NOT recommend my candidacy for election to its Board and will actively deploy its #QuickVote mechanism AGAINST me. Full update & supporter briefing: james4nationwide.co.uk/nationwide-b...

My thanks to London Insider for this piece covering my concerns with the state of #governance at @nationwideuk.bsky.social and efforts to increase Member representation. #Mutual #BuildingSociety #MemberOwned #Election #AGM londoninsider.co.uk/nationwide-a...

… And we’re back. My thanks to the Bluesky moderation team for unblocking my account.

My thanks to @nilspratley.bsky.social writing in @theguardian.com for summarising the key decisions that the Board of #Nationwide will make before voting forms are distributed to 9.1 million members next month. Read more here: www.theguardian.com/business/nil... #mutual #membership #democracy

. @nationwideuk.bsky.social Building Society has confirmed that I have received the required valid nominations and will be on the ballot for #election to the #Board of Directors at the 2026 AGM. More info: james4nationwide.co.uk/a-new-choice/ or read the press coverage below. #James4Nationwide

Starting my final week of seeking nominations this year with this OpEd in The Times (link below) If you’re an eligible #Nationwide member, you have until the weekend to send me your #nomination and put choice on the 2026 ballot for the first time in 20 years. 🔗 James4nationwide.co.uk/nominate

#Nationwide has historically taken a strong stance, and made some stronger statements, regarding its #branch network. Yet closures and reduced opening hours are some of the first topics that come up in conversations with #members, staff and former staff. james4nationwide.co.uk/nationwides-...

Yes John! #Nationwide building society members, use your vote in protest against the proposed changes to executive pay. james4nationwide.co.uk/nationwide-a... #bonus #membership #mutuality

More #CorporateGovernance woes at Nationwide, this time re executive pay “We’re not a bank”, yet “We should pay leaders like bankers, but not be held accountable like them.” Re 2024’s 94% in favour: - only 4% vote - most use #QuickVote #2025AGM #VoteAGAINST www.theguardian.com/business/202...

A-ha! @cooperativesuk.bsky.social Congress 2025 starts today, with Steve Coogan headlining (incl. Radio4 interview on Today). It's sponsored by Co-op bank, which was bought by Coventry #BuildingSociety by avoiding a member vote on the deal handing £780M to private equity investors. #democratic?

UK orgs are on a slippery slope if they move to a virtual-only #AGM. These limit #stakeholder powers, compromise #CorporateGovernance & may even be illegal. #Nationwide is the only #BuildingSociety to go virtual-only. Hardly a “beacon for #mutual good.” james4nationwide.co.uk/debasing-the...

My thanks to Michael Bow @telegraphnews.bsky.social for covering this story yesterday and including some of my concerns regarding the future of #Nationwide. www.telegraph.co.uk/business/202... I'm seeking nominations from members to represent their interests on the board: james4nationwide.co.uk

#Nationwide building society’s 2025 #AGM will take place 11am, Friday 25th July. With ~17 million members eligible to #vote, it should be a leading example of #democracy and corporate #governance in action. Unfortunately it falls short in a number of ways: james4nationwide.co.uk/nationwide-a...

Nationwide Building Society to hike CEO pay package by 43% to £7m. Interest on savings down. Workers won't get 43% pay rise No sector immune to fat-cattery. Govt says wage rises are inflationary but silence on exec pay, dividends, share buybacks.