NatWest chair defends climate policy at chaotic shareholder meeting as protesters interrupt with song
NatWest chair Rick Haythornthwaite faced investor backlash at the bank's annual shareholder meeting in Edinburgh, which was temporarily suspended after Extinction Rebellion protesters interrupted with a song to the tune of Frère Jacques. Shareholders criticized the bank's recent decision to drop a commitment not to lend to oil and gas companies lacking credible transition plans. The Church of England pension board voted against Haythornthwaite's re-election, while Share Action representing $1.4tn in assets called for a meeting within three months. Haythornthwaite was re-elected with 92% support — the lowest approval among 25 resolutions — and defended the policy changes as a "pragmatic middle road". Union representatives also raised concerns about executive pay versus staff wages.
