15th July 2026 — Today, Members of Nationwide Building Society will vote on the future direction of the Society at its Annual General Meeting.

Whatever today’s result, this campaign has already demonstrated something important: thousands of Members want stronger Member democracy, fairer elections and greater accountability at Britain’s largest building society.

Throughout the day, this page will become the central hub for campaign updates, media statements and analysis.

Today’s Coverage

📖 AGM Voting Guide

Everything you need to know before voting at today’s AGM.

➡️ Guide to Taking Part in Nationwide’s 2026 AGM

📰 8:30am – Pre AGM Media Statement

My statement to the media ahead of today’s Annual General Meeting.

➡️ Statement from James Sherwin-Smith ahead of the 2026 Nationwide AGM

🎥 Approximately 11:30am – My AGM Address

The Chairman intends to call on me to address the Annual General Meeting approximately halfway through the Q&A session.

➡️ My address to Nationwide Members at the 2026 AGM (available from 11.30am today)

📰 Approximately 1:00pm – Post AGM Media Statement

My response to today’s result and what happens next.

➡️ Press release (available from 1.00pm today)

📊 AGM Results & Analysis Workbook

Complete election results, voting analysis and downloadable workbook.

(Note that while the AGM results are still TBC, this uses dummy data for 2026 for testing and illustration purposes.)

➡️ Google sheet

Whatever Happens Today…

Today is not the end of this campaign. It is the beginning of a new chapter.

The campaign has shown that there is widespread support for modernising governance at Nationwide and strengthening the voice of its Members.

That work now continues through a long term programme built around Four Pillars for Stronger Member Democracy.

Four Pillars for Stronger Member Democracy

Pillar 1: Increase Member Representation at Nationwide

The campaign to elect independent Member Nominated Directors continues.

The next opportunity will to Elect a Member Nominated Director at Nationwide Building Society will be at the next AGM. The date will be confirmed by the society next year, but I anticipate the 3rd Wednesday in July (i.e. Wednesday 21st July, 2027) in keeping with prior years.

If I am note elected today, and you would like to help me stand again next year, I would be most grateful to receive your nomination asap.

➡️ Please nominate James Sherwin-Smith for Election in 2027

Further, if you are interested in also standing for Election to the Board of Nationwide, or a different building society, please contact me. I’d be delighted to share my learnings with you.

Pillar 2: Modernise Governance at Nationwide

There are two routes to improving governance at Nationwide – change the law, by the which the society must comply, or change the rules that build on top of the prevailing legislation.

Changing the law

Over the coming months, I’ll continue working with parliamentarians, regulators, academics and Member groups to modernise the legal framework governing building societies.

➡️ Learn More about Amendment 142E

The current government’s response to calls for debate and changes to building society governance standards (to bring the 40 year old Building Societies Act 1986 up to date with modern expectations) has been non-committal.

With a change in Prime Minister expected this week, it is unclear whether the government’s priorities will change under a new leader. I have written to the Rt. Hon. Andy Burnham MP, requesting government support for modernisation of the Building Societies Act.

But given competing and growing demands on Parliament’s time, and anticipating pushback from building societies and their lobbyists, I think it’s also important to look to change Nationwide’s rules in parallel.

Changing the rules by calling a Special General Meeting

Acting together, Members can propose changes to the society’s rules – in common with the proposed Amendment 142E above – to raise governance standards, increase Members’ rights and level the playing field for future candidates, by introducing special resolutions in support of:

• fair and equitable Board elections;
• a minimum of two Member Nominated Directors;
• an end to the bundled Quick Vote;
• binding Member votes on executive remuneration;
• the return of hybrid Annual General Meetings;
• publication of every AGM question and the Society’s response; and
• a greater Member voice over major strategic decisions.

The first step is establishing contact with Members who support these reforms.

➡️ Learn More & Register Your Support for a Special General Meeting

Pillar 3: Strengthen Member Democracy Across the Building Society Sector

I have learned lessons during this campaign that can be shared more widely across the mutual sector.

I will continue to support the work of organisations that speak up for Members’ rights. The Building Societies Members Association (BSMA) has been incredibly helpful and supportive throughout my campaign.

I would like help from willing building society members – not just Nationwide Members – to strengthen and grow the work of the BSMA, as well as preserve the over 40 years of knowledge and experience gained during various campaign efforts, including my own, for the benefit of future generations.

➡️ Join & Support the BSMA

Pillar 4: Build C4DG: a Coalition for Democratic Governance

This campaign has never been about one election or one individual.

It is about ensuring that mutual organisations remain genuinely accountable to the people who own them.

Over the coming year, I’ll be launching new initiatives to connect individuals, researchers, policymakers and campaigners and groups committed to stronger governance across not just the building society sector, but across the wider landscape of mutual, member-owned and member-governed sectors.

I am already in contact with several organisations that are interested in becoming C4DG founding members.

➡️ Contact me for more information regarding C4DG

Stay Involved

Whether you’re visiting before today’s AGM or reading this afterwards, I’d like to thank everyone who has supported this campaign.

Today’s vote is an important milestone.

The campaign for stronger Member democracy is only just beginning,