Nationwide challenger asks FCA to investigate after Society edited Election Address, departing from previous election practice
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
• First Member Nominated Candidate at Nationwide for more than 20 years
• Nationwide removed website addresses and QR code from Election Address before distributing it to Members
• Historic Nationwide AGM materials show previous Member Nominated Candidates were permitted to publish websites, email addresses, postal addresses and telephone numbers
• Candidate asks why different standards now apply
LONDON, 11 June 2026 – James Sherwin-Smith, the first Member Nominated Candidate to stand for election to the Board of Nationwide Building Society in more than twenty years, has asked the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to investigate changes made by Nationwide to his Election Address after discovering that previous Member Nominated Candidates were allowed to publish extensive contact information in Society voting materials.
The move follows a series of exchanges between Sherwin-Smith, Nationwide and the FCA regarding the Society’s decision to remove a QR code and two references to his campaign website, James4Nationwide.co.uk, from the Election Address submitted by him on 30 March 2026.
The Society subsequently distributed an amended version to Members as part of the AGM voting process.
On 9 April 2026, Nationwide confirmed to Sherwin-Smith that:
“The election address of not more than 500 words that you have already submitted will accompany the Notice”
However, when voting materials were published in June, the Society had removed the QR code and website references from the submitted document.
Sherwin-Smith has repeatedly asked Nationwide to explain the legal or constitutional basis upon which those changes were made.
The Society has declined to provide further explanation beyond stating that it considered it inappropriate to direct Members to online content outside its control.
However, documents from Nationwide’s own 2003 AGM appear to show a different approach.
The Society’s official Guide to Voting 2003 contains election statements from two Member Nominated Candidates that included website addresses, email addresses, telephone numbers and postal contact details, allowing Members to obtain additional information and communicate directly with candidates.
Commenting today, James Sherwin-Smith said:
“Nationwide’s position appears difficult to reconcile with its own historical practice.”
“In 2003, Member Nominated Candidates were permitted to provide Members with websites, email addresses, telephone numbers and postal addresses.”
“Those communication channels plainly allowed Members to obtain information beyond the material printed by the Society and to contact candidates directly.”
“Yet in 2026, Nationwide removed my website addresses and QR code on the basis that it could not control what Members might see.”
“I think Members are entitled to ask what changed.”
The dispute forms part of a wider disagreement regarding the conduct of the election.
On 30 March, when submitting his nomination papers, Sherwin-Smith warned Nationwide that if the Society retained its Quick Vote mechanism he would need the opportunity to revise his Election Address accordingly.
On 28 May, Nationwide informed him that:
- the Board would recommend Members vote against his election; and
- the Society would continue using Quick Vote.
Sherwin-Smith had previously requested permission to add a short note to his Election Address explaining that Members wishing to support his candidacy should not use Quick Vote.
That request was refused.
At the same time, he was informed that the Society had removed the QR code and website references from his submitted Election Address.
Sherwin-Smith has now written to the FCA requesting that the Mutual Societies Regulator investigate whether Nationwide has complied with its obligations under Section 61 of the Building Societies Act 1986, which requires a building society to distribute a copy of a candidate’s election address to Members.
Commenting further, Sherwin-Smith said:
“The question is not really about a QR code.”
“The broader issue is how much control the management of a Member-owned organisation should have over the information Members receive from Candidates seeking Election to its Board.”
“Nationwide frequently speaks about fairness, transparency and being a beacon for mutual good.”
“I believe Members, Parliamentarians and journalists should be able to examine the facts and decide for themselves whether the Society’s actions are consistent with those values.”
Voting in Nationwide’s 2026 AGM election is currently underway.
Notes to editors
- James Sherwin-Smith is the first Member Nominated Candidate to stand for election to the Nationwide Board in more than 20 years.
- On 30 March 2026, he submitted his Election Address together with nomination papers, supporting nominations and the required deposit.
- On 9 April 2026, Nationwide confirmed that the Election Address already submitted would accompany the AGM Notice.
- The Election Address submitted on 30 March contained two references to James4Nationwide.co.uk and a QR code directing Members to the same website.
- The version distributed by Nationwide removed those website references and the QR code.
- Nationwide’s 2003 AGM Voting Guide included Member Nominated Candidate statements containing website addresses, email addresses, postal addresses and telephone numbers.
- Sherwin-Smith has requested that the FCA investigate whether Nationwide has complied with Section 61 of the Building Societies Act 1986.
- Voting in Nationwide’s 2026 AGM election opened on 8 June 2026.
Media enquiries
James Sherwin-Smith
Member Nominated Candidate for Election to the Board of Nationwide Building Society
📞 +447359225554
🌐 James4Nationwide.co.uk/media-centre
ENDS