12 ways Nationwide has biased an election of 9.3 million people against me – and some notable 1sts (🥇) along the way

12 ways Nationwide Building Society has biased the 2026 election with an electorate of 9.3 million people  against me – and some notable 🥇Firsts along the way.

1. Using the #QuickVote when there is a Member Nominated Candidate on the Ballot.

A🥇First for Nationwide, maybe for all Building Societies?

There hasn’t been a Member Nominated Candidate standing for Election to the Board of Nationwide since it was introduced by Nationwide in 2006, the year after the last candidate, Alan Debenham stood for election for the last time in 2005.

AFAIK, there isn’t a single Member Nominated Director with a seat on the Board of any of the 42 remaining building societies in the UK. At one point in the 1990s, Nationwide had a quarter of its board seats occupied by Member Nominated Directors. The Co-operative Group has 4 MNDs, one of whom is currently serving as interim CEO after the CEO stepped down. Certain large pension schemes are required by law to allocate a third of the board seats to Member Nominated Directors or Trustees.

2. Using the QuickVote to generate ‘Against’ votes.

A🥇First for Nationwide, Building Societies, Member Owned UK organisations that use the Quick Vote? I have asked Civica Election Services who run many of the AGMs for building societies and member organisations but they have refused to answer.

Note that Nationwide has made a far more prescriptive design choice than other building societies. In 2026 for example, Coventry Building Society has the Quick vote, but offers 3 check box options: ‘For all’, ‘Against all’, or ‘Withheld all’. Nationwide instead only offers a single check box in favour of the Board’s recommendations (which this year means ‘For’ resolutions 1-13, and ‘Against’ #14 i.e. me).

3. Stalling the communication of Board decisions about how the election will be conducted (I was told the Board would decide prior to Preliminary results on 21st May, however the Society didn’t communicate the decision until 28th May following concerns raised in the press.) 

Probably not a 🥇 First for Nationwide. But as I don’t yet have access to the Board minutes, I don’t know. I’ve submitted a DSAR so hopefully this becomes apparent by 1 July 2026.

4. Issuing a “reactive media statement” the same day, attacking my suitability as a Board Director. 

Probably a 🥇First for Nationwide, and possibly for all building societies. See My counter to Nationwide’s statements made today regarding my suitability issued that evening after some papers went to press without checking with me for my views.

5. Editing my Election Address without my permission, removing the sentence “Learn more at James4Nationwide.co.uk” in two separate locations and removing a QR code that links to the same. And not being transparent about it with Members within the footnote appended to my address without my permission, or with me as to the legal basis for doing so. (I’ve asked the FCA to investigate and, if appropriate, prosecute.)

Another 🥇 First for Nationwide to the best of my knowledge. See Member Nominated Candidate calls on FCA to review election fairness ahead of 2026 AGM voting form distribution.

6. Refusing a simple 18 word addition to my Election Address in light of the Board’s decision not to suspend the QuickVote, despite requesting this, and reiterating that request 5 times over 2 months, including at interview face-to-face with Board members, and making the same request the year before. 

A🥇 First for Nationwide I believe. See The Information I Wanted to Give Members Before They Vote.

7. Rejigging the order of candidates on the ballot paper so yours truly is the last resolution #14.

Not a 🥇First for Nationwide – see the Nationwide Guide to Voting in the 2003 AGM – the two Member Nominated Candidates were put at the end back then also.

8. Reformatting the Notice of AGM so the first 13 resolutions fit on page 1, and #14 (me) doesn’t make the front page.

Another 🥇 First for Nationwide, at least since 2021. See Does Nationwide 2026 AGM Voting Form Design Help Members Make an Informed Choice on How to Vote?

9. Not including a Member Nominated Candidate within the “Who are you voting for?” pamphlet.

Another 🥇First for Nationwide. The pamphlet was introduced in 2023 – see the relevant section examining the change in design this year – Does Nationwide 2026 AGM Voting Form Design Help Members Make an Informed Choice on How to Vote?

10. Putting my Election Address in an entirely separate document, with 2 pages of text in front recommending Members vote ‘Against’ me in 3 separate locations and giving subjective reasons as to my lack of suitability.

Another 🥇First for Nationwide. I’ve not seen an example like it, ever. See what you think for yourself: 2026 Member Nominated Candidate leaflet.

See also My counter to Nationwide’s statements made today regarding my suitability.

11. Designing/choosing an electronic ballot system such that when you check the prominent Quick Vote option at the top of the ballot paper, the rest of the ballot paper is deleted and a Next button appears. (Think about that in the context of a mobile screen – I expect most people vote this way* and thus never see the ballot paper underneath.)

Definitely not a 🥇 First for Nationwide. The checking of the Quick vote box causing the Standard vote to disappear wasn’t definitely in place last year too: The Quick vote and 2025 Voting form.

* I’ve asked the question but neither Civica Election Services (the “independent scrutineer”) or Nationwide have answered this, or many other pertinent questions: CES / Nationwide questions.

12. Choosing/designing a ballot such that if Members leave an item blank on the Voting Form, the Chairman (as the default Appointed Representative) will enter a ‘For’ vote on any incomplete items 1-13 and ‘Against’ me (item 14). If you don’t want to cast a vote either way, you must check ‘Withheld’.

Definitely not a 🥇First for Nationwide. But it probably didn’t have quite as much of an impact this year. See the below examples so you understand what’s going on:

• Scenario 1 – the voter chooses the quick vote – choice on page 1, confirmation on page 2
• Scenario 2 – the voter chooses to use the standard vote, voting opposite to the Board recommendation AND appoints their own representative (proxy) – choice on page 1, confirmation on page 2
• Scenario 3 – the voter chooses to use the standard vote, and votes alternately Against, For, Withheld and doesn’t record a vote, working down the page, The voter doesn’t appoint their own Representative (so it defaults to the Chairman). Note that the uncompleted rows chosen on page 1 produce a “Discretionary” result on page 2, allowing the Representative – in this case the chairman – to vote as he wishes instead (i.e. he will follow the Board recommendations to vote For on resolutions #1-13, and Against on #14 (me).

If you think any of this unjust, please consider:

🗳️ VOTING, but DO NOT USE THE QUICK VOTE. See How to Vote for James.

📢 Telling your networks about this. Anyone in your mobile or online banking Payee list with a sort code that starts 07-xx-xx is a Nationwide customer and likely able to vote. James4NW.com is a really short message and only 12 characters long.

📥 Subscribing for weekly email updates 

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🤑 Or if you can’t bear the ‘Frankie Says Relax’ inspired design, or democratic mugs and caps with a simple universal slogan isn’t your thing, and you’re feeling flush, you could just donate to the James4Nationwide Campaign Crowdfunder. 

Alan gets it. Be more like Alan. Read my Election Address. Do your own research into the Board Members (all appointed by the Board itself) and their background and connections (I certainly am).