The UK information regulator has apologised to the former NatWest chief executive Dame Alison Rose, who resigned after discussing the banking affairs of Nigel Farage with a journalist.

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) said its comments last month – in which the regulator said a NatWest employee shared information when they should not have done, and there were two privacy breaches – wrongly gave the impression it investigated the actions of Dame Alison.

“We confirm that we did not investigate Ms Rose’s actions, given that NatWest was the data controller under investigation,” the ICO said.

It added: “Our investigation did not find that Ms Rose breached data protection law and we regret that our statement gave the impression that she did…

“…we apologise to Ms Rose for suggesting that we had made a finding that she breached the UK GDPR [general data protection regulation] in respect of Mr Farage when we had not investigated her.

“Our investigation did not find that Ms Rose breached data protection law and we regret that our statement gave the impression that she did.”

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

In its ruling in October, the ICO said there were two privacy breaches involved in the disclosure to BBC News business editor Simon Jack.

Average Ryanair fares up 24% – as company forecasts record profits

Revealed: How many Britons have missed bill payments this year – and what to do about it

Rishi Sunak to give annual system of awarding new oil and gas licences the green light

This enabled him to report Mr Farage no longer met the financial criteria to hold an account with Coutts, which is part of the NatWest Group.

This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.

Please refresh the page for the fullest version.

You can receive Breaking News alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News App. You can also follow @SkyNews on X or subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.

Related posts:

Johnson bakes fresh £250m bid to sell resurgent Gail’s café chain Greggs becomes latest food outlet hit by supply chain problems NHS urges doctors to halt some blood testing as UK is hit by vial shortage UK economic growth slows to just 0.1% in February McDonald’s to exit Russia and sell all of its restaurants due to Ukraine war Gatwick cancels easyJet flights at last minute Profit warnings at recruitment firms show unemployment is likely to rise Energy price surge prompts big earnings upgrade at British Gas owner Centrica Broadband and phone bill rises to be investigated by Ofcom British Land looks to draw Score successor as chair Rival Percy Pig sweets redesigned after M&S demand Petrol prices ‘likely’ to rise further as cost of oil jumps