James Sherwin-Smith @26Left

1st Member Nominated Candidate for Election to @askNationwide Board since 2005. Standing up for Members’ rights & more transparency. DO NOT USE THE QUICK VOTE. James4Nationwide.co.uk West Sussex, UK Joined March 2012

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James Sherwin-Smith @26Left

2 days ago

Journalists get it (judging by the press this gets). Ordinary Members get it (judging by the emails I receive). MPs from different parties get it (given the questions they are asking). Why don’t the #Nationwide #Board, the #FCA, or the #Government? 12/12 James4Nationwide.co.uk/how-to-vote-fo…

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James Sherwin-Smith @26Left

2 days ago

I think this raises valid wider questions about the spirit of the #law, the effectiveness of #regulation (the Financial Conduct Authority is the Mutual Societies #regulator), and what #mutual ownership means if Members cannot realistically influence governance. fca.org.uk/raise-concerns… 11/12

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James Sherwin-Smith @26Left

2 days ago

Alan Debenham called me last week after opening his #Nationwide #AGM pack. He said reading the #voting form made him “the angriest I’ve been in my life.” Alan is nearly 84. 🧵1/12

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James Sherwin-Smith @26Left

4 days ago

What does “#independent” mean? @CivicaUK Election Services (CES) - formerly Electoral Reform Services (ERS) - refers to itself as an “independent service provider / scrutineer” and that “#democracy is in our DNA”. It must have mutated considerably. 🧬 CES is refusing to answer some fairly basic questions, instead referring me to @AskNationwide #BuildingSociety - the organisation that pays its bills and is stonewalling me. (Remember it's #Nationwide #Members that pay for this ultimately.) I thought these were fairly straight-forward #questions that deserve a fairly straight-forward answer: 🔎 What ability do I have as a candidate (or one of my team) to review and #audit the electoral process? 🕵️‍♂️ Who is the person #responsible at Civica for overseeing this election? 📋 Who, if anyone, #oversees your processes and procedures given you are retained (i.e. paid) by Nationwide? 📈 Is it possible for me as a candidate and/or authorised representative to receive #progress reports on how the count is developing during the voting window? 📉 Does Nationwide receive #updates on how the count is developing from CES during the voting window? 🧐 Can you explain #why Civica Election Services (CES) cannot answer these questions please? 🤓 Is there a #terms of reference or codified best practice that CES comply with perhaps, that would allow me, and others, to understand the position better? With 9.3 million able to vote, the Nationwide #electorate is bigger than many countries’ General #Elections. Extending that analogy, the above is a bit like a Returning Officer saying: “I won’t provide information or access to independent candidates because I am paid for by the government, so only the government gets to know these things.” See the outstanding questions here: james4nationwide.co.uk/ces-nationwide… #transparency #trust #confidence #fairness #VOTE #DoNotUseTheQuickVote

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James Sherwin-Smith @26Left

6 days ago

Not much to add really. Other than it’s the grit in the oyster that makes the pearl. Thank you Mike Olley of GRIT for this piece. Find him on Substack midlandsgrit.co.uk/p/dame-rich-kn… And please #VOTE, but DO NOT USE THE #QUICKVOTE. More about that, here: James4Nationwide.co.uk/the-quick-vote #democracy #mutual #memberowned #governance #nationwide #buildingsociety @AskNationwide

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James Sherwin-Smith @26Left

a week ago

🤖 Anyone online will have the chance to ask me questions live and direct in an "ask me anything" (#AMA) next Thursday 25th June at 12:30pm on #Reddit. 🧐 This is your opportunity to raise questions on the issues that matter most to you - and engage in direct, open dialogue with me and other interested parties. 🗓 Thursday 25th June 2026 🕧 12:30 - 13:30pm 📍 Live on Reddit 📥 Watch this space for updates or subscribe to email updates via the Reddit AMA page on my website. 🔗 James4Nationwide.co.uk/ama 🔜 The AMA link will become live 30 mins before the AMA starts on the page above. Subscribe to be emailed when the link is released. 💬 Building societies belong to their Members — and this is your space to be heard. 👥 Join the discussion. Ask questions. Be part of the conversation. 🗳️ And, if you're a Nationwide Building Society #Member, remember to VOTE. But please... ❌ DO NOT USE THE QUICK VOTE. #Nationwide #Members #Election #James4Nationwide

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James Sherwin-Smith @26Left

a week ago

@SteveNomadic First legal solo under your own licence is a special day. Onward and upward 🛫

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James Sherwin-Smith @26Left

2 weeks ago

The #APPG on Investment #Fraud & Fairer Financial Services met Monday. I spoke about #Member #democracy, #Mutuality, #BuildingSociety #governance & @TheFCA's role as #Mutual Society Regulator. i.e. why I'm standing for Election to @AskNationwide Board 💬 James4Nationwide.co.uk/speech

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James Sherwin-Smith @26Left

2 weeks ago

@CooperativesUK @Scotmid @mycoopfood @coopuk Was great to be able to congratulate them all on their success and hear the graduates share their experiences afterwards.