NATIONWIDE Building Society wants the Government to act on carpetbaggers'.

It has criticised the Government for failing to introduce measures making it harder for carpetbaggers to force their way on to building society boards on pro-conversion tickets. Britain's biggest building society could face further pressure this year to consider floating on the stock market or handing shareholders millions of pounds in windfall payments. Last year, the group fended off an attempt by butler Michael Hardern to join the board and drive its conversion into a bank, bringing windfall benefits to members. While he lost his stand in a convincing three-to-one defeat, he is seeking election again this year. And another member demanding payouts, Andrew Muir, has already mustered enough support to force a vote on his election to the board. Nationwide said it was annoyed that last year's election drama would have to be repeated again this summer. Communications director Michael Lazenby said: "It is a failure of government to help us."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.