Barclays banker ‘called firm scumbags’

A former Barclays banker who is now in charge of the City’s leading lobby group allegedly called the firm run by the financier Amanda Staveley a “bunch of scumbags” and “f*****s”, the High Court has been told.

Stephen Jones is chief executive of UK Finance, the banking industry’s trade association, and was working at Barclays during the financial crisis 12 years ago. His job at UK Finance, which represents more than 250 firms, gives him an influential voice in the City.

Mr Jones, 55, was involved in Barclays’ efforts to tap Middle Eastern investors for £7.3 billion in October 2008, a fundraising that is now the subject of a civil case brought by PCP Capital Partners, Ms Staveley’s firm. PCP is suing Barclays for up