A Standard Life policyholder failed today in his bid to be elected to the company’s board ahead of its planned demutualisation next year.

STANDARD Life Assurance chief executive Sandy Crombie is facing protests from policyholders at the Scottish insurer’s annual meeting over his pay package and plans to sell the company after its value has slumped.

THE mutual status of insurance giant Standard Life was yesterday threatened by a retired teacher armed with a battered shopping cart stuffed with bundles of signatures.

The chief executive of troubled insurer Standard Life today told investors that only by keeping the society mutually owned would its performance improve in the long run.

Europe’s largest mutual life insurer Standard Life is facing a new threat from a member who wants the society to demutualise, it emerged today.