Barclays boss says sorry to AGM for breaking rules

More than 16% of votes cast failed to back his re-election, with nearly 14% abstaining and 2.82% voting against.

Shareholders had been urged to abstain from a vote backing his re-appointment after Mr Staley attempted to identify a whistleblower at Barclays.

His action prompted investigations by the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority last month.

However, of the decisive votes cast, 97.18% were in favour of his reappointment.

It came after Mr Staley issued an apology directly to shareholders at the AGM.

“I feel it is important that I acknowledge to you - our shareholders - that I made a mistake in becoming involved in an issue which I should have left to the business to deal with.

“I have apologised to the board, and I would today like to apologise to you as well, for that error.”

Despite admitting his mistakes, Mr Staley - who is set to have his pack docked over the governance failings - still faced calls to resign.

One shareholder at the AGM asked in reference to Mr Staley’s conduct: “Today, for the sake of Barclays PLC, investors and shareholders, don’t bring any more embarrassment to the bank - will you save the integrity (of the bank) and resign today?”

Chairman John McFarlane said, in response, that he thought the chief executive made a mistake, but stressed: “if I thought the CEO should go, I would say so.”

He added: “At the time he was a relatively new CEO. He was not here for very long. It’s no excuse, but people need to learn these jobs... we’ve accepted that he won’t do it again, and I think we’ve taken the right action here”.