Barclays freezes ex-boss's bonus amid Epstein links

Barclays has suspended millions of pounds in bonus share awards to former boss Jes Staley amid an investigation by regulators into his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.

Mr Staley left the bank last November after watchdogs began a probe into his links to the dead sex trafficker.

Mr Staley is contesting the City regulators' findings.

But Barclays has announced that in the meantime it is freezing long-term bonus and share payments for Mr Staley.

The bank said in a statement: "In line with its normal procedures, the committee exercised its discretion to suspend the vesting of all of Mr Staley's unvested awards, pending further developments in respect of the regulatory and legal proceedings related to the ongoing Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulatory Authority investigation regarding Mr Staley."

Regulators are investigating whether Mr Staley's relationship with Epstein was closer than he described to the board.