Rory Tanner first encountered Westminster politics as an intern working in the office of Maria Caulfield MP through the Catholic Bishops’ Conference internship programme. He later became Senior Parliamentary Assistant to Stephen Crabb MP, gaining an early insight into the rhythms of parliamentary life and the way policy is shaped inside Westminster. “It was a brilliant way to learn how Westminster really works,” he recalls. But the experience also convinced him that influencing politics from outside Parliament might ultimately be more appealing than standing for office himself.

“When I worked in the Commons, jerk chicken was the weekly ritual. You know it’s good when they’re printing the recipe out as handouts.”

Today Tanner operates at the intersection of technology, finance and politics as Head of UK Government Affairs at Revolut, the global fintech company that has grown rapidly from a start-up payments app into one of the most prominent challengers to traditional banking. Founded in 2015, Revolut has expanded into a global financial platform offering services including payments, foreign exchange, savings, investments and crypto trading. With tens of millions of users worldwide, the company sits at the forefront of the financial technology sector, operating in an environment where regulation, innovation and consumer protection increasingly intersect. Helping navigate that political and regulatory landscape is a central part of Tanner’s role. After leaving Westminster he moved into consultancy at Political Intelligence, advising organisations on their engagement with government. But it was moving in-house that ultimately reshaped his view of the profession. “The appeal of in-house advocacy is that you can become a genuine expert in your field,” he explains. “You simply can’t gain the same depth of product and policy insight while working as a consultant.” Working directly inside an organisation also changes the nature of the job. “You’re the person leading engagement with stakeholders rather than advising a client to meet them,” he adds. “That means much more leadership and accountability on the issues.” One of the defining professional milestones of his career so far has been Revolut’s successful effort to secure a UK banking licence, a major step in the company’s development as it expands its regulated services. “Leading the political engagement around the bank licence application was definitely a proud moment,” he notes. The rapid evolution of financial technology means policy debates around the sector are rarely quiet. Among the issues Tanner highlights as particularly significant is the growth of online fraud, especially as artificial intelligence tools become more sophisticated. “Online fraud in the age of AI is a huge challenge,” he warns, pointing to the need for governments, regulators and technology platforms to keep pace with rapidly evolving threats. Artificial intelligence is also reshaping the mechanics of public affairs itself. Tasks that once required large teams — such as monitoring legislation and analysing regulatory proposals — can now be carried out far more quickly. “AI has revolutionised the research phase,” Tanner says. “It removes a lot of the legwork involved in monitoring and analysing legislation.” But he remains cautious about how far technology can go in replacing strategic judgement. “It can generate policy ideas, but it doesn’t provide elite strategic advice,” he argues. “If you rely on it for decisions, you’ll end up with outcomes anyone could produce with the right prompt.” That emphasis on judgement also shapes Tanner’s leadership philosophy. Within his team he encourages autonomy and responsibility while maintaining high expectations for detail and delivery. “I demand hard work, ownership, autonomous creativity and excellent attention to detail,” he says. “But I don’t believe in micromanagement. If work needs improving, explain how to fix it rather than rewriting it yourself.” For someone who began his career inside Parliament, the move into fintech might seem an unlikely path. But as companies like Revolut continue to reshape financial services, the relationship between innovation, regulation and politics is becoming increasingly central. For Tanner, helping shape that conversation between regulators and innovators is now central. In recent months Revolut itself has been at the centre of several important developments that highlight the company’s growing significance within the financial services sector. After years of rapid expansion as a fintech platform, the company secured a long-awaited UK banking licence, marking a major milestone in its evolution from a payments-focused technology company into a fully regulated financial institution. The licence allows Revolut to expand its range of banking services in the UK, including offering loans and more sophisticated savings products, and places the company on a more equal regulatory footing with traditional banks. The...