Barclays is reported to have made an approach to Standard Life chairman Sir Gerry Grimstone to join its board.

Sir Gerry has been on the board at the Edinburgh insurer since 2003 and its chairman since 2007.

He knows current Barclays chairman John McFarlane, the Scot who is running the bank following the removal of chief executive Antony Jenkins earlier this year, from their time spent on the board of lobbying organisations TheCityUK.

Barclays is known to be on the hunt for a new deputy chairman and senior independent director as Sir Mike Rake will step down next year.