Like creditors closing in as the tide goes out, HSBC bankruptcy petitions against Barclay brothers Aidan and Howard mark a sharp new turn in the unravelling of one of Britain’s most storied business dynasties.
HSBC has moved to recover more than £140 million, filing bankruptcy petitions in the High Court against Aidan Barclay, 69, and Howard Barclay, 66, just days before Christmas. The action stems from debts linked to the collapse of the family’s parcel delivery venture.
From Boardroom Titans to Personal Liability
The decision to pursue the brothers personally underscores a growing escalation by lenders as the Barclay empire continues to fracture. The downfall traces back to 2023, when Lloyds Bank seized The Telegraph and The Spectator over unpaid loans, a moment that signaled the beginning of the end for the family’s control over its far-reaching holdings.
At their peak, the Barclays presided over a sprawling portfolio spanning media, hotels, retail, property and logistics. But heavy reliance on borrowing left the empire exposed, and successive lenders have since stripped the family of most of its prized assets.
