Aviva was officially "delighted" with Clare Spottiswoode when it nominated the former regulator to represent policyholders' interests two years ago. But as the scrap over how to split £5.4bn of surplus assets between the company and customers of its with-profits funds has dragged on, the delight has worn rather thin.

Aviva, owner of Norwich Union, yesterday submitted an improved reattribution offer to Ms S. The clear subtext was that it had waited long enough. It is time for "clarity" about what sort of "cash windfall" policyholders should receive and it expects an answer by the end of the month.