Proactive Investors - Nigel Farage has launched his own website to help people who have also suffered “unjust treatment” from banks after the closure of his Coutts account led to the departure of NatWest Group PLC (LON:NWG) boss Alison Rose last week.
Accountclosed.org, a website focused on campaigning in support of individuals and small businesses who have had their accounts shut unfairly, was launched via the former Ukip leader’s Twitter where he posted a video tackling the issue.
He said: “Most people who have this happen to them feel helpless. There's no one to speak for them… I think what's emerging is a major national scandal. You can't live without a bank account in the 21st Century."
I’m launching a new campaign to fight back against the big banks that have let us down.We need to understand the scale of this national scandal. Together, we can form a powerful group to lobby government.
You can visit the campaign website here: https://t.co/zm0d8IZyyU pic.twitter.com/QQXWO9FNEW
— Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) July 29, 2023
Current law in the UK states that every person holds the right to have a bank account that can make and receive payments and cannot be discriminated against because of political views, religion, age, gender or ethnicity.
Farage’s Coutts account was closed in early June with no explanation at the time, weeks later he obtained a report which indicated his political stance had been a factor in the decision to close the account.
Alison Rose, chief executive officer of Coutts-owner NatWest, quit last week after she admitted to speaking with a BBC journalist in which she falsely claimed Farage’s account closure was purely a commercial decision.
Peter Flavel, boss of the private bank for the wealthy, also quit.
NatWest chairman Howard Davies said he would remain in his role at the bank despite calls for his departure.
Shares in NatWest are trading less than 1% higher on Monday having opened at just over 246p.