Nigel
Farage leads ReformUK, the fastest growing political party in
the United Kingdom.
If
you are concerned about the power banks appear to have to close accounts that are being operated correctly and are in good financial
standing, so are we. Where, in Human
Rights terms, a bank account is not a
luxury, but a necessity and a fundamental right, what right does
a bank have to close an account, or demand information about how
you may decide to spend your money.
The same ethos applies to business accounts as personal accounts.
If is appears that the moment sums are withdrawn to invest in alternative currencies such as Bitcoin
or Revolute, or even to buy gold, or where a Data Subject Access Request may have been made under the Freedom of Information Acts, an account will be instantly closed, the object being to avoid having to give any
reasons, and to try to avoid having to provide information which
a bank may have unlawfully or illegally shared with other person
or agencies, without your express permission, or in error. Or
rather, not in error, but deliberately abusing their position of
trust.
When the agenda appears to be to retain control of money trading within conventional banking, regardless of freedom of
choice and to use the banking system to spy on individuals for
the likes of GCHQ, the police and councils. Already held to be
unlawful in the United State of America.
You
may remember when Coutts under the ownership of NatWest, closed
the accounts of Nigel Farage. Not many ordinary men and women is
the street can command the attention, or have the resources to
challenge a bank. And that is why banks up and down the high
streets are closing accounts with no accountability. The banks
seem to think they are the Gestapo and that the UK is Nazi
Germany. Free to discriminate and send persons who challenge
the system to the wall. It might as well be to a firing squad.
And at the moment, the government is allowing them to do so.
Maybe even using the banks for their own political purposes. As
with the police, using SLAPP actions, fit-ups and trumped up
charges to harass activists and opponents who are vocal. Or even
volunteer advocates who keep winning appeals, etc.
This is a draft, proposed Bill for
Parliament, to remove obstructive or restrictive
practices that may constitute oppression. And protect consumers, by way of promoting fair and competitive financial markets.
And to ensure that banks operate fairly and transparently, with
full accountability without revenge tactics for asking awkward
questions.
BANKING
- Anti discrimination laws were developed because of Adolf
Hitler's regime, that ignored the right to life of millions of
prisoners during World War Two. Modern banks appear to be doing
the same thing, except not killing their customers, but making
their lives very stressful in terms of Article 3, mental
torture.
BANKING FINANCIAL FREEDOM AND FAIR PRACTICE
CONSUMER RIGHTS BANKS ACT 2025
or THE FINANCIAL INCLUSION (BANKS & BANKING) AND CONSUMER RIGHTS ACT 2025
Preamble
To ensure the protection of consumers' rights, promote fair competition in financial markets, and prohibit obstructive or restrictive practices by financial institutions.
This Act recognises that access to basic financial services, including bank accounts, is a fundamental human right essential for participation in society. It seeks to protect consumers from arbitrary and unjustified bank account closures and to promote a fair and competitive financial market.
Section 1: Definitions
a) Financial Institution: Any bank, building society, credit union, or other entity that provides financial services.
b) Consumer: Any individual or business that holds an account with a financial institution.
c) Alternative Currencies: Any form of digital currency, including but not limited to Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other cryptocurrencies.
d) Data Subject Access Request (DSAR): A request by an individual or entity to access personal data held by a financial institution under the Freedom of Information Act or the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Section 2: Consumer Rights
a) Right to a Bank Account: Every individual and business has the
basic human right to open and maintain a bank account, provided they meet the standard requirements for account opening.
The Right to a Basic
Personal or Business Bank Account:
b)
Every UK resident, or UK business, shall have the right to access a basic bank account with essential banking services, including:
(i) Receiving and making payments.
(ii) Direct debits and standing orders.
(iii) Access to ATMs.
(iv) Online banking facilities.
c) Right to Explanation: Financial institutions must provide a detailed and justified reason for the closure of any account. This explanation must be provided in writing to the account holder within 14 days of the decision.
d)
Right to Explanation: Financial institutions must provide a detailed and justified reason for
any refusal to open a bank account. This explanation must be provided in writing to the account holder within 14 days of the decision.
e)
This right shall be subject only to limited exceptions, such as proven cases of fraud, money laundering, or terrorist financing.
Section 3: Prohibition of Obstructive Practices
a)
No Discrimination Against Alternative Currencies: Financial institutions shall not close or refuse to open accounts solely on the basis of transactions involving alternative currencies, provided these transactions are legal and comply with anti-money laundering regulations.
b) Against Retaliation: Financial institutions shall not close or restrict accounts as retaliation for Data Subject Access Requests (DSARs) or other legal actions taken by account
holders.
c)
Banks shall be prohibited from spying on or closing customers
accounts in relation to any political purpose, and most
especially to seek to cause problems for customers whose
politics do not accord with any bank employees, executives, etc.
d)
Banks shall be prohibited from arbitrarily closing customer accounts without providing a clear and justifiable
reason.
e)
Banks shall provide customers with reasonable notice (e.g., 90 days) prior to closing an account.
f)
Customers shall have the right to appeal any decision to close their account,
or to refuse to open an account, to an independent financial ombudsman.
And from there to a Third Tier Tribunal, should the Ombudsman be
unable to resolve the or any issues.
Section
4. Protection Against Discriminatory Practices:
a)
Banks shall be prohibited from closing accounts based on discriminatory grounds, including:
(i) Political beliefs: Such as investing in alternative currencies like Bitcoin.
(ii) Exercise of legal rights: Such as submitting Subject Access Requests under the Data Protection Act.
(iii) Socioeconomic status: Such as low income or reliance on benefits.
Section
5: Enforcement and Penalties
a) Regulatory Oversight: The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) shall oversee compliance with this Act and investigate any reported violations.
b) Penalties: Financial institutions found in violation of this Act shall be subject to penalties, including but not limited to fines,
restitution to affected account holders, and corrective action plans.
c) Right to Appeal: Account holders whose accounts are closed or restricted in violation of this Act have the right to appeal to the Financial Ombudsman Service.
d)
Right to Appeal: Where a bank refuses to open an account, or
places irregular or unreasonable conditions on any person
opening, or who wished to open an account in violation of this Act
will have the right to appeal to the Financial Ombudsman Service.
e)
Compensation shall be payable to any banking customer who has
their rights infringed. Such compensation to fully reimburse
them for their time, legal costs, and with awards in relation to
any distress caused, or losses stemming from having their
accounts closed.
Section 6: Promoting Fair and Competitive Financial Markets
a) Encouragement of Innovation: Financial institutions are encouraged to support and engage with emerging financial technologies, including blockchain and alternative currencies, to promote innovation and competition in the financial market.
b) Public Reporting: Financial institutions must publicly report their policies regarding the handling of accounts involved in alternative currency transactions and DSARs to ensure transparency and accountability.
c)
Banks shall be required to provide clear and transparent information to customers regarding their account terms and conditions and any changes to those terms.
d)
Banks shall be subject to increased regulatory scrutiny and potential penalties for unjustified account closures.
Section 7: Implementation
This Act shall be implemented in phases over a period of two
years, taking effect immediately upon its
passage.
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) shall be responsible for overseeing the implementation of this Act and ensuring compliance by financial institutions.
All financial institutions shall comply with its provisions to ensure the protection of consumers' rights and the promotion of fair and competitive financial markets.
Disclaimer:
This is a theoretical draft Bill and may require significant amendments and legal expertise to be enacted into law. It is important to note that this Act could have significant implications for the banking sector and may face opposition from financial institutions.
...
THE
TOP TEN BRITISH HIGH STREET BANKS RANKED BY MARKET PRESENCE AND
SERVICES:
1. HSBC Holdings plc - One of the largest banking and financial services organizations in the world.
2. Barclays plc - A British multinational investment bank and financial services company.
3. Lloyds Banking Group - Formed through the merger of Lloyds TSB and HBOS in 2009.
4. Royal Bank of Scotland Group (RBS) - One of the oldest banks in the UK, founded in 1727.
5. Standard Chartered plc - A leading international banking group with a strong presence in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.
6. Santander UK plc - A subsidiary of the Spanish Santander Group, offering a wide range of financial services.
7. Nationwide Building Society - The largest building society in the UK, providing savings and mortgage products.
8. TSB Bank plc - A retail and commercial bank that was spun out of Lloyds Banking Group in 2013.
9. Virgin Money UK plc - A challenger bank offering a range of financial products and services.
10. Metro Bank plc - A relatively new player in the UK banking sector, known for its customer-focused approach.
These banks play a crucial role in the UK's financial system, offering a variety of services to individuals and businesses.

NIGEL
FARAGE
YOUR MONEY 27 NOVEMBER 2023 - NATWEST ADMITS TO SERIOUS FAILINGS IN FARAGE CASE
But an investigation by the bank found “the exit decision was lawful” regarding the closure of the former UKIP leader’s account with Coutts, part of the Natwest Group.
An independent review of the saga commissioned by NatWest found the lender had acted “in accordance with the relevant bank policies and processes” when it decided to shut Farage’s accounts.
However, the report also identified “a number of shortcomings”, related to how it reached that decision, how the bank communicated with Farage, and how it treated his confidential information.
NatWest has published the key findings and recommendations from Phase I of the Travers Smith independent review covering the decision to close Farage’s Coutts accounts and the circumstances surrounding a potential breach of confidentiality relating to his customer information.
NatWest said it has accepted – and will implement – all of the recommendations made by Travers Smith. Alongside the report, the bank will make a number of other changes to its policies and procedures designed to deliver better outcomes for its customers.
NATWEST: ‘FAILURE IN COMMUNICATION’
Sir Howard Davies, NatWest Group chairman, said: “This report sets out a number of serious failings in the treatment of Mr Farage. Although Travers Smith confirm the lawful basis for the exit decision, the findings set out clear shortcomings in how it was reached as well as failures in how we communicated with him and in relation to client confidentiality. We apologise once again to Mr Farage for how he has been treated. His experience fell short of the standards that any customer should expect.
“Our job now is to make sure that does not happen again. The bank is committed to implementing all the recommendations made by Travers Smith and we are making substantive changes to our policies and procedures, in particular to ensure that the lawfully protected beliefs or opinions of customers do not play any role in our decision making.
“The board is considering the findings and deciding on the appropriate outcomes on other matters. It is important we have regard to all necessary processes and due consideration of issues including the bank’s obligations around privacy and confidentiality.”
[We
expect that you might be thinking is that what they really mean
is we have to make sure we do not get caught out again. Because
NatWest have done it again in another case we are following.
This time asking about the appointment of a company director,
and when that raised questions about why a bank should be
monitoring appointments of directors, with a DSAR made to find
out why. They simply closed the business account, not so far
supplying the data requested, and so proceeding to be looked at
for compliance issues - this matter live in January 2025. The
banking issue is far from over. They simply have to have their
wings clipped.]
FCA: POTENTIAL REGULATORY BREACHES
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said it had reviewed the Travers Smith report and found it “highlighted potential regulatory breaches and a number of areas for improvement”.
These include the bank’s processes, systems and controls around how it considers potential closure of accounts and handle complaints from their customers; and the allocation of responsibilities and effectiveness of the firms’ governance mechanisms.
Earlier this week, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) found that Alison Rose breached data rules over revelation of Nigel Farage bank details. However, no further action will be taken by the watchdog as Rose has already stepped down from her role at the bank.
BBC 1ST AUGUST 2023 - FARAGE SAYS COUTTS IS OFFERING TO KEEP HIS ACCOUNTS OPEN
Coutts has offered to reinstate Nigel Farage's personal and business bank accounts, the former Ukip politician has claimed.
Mr Farage said the new boss of Coutts had written to him to say he could keep the accounts.
Coutts and its parent company NatWest have been embroiled in a row with Mr Farage, which last week led to resignations at the top of both banks.
NatWest said it could not comment on individual customers.
Speaking on his GB News programme, Mr Farage said the interim chief executive of Coutts, Mohammad Kamal Syed, had made the offer to continue banking with them.
"He has written to me to say I can keep both my personal and my business accounts," Mr Farage said.
"And that's good and I thank him for it."
Mr Farage did not say whether he planned to accept the offer to stay with Coutts, which offers services exclusively to wealthy clients.
The former MEP is still on the war-path against Coutts - which he says decided to close his accounts because it did not like his political views.
Mr Farage has shared documents which show his political views were discussed by the bank, along with his financial situation, before it decided to close his accounts.
Mr Farage said he had suffered "enormous harm" from the controversy around his banking arrangements.
"It has taken up a huge amount of my time and it has cost me, so far, quite a lot of money in legal fees so I have today sent a legal litigation letter to Coutts where I want some full apologies, I want some compensation for my costs, but - more important than all of that - I want a face-to-face meeting with the bank's bosses.
"So the fight goes on."
He added he wanted to find out how many other customers had had their accounts closed over their political opinions.
Mr Farage this week launched a website which he said would help individuals and small businesses who had faced "unjust treatment" from banks, particularly if their accounts had been closed abruptly.
Dame Alison Rose, chief executive of NatWest Group, quit last week, after saying she had made a "serious error of judgment" in speaking to a BBC journalist about Mr Farage's Coutts account.
Peter Flavel, the boss of the NatWest-owned private bank for the wealthy, Coutts, also quit.
BBC NEWS JULY 30TH 2023 - NIGEL FARAGE LAUNCHES WEBSITE OVER DE-BANKING SCANDAL
Nigel Farage says he has launched a website to stand up for people who have been denied bank accounts after the row over his Coutts account closure.
He said on social media he will "fight back against the big banks who have let us down", calling it a "scandal".
It comes after Mr Farage obtained a report from the bank which indicated his political views were considered as a factor in his account closure.
The row led to the resignation of two bank bosses last week.
Dame Alison Rose, chief executive of NatWest Group, quit after saying she had made a "serious error of judgment" in speaking to a BBC journalist about Mr Farage's Coutts account.
Peter Flavel, the boss of the NatWest-owned private bank for the wealthy, Coutts, also quit.
Despite facing calls to resign, NatWest chairman Sir Howard Davies, has vowed to remain in post to ensure the bank's stability.
Mr Farage said in late June his account had been shut and he had not been given a reason. He did not name the bank at the time.
The BBC initially reported Mr Farage's account was closed because he no longer met the wealth threshold for Coutts, citing a source familiar with the matter.
The BBC has since apologised to the former Ukip leader for the inaccurate story.
Launching the AccountClosed.org website via a video posted on social media, Mr Farage said: "Most people who have this happen to them feel helpless. There's no-one to speak for them.
"And I think what's emerging is a major national scandal. You can't live without a bank account in the 21st Century."
The campaign is described on the website as being for individuals and small medium businesses "who have faced unjust treatment from banks and financial services companies, particularly when their accounts have been abruptly closed and essential services withdrawn".
The law states that every person in the UK has a legal right to hold a basic bank account that gives them the ability to receive and make payments.
Legislation says a bank "must not discriminate against consumers legally resident in the United Kingdom by reason of their nationality or place of residence or by reason of sex, race, colour, ethnic or social origin, genetic features, language, religion or belief, political or any other opinion".
On Friday, Sir Howard said NatWest had appointed City law firm Travers Smith to conduct an independent investigation into the closure of Mr Farage's account, external and how the information surrounding the issue had been handled.
Former prime minister Liz Truss said she was "appalled" at the treatment of Mr Farage.
Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, she said: "The saga shows how a powerful technocracy presides over an increasingly opaque system, while elected politicians - in particular those politicians whose views do not find favour at London dinner parties - are treated with suspicion."
WIKIPEDIA
In June 2023, the private bank Coutts closed the account held by the British politician and broadcaster Nigel Farage, triggering controversy. NatWest, the owner of Coutts, initially claimed that he failed to meet the Coutts eligibility criteria of holding £1,000,000 or more in his account, following the expiry of his mortgage. NatWest instead offered him an account with the retail side of the bank.
After Farage went to the press about the closure, it was discovered that Coutts had closed Farage's account as they deemed him to be "at best seen as xenophobic and pandering to racists". Following media attention, the NatWest CEO, Dame Alison Rose, resigned.
In June 2023, the British politician Nigel Farage said that his account with the private bank Coutts was to be closed. He was offered a standard bank account by Coutts' parent group, NatWest, in the closure notice he received. Farage said he was then refused personal and business accounts at seven other UK banks. When pressed by Farage to reveal why, NatWest said that he failed to meet the Coutts eligibility criteria as he did not hold £1,000,000 or more in his account following the expiry of his mortgage.
The story was picked up by the UK press. It was later revealed that Farage's account was closed in part as Coutts felt that his beliefs and values did not align with theirs. In an internal dossier, Coutts wrote that he "is at best seen as xenophobic and pandering to racists" and considered a "disingenuous grifter".
In a front-page story on 20 July, The Daily Telegraph reported that the Coutts CEO, Dame Alison Rose, had dined with Simon Jack, the business editor for BBC News, on the evening before he published an article saying that the decision had been "for commercial reasons". Peter Bone MP and David Jones MP were reported as calling for Rose to resign.
Documents disclosed by the bank to Farage following his submission of a subject access request showed that the decision by the bank's Wealth Reputational Risk Committee to close his accounts, according to the 40-page dossier, was in part due to his views being considered incompatible with the bank's "values or purpose". The dossier revealed that Farage was classed as a "lower risk"
Politically Exposed Person (PEP). It went to note that the bank considered declassifying Farage as a PEP on their next review in 2022. His status was maintained, however, in 2023, owing to his public profile and reported links to Russia.
Within the document, an update to Farage's notes from 10 March 2023 stated "The relationship has been below commercial criteria for some time and upon review of Nigel's past public profile and connections, the perceived risks for the future weighed against the benefit of retention the decision was taken to exit upon repayment of an existing mortgage." It adds that continuing to do business with him was "not compatible with Coutts given his publicly-stated views" and the decision was "This was not a political decision but one centred around inclusivity and purpose".
Rose was accused of holding ultimate responsibility for the decision to close Farage's accounts. On 25 July, Rose admitted to a "serious error of judgement" in discussing Farage's Coutts accounts with Jack, while the NatWest board said that it retained full confidence in her. Later that day, Rose resigned as CEO of NatWest Group with immediate effect.
On 26 July, Farage called on the whole of the NatWest board to
resign. On 27 July, the Coutts chief executive Peter Flavel stepped down with immediate effect. Then-UK Prime Minister
Rishi Sunak expressed support for Farage in his dispute with the bank.
In October 2023, it was reported that the ICO ruled that Rose twice violated the law, as it upheld two parts of Farage’s complaint concerning the treatment of his personal data, but the ICO later withdrew the comment about Rose, and apologised to her, saying that their ruling related only to NatWest. In the same month, an investigation by lawyers Travers Smith, appointed by NatWest, found that the bank had acted in a "lawful" manner when it closed Farage's account, but had "failed to treat him fairly". The Financial Conduct Authority said that the report by Travers Smith revealed "potential regulatory breaches" by the bank. Farage described the Travers Smith report as a “whitewash”.
REACTION
Criticism has been laid at some media organisations for their coverage. Miqdaad Versi said some outlets have disproportionately focused on Farage's financial affairs while neglecting similar instances involving the de-banking of Muslim organisations and individuals. In 2014, when HSBC closed the account of a number of Muslim organisations in the UK, garnering similar concerns around freedom of speech and religion, HSBC stated decisions to close the accounts were "absolutely not based on race or religion". In 2016, the Co-op Bank closed the bank account of the pro-Palestinian non-governmental organisation Friends of Al-Aqsa, the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign, and approximately 25 other Palestinian-affiliated organisations. The closures were said to have occurred without providing any explanation for the action. At the time the government commented saying it had delegated to banks the role of de-risking their clients for potential suspicious financing or money laundering.
Gina Miller, a pro-European Union activist, had a bank account for her political party closed down by Monzo with no explanation. Monzo subsequently stated that it did not provide bank accounts for political parties and that it had approved the account by mistake in the first place. Farage, a political opponent of Miller, called it "plain wrong" for her account to be closed down.
WHAT ARE THE RULES?
The law states that every person in the UK has a legal right to hold a basic bank account that gives them the ability to receive and make payments.
Legislation says a credit institution (legal jargon for a bank) "must not discriminate against consumers legally resident in the United Kingdom by reason of their nationality or place of residence or by reason of sex, race, colour, ethnic or social origin, genetic features, language, religion or belief, political or any other opinion".
Nikhil Rathi, chief executive of the Financial Conduct Authority, told MPs last week that legislation around payment accounts meant banks cannot "discriminate on the basis of political views".
Angela Knight, former chief executive of the trade body British Banking Association, said it didn't matter what type of bank account someone had - from very basic or one with "bells and whistles" such as overdrafts, savings accounts and standing orders - rules preventing banks discriminating are the same.
But she said banks can refuse customers when fraud, for example, is suspected or when a person's conduct inside a bank or towards bank staff amounts to a public order offence or harassment.
One potentially complicating factor are figures who are classed as a politically exposed person, or PEP.
These are people who hold a prominent position or influence who may be more susceptible to being involved in bribery or corruption.
Banks are required to do extra due diligence on PEPs.
The government has said some banks might be "failing to strike the right balance" in their approach to providing services to PEPs.
It has said accounts should be not closed just because of someone's status as a PEP.
BUT CAN IT CLOSE MY ACCOUNT BECAUSE MY VIEWS ARE "CONTROVERSIAL"?
As the law states, a bank should not close an account because of a "belief, political, or an other opinion".
However, if a person drops under the wealth threshold that some banks have it could prompt the lender to conduct a wider review of the customer's profile, including reputational and legal risk.
Gary Greenwood, a banking analyst at Shore Capital, said the entire banking sector might have to change the way it approaches account closures.
Lenders will need to "demonstrate that they have gone through the proper processes", he said.
But Mr Greenwood said banks will still need to consider legal and regulatory requirements such as financial crime, as well as whether their reputations will be tarnished by having some customers on their books.
WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW?
The government met with bank bosses on Wednesday who committed to government reforms on the closure of customer accounts.
The reforms include a requirement that banks give customers a termination notice period of 90 days. This would giving customers more time to challenge a decision through the Financial Ombudsman Service or to find a replacement bank.
Banks will also be required to spell out why they are terminating a bank account, but there will be limited exceptions to such requirements, for example when investigations into criminal activity are ongoing.
THE
PLAYERS HEADING INTO 2025
The
so-called Labour Party is not representing the workers at all.
They are supporting administration jobs where those in these
roles of trust are doing nothing at all, except invent problems
that cost the tax payer even more. Heaven forbid we should
actually promote Britain's heritage, creative writers, film
makers and most of all the farmers and fishermen who keep us
fed. As to water, well that is another issue, for sure selling
off our utilities was one of the worst mistakes old Conservative
Maggie
ever did. More selling British workers into slavery. In the UK, the rich get rich by exploiting the workforce,
using battalions of surveillance administrators at a ratio of 4
seat polishers to every 1 productive worker. The system is
geared to draining every last ounce of blood from their victims
via taxes. It is like one vast concentration camp, where the
guards outnumber the inmates 4:1. The only potential cure if you
want genuine change, is ReformUK.
European
Court of Human Rights The
International Court of Human Rights
Adolf
Hitler World War
Three
horizon post office
scandal United
Nations SDG
16.
MONEY
LINKS
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigel_Farage_Coutts_bank_scandal
https://news.sky.com/story/nigel-farages-bank-accounts-whats-it-all-about-and-whats-the-coutts-threshold-12915155
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-66367896
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigel_Farage_Coutts_bank_scandal
https://news.sky.com/story/nigel-farages-bank-accounts-whats-it-all-about-and-whats-the-coutts-threshold-12915155
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-66367896
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