City minister Andrew Griffith writes to financial regulator
Comes after Brexit campaigner Farage accuses bank of prejudice
Nigel Farage
Photographer: Carl Court/Getty ImagesRishi Sunak’s government urged the UK financial regulator to step up its review into how banks treat customers who are also politicians, after a series of complaints from right-wing figures about their treatment.
Banks “should not be closing individuals’ accounts solely due to their status” as a political figure, City minister Andrew Griffith said in a letter to the FCA published Wednesday. It comes after former Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage said private bank Coutts closed his account due to his status as a “politically exposed person” — though he also accused it of punishing him for his views.