Law could be changed so Brits have a legal right to a bank account, under plan championed by David Davis
THE LAW could be changed to prevent Brits being de-banked under proposals pushed by Tory big beast David Davis.
The ex Cabinet minister said it is a travesty that Nigel Farage and others have been blacklisted by banks for their political views.
He is drawing up a Private Members Bill to give every Brit the legal right to a bank account.
Mr David – a champion of free speech – told The Sun on Sunday: “When the Post Office was still owned by the taxpayer, it was bound to offer an account to anyone, even if they had been rejected by other banks.
“When we sold off the Post Office, we sold off that right too.
“Recent events have shown what a folly that was. It is time to bring back that right, to ensure everyone has access to banking and therefore the ability to live a normal life, regardless of their politics.
“I hope the Government will support my Bill so we can end the scourge of political de-banking.”
Mr Farage said: “I have spoken to so many people who have also been through the horror of their bank accounts being closed.
“Once the credit ratings agencies have a negative against your name, you may never get another account again.
“It must be a right for everyone to have a bank account so that they can live a normal life in this modern world — it has become such a vital utility.
“Let’s hope MPs can get behind this non-partisan issue. It matters.”
It comes after the banking sector was rocked by the de-banking scandal.
Natwest boss Alison Rose had to resign in disgrace after it emerged Mr Farage had his bank account closed because of his political views.
The government has ordered the banking sector to get its house in order and stop de-banking customers.
Natwest has called in lawyers to investigate the scandal.
DAVID DAVIS: I want to change the law so no one is de-banked
None of you will have failed to notice what has happened to Brexit hero Nigel Farage recently.
Farage’s Coutts account was shut after the bank decided he did not ‘align with our values’.
And in a domino effect, Farage then found other banks refused to take him on.
Now, we have learned that the executive who handled his account is an avowed Remainer – no surprises there.
But Farage bravely fought back against this naked political discrimination, and won: the subsequent row has cost the Coutts boss and the boss of NatWest (which owns Coutts) their jobs, as well as hitting the Nat West share price.
Farage is far from alone in having his access to banking unfairly cut, of course.
This issue first came to my attention two years ago, but when I raised the issue at the time it proved impossible to engage the authorities.
Last year, Toby Young’s Free Speech Union had its account shut down by PayPal, only for it to be reinstated after complaints from people like me. Now, even Gina Miller, the die-hard Remainer activist, has had her account closed by Monzo due to her involvement in politics.
And these are just some of the names you have heard of. There are countless ordinary decent people from all walks of life whose accounts have been shut for arbitrarily political reasons too. This is a danger to all of us.
I propose to introduce a Private Member’s Bill in the House of Commons that will guarantee everyone has a right to a bank account.
When the Post Office was still owned by the taxpayer, it was bound to offer an account to anyone, even if they had been rejected by other banks.
When we sold off the Post Office, we sold off that right too. Recent events have shown what a folly that was. It is time to bring back that right, to ensure everyone has access to banking and therefore the ability to live a normal life, regardless of their politics.
I hope the Government will support my Bill so we can end the scourge of political de-banking.