First Direct and Natwest closing bank accounts for political reasons inc being gender critical

[Snorkers]

Apprently First Direct have closed the account of the Wings over Scotland founder for his beliefs (He's Gender Critical), and Coutts, owned by Natwest, closed Nigel Farage's account.
Whatever you think of Nigel Farage he is entitled to a bank account.

This is really worrying.

I bank with First Direct. I am gender critical. Do I need to hide my beliefs to keep my bank account? Will tey stop me getting access to my money?

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12249755/Nigel-Farage-claims-three-loved-ones-bank-accounts-closed-Brexit.html

I don't agree with your interpretation and I think my point stands.

I completely disagree. I think your interpretation of that article is wrong.

Their experiences aren't as bad as many people's dealings with the DWP. It's quite noticeable how quickly there are plans for removing banks obligations to check politically exposed persons, yet year on year the failings of the DWP carry on with hardly a murmur.

Two wrong don't make a right. Plus this isn't about the DWP. Bringing in the DWP isn't even conflating topics - they're totally separate.

You persist in claiming that a person having somewhere to store their own money is exactly the same as being given money by the state. They aren't. The state has a right to ensure that hardship benefits aren't claimed by people who are not suffering hardship.

No. I'm pointing out that the oversight of the DWP is more intrusive than that of the banks with regard to politically exposed persons. Yet, despite the DWP failing year on year...nothing.

A few accusations by PEPs and the banks get their duty of oversight removed.

It's not a difficult concept.

And we should have a right to see who is funding our legislature.

They are not the same thing. If you want to cut the red tape around state benefits, start your own thread.

You can't even get benefits without a bank account because they are paid by BACS, so having a bank account is more fundamental to existing than state benefits are. You cannot get paid by your employer without a bank account. You cannot pay rent without a bank account.

We've got a situation where people are being denied banking, effectively being unpersoned, because of lawfully-expressed beliefs and we are talking about that. Some of those people might also PEPs, but the rest, like Wings Over Scotland and that vicar, are not.

I don't reckon that vicar was funding our legislature, nor is he part of it. He's a vicar, not one of the Lords Spiritual.

Seems defence companies are having issues too ...

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2023/07/09/banks-investigated-for-closing-defence-companies-accounts

Companies are not people, so I care less about them having their accounts closed.

But still… Ukraine is currently in need of defence companies. However, this might have to do with financial shenanigan concerns rather than ‘values’ not being aligned.

You'd care if they were treated better than people.

Yes.

They are, in many cases. For example. www.huffpost.com/entry/corporations-are-people-a_b_5543833

It sounds a dreadful stance, but this is why I stay away from so-called ethical banks. They're far more prone to being captured by whatever the current right think is. That dawned on me some time ago as we started finding ourselves we are. Sad as it is, I prefer to do banking with banks that sell weapons to regimes I despise, invest in dirty fuels and where the customer service is crap. I can't believe this is what it comes to.

And I don't reckon that vicar was being entirely honest about why his building society closed his account.

He's a grifter. https://thefillingstation.org/author/richardfothergill/

What's the problem...

As far as I can see the only surprise is that the vicar is a Christian.

OK he seems connected with Alpha, but 5 million people in the UK have taken the Alpha course. When I last heard Britain was still a Christian country.

You should look a bit closer at the Filling Station's station's structure. It's a corporate identity, not a church. Not that churches are neccessarily beyond grifting.

I still don’t get it. Britain is also a capitalist country. Lots of corporate entities. Even some of the most worthy charities have trading arms. Which in turn have bank accounts.

I think you have been reading too many conspiracy theories on Twitter.

When I last heard Britain was still a Christian country.

You should get out more

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/nov/29/census-2021-in-charts-christianity-now-minority-religion-in-england-and-wales

I don't disagree. My point was more that following our official religion (CofE) is being suggested as evidence that our Vicar is a grifter.

Obviously someone who believes in gender ideology would not be accused of being a grifter..

Thing is it matters not even if he is a grifter

everyone needs a bank account

every one what next water company’s can turn off your water because your a grifter or even a criminal

Quite. Interesting little diversion, but should not have a baring on whether someone can have a bank account or not.

Or are we arguing that banks should be moral arbiters? 'Cause, well...

No. I'm arguing that a group of seperate incidents, with the reasons given mostly disputed, have been pulled together by a collection of notorious right wing grifters to whip up enough outrage to allow the government to remove the obligation of the Banks to oversee the dodgy funding of PEPs.

Over a million adults in the UK don't have a single bank account. That's a problem.

Farage has several, the high value account at Coutts was closed because it didn't meet their wealth threshold, according to the bank.

What about all the other people affected? Are they all in it together?

Like this lady for example.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12278983/amp/Countess-Alexandra-Tolstoys-accounts-suddenly-closed-years-impeccable-banking.html