'Ethical' bank let serial killer Rose West keep her account – but boycotted feminists

[ChristinaXYZ]

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/consumer-affairs/rose-west-bank-account-co-op-nigel-farage-natwest/

"The bank’s boycott of the unnamed feminist group was revealed in its 2017 “Values and Ethics Report”. It said: ‘We declined banking services to…’ and then lists organisations it deemed to be unacceptable and which it had turned down. The feminist group was top of its list, ahead of organisations listed under “oppressive regimes” and the “fur trade”.

The bank claimed the group had “actively declined the rights of members of the transgender community”. At the time the ban sparked outrage from feminist campaigners who said the Co-op’s decision was “highly inappropriate”.

At the time Co-Op Bank said: “We gave the organisation an opportunity to provide clarification on their position relating to diversity and equality and how they comply with the UK Equality Act.” "

Does anyone know which feminist group this was? I don't remember any reporting at the time.

This one?

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5852547/Co-operative-bank-bans-feminist-group-using-services.html

Yes, that's the right date. It does not name the group though. This is quite early in the 'gender wars'. It is around the same time that Venice Allan was kicked out the the Labour Party?

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/feminist-campaigner-venice-allan-kicked-out-of-labour-christmas-party-pqkqnfr76

Seems ages ago now. I think it might have been 'We need to talk' because it mentions an assault which would have been Maria M. I think this was the early days of Standing for Women before it became Let Women Speak.
It was around the time of GRA consultation

I really hope someone is recording the history of all this.

In fairness, Rose West has never been considered worse than Hitler, whereas GC women are. So, you know...

Feminists assert boundaries and bodily autonomy for women and girls. Rose West enabled Fred’s heinous crimes against women and girls and joined in. Of course feminists are worse. /sarcasm

I don't think anyone should be denied a bank for any reason, ever. That includes Rose West. It's a slippery slope to allow private business - which is what banks are - to have that level of power over people's lives.

I agree, although I am not sure why a life prisoner with no chance of parole needs a bank account but I guess that the state doesn't have the right to confiscate their savings unless they are from the proceeds of crime so they may well still have assets.

But that isn't the point as you say. I have a Coop Smile account and have done since they started - I don't really want to change my bank account but this and their bandwagoning with Pride is making me reconsider. That said, my other account is with Starling and I've no idea if they are Stonewalled as well. I suspect it's quite difficult to find a bank that isn't.

Seems ages ago now. I think it might have been 'We need to talk' because it mentions an assault which would have been Maria M. I think this was the early days of Standing for Women before it became Let Women Speak.

It was around the time of GRA consultation

If this was in 2017 there were only 4 groups I can remember in total. One was FPFW, another was WPUK which was set up after the Speakers' Corner meeting where Maria McLachlan was assaulted.

You are right that Venice's group was We Need to Talk and there was also Mayday4Women. Standing for Women didn't happen until middle of the following year, I met Kellie Jay for the first time at one of Venice Allan's events in early 2018, the one that had to be held in parliament because Millwall pulled out following harassment by TRAs. Several mumsnetters were there. KJK was there as a special guest as she had recently been questioned by West Yorkshire's finest due to the comments about Susie Green.

This is a good interview with Venice from later that year. Mentioning Speaker's Corner, the Bristol Jam Jar and the House of Commons event, among others.

https://www.feministcurrent.com/2018/09/24/interview-irrepressible-venice-allan-fight-changes-uk-gender-recognition-act/

This is why moving to a cashless society is such a horrible idea.

I know there are tricky cases, for example with people who are abusive to bank staff etc. But at this point, not being able to bank is very close to not being able to use money. Everyone needs a bank account to participate in society.

Prisoners with bank accounts are allowed to keep the accounts but are very restricted in how they can use them. For Rose West, I’d guess it would have been to pay outstanding debts and then assets maintained for her then-minor children.

Yes I wasn't sure if she had kids, that makes sense.

I don't think anyone ever found out which group it was. There were rumours that it was Hands Across The Aisle but it seems unlikely because they are US based.

Old thread here:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/3277687-Co-op-bank-refuses-services-to-feminist-group?page=1