Nigel Farage Receives Apology from BBC Over Inaccurate Report on Bank Account Closure
Nigel Farage, the former leader of the UK Independence Party (UKIP) and the Brexit Party, has received an apology from the BBC over an inaccurate report about the closure of his bank accounts with Coutts.
The report, which was based on information from a "trusted and senior source," claimed that Farage's accounts were shut down because he had fallen below the required level of wealth.
However, a subsequent investigation by Farage revealed that the decision was also influenced by his political views, which did not align with those of the bank.
Farage has since obtained a 40-page dossier from Coutts, which suggested that the bank's decision was partly based on its concerns about his views on LGBTQ+ rights and his friendship with former US President Donald Trump.
The BBC has since acknowledged the error in its reporting and apologized to Farage for the inaccuracies.
Farage has also written to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) to investigate whether the NatWest Group, which owns Coutts, mishandled his personal data and passed on sensitive information to the BBC.
In response to the controversy, the Treasury has announced reforms to better protect customers from similar account closures in the future.
The new measures include requiring banks to explain their decision to close an account and extending the notice period from 30 to 90 days.
City Minister Andrew Griffith has also summoned bank and building society bosses for talks and warned them that the government will take "all action necessary" to crack down on accounts being closed due to political views.
However, a subsequent investigation by Farage revealed that the decision was also influenced by his political views, which did not align with those of the bank.
Farage has since obtained a 40-page dossier from Coutts, which suggested that the bank's decision was partly based on its concerns about his views on LGBTQ+ rights and his friendship with former US President Donald Trump.
The BBC has since acknowledged the error in its reporting and apologized to Farage for the inaccuracies.
Farage has also written to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) to investigate whether the NatWest Group, which owns Coutts, mishandled his personal data and passed on sensitive information to the BBC.
In response to the controversy, the Treasury has announced reforms to better protect customers from similar account closures in the future.
The new measures include requiring banks to explain their decision to close an account and extending the notice period from 30 to 90 days.
City Minister Andrew Griffith has also summoned bank and building society bosses for talks and warned them that the government will take "all action necessary" to crack down on accounts being closed due to political views.
