BBC issues apology to Nigel Farage for inaccurate reporting on the closure of his bank accounts
The BBC has apologized to Nigel Farage after running a story regarding the closure of his accounts at NatWest’s private bank Coutts. Farage, the former leader of the Brexit Party, had claimed that the closures were due to his political views. The BBC had previously reported that Farage no longer met the financial criteria required for being a Coutts customer. However, an internal review of Farage’s bank account revealed that the closure was actually based on a misalignment of values between Farage and the bank.
In a statement on its website, the BBC acknowledged that the information it had initially reported, stating that the decision to close Farage’s account was unrelated to his political views, was inaccurate. The public broadcaster apologized to Farage and updated the online version of the original story. BBC Business Editor Simon Jack also issued his own apology on Twitter, stating that the information the BBC relied on was incomplete and inaccurate.
Farage expressed his gratitude to Jack and also revealed that he had received a letter of apology from BBC News Chief Executive Deborah Turness. This recent development follows an earlier apology from NatWest CEO Alison Rose to Farage for the mishandling of the account closures.
The controversy surrounding Farage’s bank account closures prompted government intervention. The finance ministry established new regulations requiring British banks to provide explanations and delay any decision to close an account.
In conclusion, the BBC has issued an apology to Nigel Farage for its inaccurate reporting on the closure of his bank accounts. The broadcaster acknowledged the misrepresentation of the reasons behind the closures and has taken steps to rectify the situation. The incident emphasizes the importance of accurate and fair reporting, and the need to uphold journalistic integrity in the public sphere.
