Farage sounds alarm on potential closure of ministers’ accounts

UK Politician Nigel Farage has warned that ministers’ bank accounts could also be closed following the closure of his own accounts by Coutts. Farage, the former leader of the Ukip party, received praise for the swift response of the government to reports that ministers are considering legislation to prevent banks from refusing services to customers. Farage’s account was closed by Coutts because his views did not align with the bank’s values, although the bank has previously handled the finances of controversial figures such as dictators and oligarchs. Meanwhile, Jon Sopel, a former North America editor for the BBC, has apologized to Farage for mocking him over the account closure, prompting scrutiny of the BBC’s handling of the story. As a consequence of the closure, NatWest is reportedly facing numerous requests from customers seeking explanations for the closure of their own accounts. In a Facebook group of nearly 10,000 people who claim to have experienced account closures, customers are sharing templates and instructions for filing subject access requests with the bank.