Chancellor's statement on de-banking

Urgent review into the matter of de-banking

Speaking to broadcasters today, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, said:

“Free speech is a fundamental human right. You can agree or disagree with Nigel Farage, but everyone must be able to express their opinions.

“In today’s society, you need a bank account function and so a threat to be de-banked is a threat to your right to express your opinions. We have regulations – Regulation 18 of the Payments Accounts Regulations – that ban this so called de-banking of people for their political views.

“I’ve written to the regulator – the Financial Conduct Authority – they have the right to fine banks very large sums of money if they find this practice is widespread. I want to know if it is, and I want to know what they are doing about it.”