Nigel Farage said no reason was given for the closure of his accounts. Credit: Carl Court/Getty Images Europe
Nigel Farage said he could be forced to leave the UK after his bank closed his accounts and others abandoned his customs.
The former UKIP leader said he his personal and business accounts at a major retail bank were closed due to a «commercial decision». ” and other large firms refused to transfer their funds to them.
Mr Farage told The Telegraph he may have been the victim of «blatant corporate bias» because of his Brexit campaign, or violated «politically exposed person» rules designed to reduce banks' exposure to bribery and money laundering.
When asked what he plans to do in response to the closure of his accounts and the termination of his debit cards, he said: “Leave the country? I haven't decided. I really need to think about it.”
The decision comes after other right-wing figures, including UK reform leader Richard Tice and Toby Young, founder of the Free Speech Union, said their accounts had been closed or restricted.
In a video posted on his Twitter account Thursday, Farage acknowledged that his bank had given him two months' notice to close his accounts. He declined to name the bank and said he was talking to lawyers in the hope they could convince him to restore his access.
The establishment is trying to force me to leave the UK by shutting down my banking accounts.
I was not given any explanation or referral as to why this is happening to me.
This is a serious political persecution at the highest level of our system.
If they can do this to me, they… pic.twitter.com/O4xQ1h79ub
— Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) June 29, 2023
The Bank may close a customer's account at any time for a variety of reasons, sometimes without notice.
According to payment account rules, banks may close an account if a person has knowingly used or attempted to use the account. for illegal purposes. The bank may also take action if incorrect information was provided when applying for an account or if the account holder is no longer legally a UK resident.
Banks also exercise increased scrutiny of politically exposed persons, individuals who are more exposed to bribery or corruption due to their profession or position.
Under anti-money laundering regulations, banks must apply enhanced due diligence to PEPs to ensure they are not using their institution to launder money or obtain cash from illegal sources.
In 2018, the City's Financial Conduct Authority said it was aware that «some banks are no longer offering services to categories of customers they believe are at high risk of money laundering.»
Mr Farage said: «I got a call a couple of months ago and they said, 'We're closing your accounts.' I asked why — no reason was given. I was told that a letter would come that would explain everything. A letter came in that simply said, «We are closing your accounts, we want to finish everything by a certain date,» which is about now.
“I didn't really know what to do with it. I complained, emailed the chairman, got a call from a footman to say it was a commercial decision, which I have to say I don't believe for a moment.
«So, I thought, well here so it is, I'll have to go and find another bank, I've been to seven banks, asking them all «Can I have a personal and business account?», and the answer was no in all cases.
“There is nothing wrong or unusual in what I do. The payments coming in and going out each month are pretty much the same, I maintain a fairly large positive cash balance in my business account, which I think, with interest rates where they are, is not bad for the bank either.”
Faraj also suggested that the reason for his account being closed could be that Labor MP Chris Bryant claimed that the Russian state paid him more than £500,000. There is no evidence for such a claim.
He added: «I'm beginning to think that perhaps life in the United Kingdom is now becoming completely unlivable due to the level of prejudice against me.»
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