Nigel Farage: BBC apologises over inaccurate report on Coutts checking account closure

Jul 24, 2023 at 6:08 PM
Nigel Farage: BBC apologises over inaccurate report on Coutts checking account closure

The BBC has issued an apology to Nigel Farage over a narrative on the closure of his Coutts financial institution accounts “which turned out not to be accurate”.

It comes after Mr Farage revealed final month that the financial institution – which is owned by NatWest Group – had written to tell him that his personal and business accounts were being shut down without explanation.

The BBC then reported that it was as a result of the former UKIP and Brexit Party leader had fallen beneath the extent of wealth required by the financial institution, and that his political views weren’t an element within the determination.

But Mr Farage then obtained despatched a 40-page file from Coutts which steered the transfer was taken partly as a result of his views did not align with the firm’s “values”, together with his place on LGBTQ+ rights and friendship with former US president Donald Trump.

In a press release, the broadcaster stated: “Because of this proof, we’ve since modified the headline and the copy on the unique on-line article about his checking account being shut for falling beneath the wealth restrict to mirror that the declare got here from a supply and added an replace to recognise the story had modified.

“We acknowledge that the information we reported – that Coutts’ decision on Mr Farage’s account did not involve considerations about his political views – turned out not to be accurate and have apologised to Mr Farage.”

The company’s enterprise editor, Simon Jack, additionally stated sorry in a Tweet.

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He wrote: “The information on which we based our reporting on Nigel Farage and his bank accounts came from a trusted and senior source. However the information turned out to be incomplete and inaccurate.

“Therefore I wish to apologise to Mr Farage.”

It comes after NatWest’s CEO Alison Rose apologised to Mr Farage for the “deeply inappropriate comments” made about him in paperwork ready for the corporate’s wealth committee.

She stated the remarks “did not reflect the view of the bank”, which has now provided him “alternative banking arrangements”.

Read extra:
Key points from Coutts’ dossier on Nigel Farage
Are banks allowed to close accounts?

In a video posted on Twitter, Mr Farage thanked Mr Jack and BBC News head Deborah Turness for saying sorry, and stated he would take a while to “absorb” it.

He added: “It’s not often the BBC apologise”.

Over the weekend Mr Farage stated his legal professionals had written to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) to ask them to investigate.

In the letter, he accused the NatWest Group of mishandling his private information and of handing over private info to the BBC.

The row prompted the Treasury to announce reforms designed to better protect customers from similar closures in future.

New measures embrace making banks clarify why they’re shutting an account, and increasing the discover interval from 30 days to 90 days.

City Minister Andrew Griffith has additionally summoned bank and building society bosses for talks, and warned them that the federal government will “take all action necessary” to crack down on accounts being closed in response to clients’ political opinions.