A Cabinet minister has doubled down on the controversial decision to close Nigel Farage's bank account, dismissing claims of political bias as "nonsense". The senior Conservative figure insisted the move by Coutts was purely commercial and required no apology.
The Banking Row Escalates
Speaking to broadcasters, the minister stated: "Banks make commercial decisions every day about who they do and don't want as customers." They added that Farage's case was no different from thousands of other account closures that occur annually.
Farage Fights Back
The former UKIP leader has alleged he was "debanked" due to his political views after obtaining documents suggesting Coutts considered him "xenophobic and racist". However, the minister countered: "This idea that there's some sort of conspiracy against Nigel Farage is for the birds."
Regulatory Scrutiny Intensifies
The Financial Conduct Authority has been drawn into the growing controversy, with the Treasury Committee demanding answers about banks' account closure policies. Meanwhile, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has ordered a review of banking regulations to ensure political views don't influence access to financial services.
The minister concluded: "While we're looking at the rules, let's not pretend this was anything other than a normal banking decision."
