this post was submitted on 30 Jun 2023
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  • Nigel Farage, a prominent Brexiteer and broadcaster, claimed that his bank accounts have been closed without given reason, suggesting serious political persecution at the highest level.
  • Farage refused to name the prestigious banking group involved but stated that the closures were part of an establishment plot to force him out of the UK.
  • Other parties and politicians on the right of politics, such as the Reclaim Party and Reform UK, have also reportedly been denied bank accounts or had accounts closed, indicating a coordinated effort by financial institutions to target right-wing figures.
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[–] Syldon 33 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The truth is at the end of the article. Banks are refusing because he has additional costs attached to himself. This is his ego coming back to bite him. Farage said that this could make him leave the UK. He also said that he would leave if BREXIT was a disaster.

Now you have two reasons Farage, are you gone yet?

[–] EROLoLICON@kbin.social 9 points 1 year ago

Well, well, well… if it isn't the consequences of my own actions.

[–] HumanPenguin 26 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

If this is true. Then Farage has no reason to keep the name of the bank secret.

In that situation, they closed his accounts. So he has evidence. The worst they can do is give a valid reason. So he either knows the reason. Or has other reasons to presume the banks will sue him if he names them.

Apparently he knows what the reason is. At the end it states because he has extra costs associated with himself.

So yes, his actions have left him as a bad investment for these banking groups. And he is openly lying about not knowing the reason. In an attempt to make some political gain. And knows full well that if he names the banking group. He will be sued into oblivion for libel or slander (depending on if he wrote it himself or just claimed it to a journalist).

It's just basically more lies to make him seem relevant as a political force. When even Brexit supporters have little reason to pay him attention now. He is desperately trying to make himself (and other small right wing parties) seem like a threat to the main parties. By indicating there is some conspiracy to remove his political effectiveness.

[–] Tweak 20 points 1 year ago (2 children)

He has every reason, because he's under investigation. The banks (neither the one that closed his accounts nor the 7 others that refused to open for him) almost certainly can't give details for legal reasons.

An MP accused him of accepting £550,000 from RT, so it likely has something to do with that, or perhaps something else they've uncovered.

Basically, watch this space, criminal charges may well follow.

[–] Xeelee@kbin.social 7 points 1 year ago

If this is really true then it very likely happened because of financial malfeasance by Farage. So him screeching about persecution is just another lie.

[–] HumanPenguin 6 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

If an account is under investigation. Would it not be frozen, so no changes may occur. Rather than closed.

Seems to me, closing an account would have very much the opposite effect of hiding evidence in an investigation. And most investigations would not even freeze it. They would just seek the historical data. Frozen would only happen if they had evidence that the money was going somewhere illegal. Or coming from. Because freezing or closing someone's account is an event that affects the person. So, a punishment before proof of a crime. Not an event done in an investigation.

And you are correct. Refusing to open an account because you are suspected of but not convicted of a crime. Would def be illegal. So the banks would not tell him that. Meaning, he has no reason not to declare bank a refused me an account without reason. As the bank cannot then say. No, we told you, you can't have an account because you are too poor. And sue him.

Also, a person being under investigation. Is not something the legal system is allowed to keep secret from the person. They need warrants etc to gain rights to see your bank details. You legally have a right to know that. So while a bank may not be able to tell the world why your bank is frozen. They sure as hell can tell you. And sue you if you claim they refused to inform you why.

Our legal system has generally evolved to prevent organizations not giving reasons for fiscal choices. Because back in the past, it was used to enforce racism and other prejudice. It's still far from perfect.

But a bank is def required to follow its own guidelines. And document those guidelines. Before closing people's accounts or making fiscal decisions about them.

While I was in the US when I worked as a bank software engineer. So the rules are a little different. The UK def has similar rules. Innn fact more limitations, as people a legal right to get the information used to make choices about them.

[–] Tweak 23 points 1 year ago

TL;DR an MP accused him of accepting £550,000 from Russian state news organisation RT.

The banks probably can't say anything for legal reasons. However the fact that it's happening, and the fact that 7 banks have rejected him from opening a new account, strongly suggest it's true.

[–] guriinii@lemmy.world 16 points 1 year ago (1 children)

A bank wouldn't close a persons account due to political allegiance. It's more likely they've been doing dodgy shit.

[–] HumanPenguin 10 points 1 year ago

Farage refused to name the prestigious banking group

The term "prestigious banking group" tends to give it away. These types of banks expect account owners to prove they are a viable investment. So while you are correct, they will not close for political reasons. They will definitely close accounts because he has been unable to gain the political investment he has in the past.

These banks tend to give extra privileges that cost them. But more using accounts like this they are known for their customer evaluation methods. So other rich people know your rough status when you use them.

I remember hearing loads of reports about expensive gifts and use of property from Brexit backing millionaires not long after 2016. So that funding would be enough to support accounts at banks like Coutts. One of the smaller ones. Who are rumoured to drive members to a fancy event. To prove they have £1m in flexible assets every few years.

[–] breadsmasher@lemmy.world 11 points 1 year ago

“Farage expresses concern that without a bank account, he feels like a non-person and may struggle to exist and function in modern-day Britain, suggesting that life in the country is becoming unlivable for him.”

He is finally feeling the consequences of brexit. This is exactly how a hateful nationalist should feel. Like a non person.

Fuck around? Its fine out time.

Good riddance

[–] Sneckster@lemmy.world 7 points 1 year ago

Nothing to do with his Russian friends.. nothing at all

[–] comedy@kbin.social 7 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Can he not open a bank account at a normal, “chain,” type bank in the UK? The equivalent would be a Bank of America or Chase in the U. S. - banks where branches are commonly found in nearly any city or state. If he’s only been disallowed from banking with a few “prestigious” banks, well, boohoo. Join a normal bank like the rest of us filthy poor, Nigel. Or, better yet, move to Russia and suck on Putin's evil, rotting teat.

[–] lemonflavoured@kbin.social 2 points 1 year ago

He probably could, but that would stop him grifting. The rumour is that the bank who closed his account was Coutts, who are the most exclusive of the exclusive (they handle the Royal Family's bank accounts...)

[–] snacks 7 points 1 year ago (2 children)

good. If hes making money from cryptocurrency which I suspect is the reason, hes going to attract money laundering compliance questions, which i reckon he cant answer.

[–] Syldon 8 points 1 year ago

This is precisely what Phil Moorhouse is suggesting. He is saying that one of the reasons banks like Coutts will withdraw their services is because they cannot comply with legal obligations for providing proof of earnings. He also says that Farage is only being rejected by one bank. He can get a another easy enough. This is a typical Farage stunt of crying to the tinfoil hat brigade. The reality is that Farage has made a fortune at our expense. The sooner he makes that promise of leaving the country a reality the better imo.

[–] TheElectroness 6 points 1 year ago

He's been laundering russian money for 2 decades, it's more likely that the sanctions finally caught him out.

[–] SirCrate@sh.itjust.works 7 points 1 year ago

Farage the Libertarian whining that the free market doesn't want to do business with him

[–] digdilem 4 points 1 year ago

He does rather like to paint himself as a victim, and very quick to blame conspiracy. A bit like Boris in that regard.

[–] TheHellDoIKnow@kbin.social 4 points 1 year ago

Couldn't have happened to a nicer dude!

[–] grus@kbin.social 4 points 1 year ago

Oh-oh, that a sign that something is happening to good ol' Nigel. I expect some news to announce it soon.
Also anyone remembers when Nigel gave Assange a USB stick in the Ecuadorian embassy a couple years ago and got really angry/upset when people started asking him what was on that stick? I remember.

[–] doleo@kbin.social 3 points 1 year ago

Sounds like he's trying to spin himself into a victim costume and wear it all the way to his new, European villa, somewhere abroad.

[–] Biohazard -5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I keep hearing this more and more. Banks shouldn't be allowed to just shut down someone's bank account suddenly without warning or explination. You need a bank account. You can't opperate in the modern world without one. It's unpersoning someone.

[–] Tangentism@lemmy.ml 7 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

If the account is being used for criminal activities, laundering or circumventing sanctions, among other things, then they are legally obligated to freeze activity on it.

Farage is doing his usual of bullshitting to create rage bait blaming the establishment of trying to stop him bringing the truth to people when the simple fact is he is part of the establishment and he is a filthy, lying grifter.