George Galloway outraged after 'bank shuts accounts without notice'

See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Published: 13:48 EDT, 4 September 2026 | Updated: 13:48 EDT, 4 September 2026 Former Labour MP George Galloway has threatened legal action against the Bank of Scotland after claiming it closed his accounts ‘without explanation or notice’.The politician and broadcaster alleged on X that the bank, which is part of Lloyds Banking Group, was acting unlawfully and attempting to ‘wreck my family life’.Mr Galloway wrote: ‘Thirty-nine years ago, I opened a personal bank account with Bank of Scotland in Byres Road, Glasgow. Yesterday without explanation or notice they closed my accounts.‘My parliamentary and old age pensions are paid into these accounts. The mortgage on our family home is paid out of them. The mortgage is with them. They haven’t heard the last of this.’A few hours later, the 72-year-old said: ‘My solicitor Kevin Winters of KRW Law has sent a powerful letter before action to you [Bank of Scotland].‘You are in breach of the law. I will not stand by while you use your usurious power to wreck my family life.’ Former MP George Galloway took to social media to highlight his bank closing his account 'without explanation or notice'The dispute comes amid continuing debate over so-called ‘debanking’ after Reform UK leader Nigel Farage claimed in 2023 his Coutts account had been closed due to his political views.The row triggered political controversy, parliamentary scrutiny and a wider discussion about how banks make decisions to withdraw services from customers.A Bank of Scotland spokesman said: ‘Our policy is not to close a customer’s account based on political or personal beliefs and we make customers aware if we make the decision to close an account.‘We’re unable to comment on individual cases.’It is understood that the bank’s terms and conditions give it the right to close accounts in certain circumstances. It is also understood the bank believes it has complied with all relevant legal and regulatory requirements. Mr Galloway opened his account at the Bank of Scotland branch in Byers Road, Glasgow, 39 years agoMr Galloway, who founded the Workers Party of Britain, has recently been living outside the UK. He was in Russia during the Holyrood election campaign, in which he stood unsuccessfully, and has since posted regularly from overseas, including China.The allegations are not the first claims of ‘debanking’ to be levelled at Lloyds Banking Group. In July, the Left-wing media outlet The Canary said it had also been ‘de-banked’ without explanation.The organisation claimed Lloyds was ‘withholding a substantial amount of our money’ and had ‘not explained why it has taken this action’. Lloyds did not publicly comment on the allegations.The latest dispute raises fresh questions about banks terminating customers’ accounts and the safeguards available for those who believe that they have been treated unfairly.Dundee-born Mr Galloway was Labour MP for Glasgow Hillhead from 1987 until 2003, when he was expelled from the party following a dispute over the Iraq war.He has long been a controversial figure, attracting fierce criticism over his outspoken views on foreign policy, Russia, the Middle East and British politics.The former MP and his solicitor were contacted for comment.