Northern Ireland ex-gay charity Core Issues suggests Human Rights Charter to combat spate of bank account closures across UK - Treasury 'due to take action'

The CEO of a Northern Ireland charity has suggested that the UK may need its own Human Rights Charter in order to stop banks closing down accounts of people who express controversial views.
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By Philip Bradfield
Published 3rd Jul 2023, 18:01 GMT

Dr Michael Davidson of Co Down-based Core Issues Trust was speaking after it was reported that the Treasury is planning to direct banks to protect free speech.

Core Issues' mission is to "support those leaving LGBT identities, behaviours, attractions and life choices". Last month Barclays was forced to pay it £20,000 compensation for closing its bank accounts after a social media campaign to do so by LGBT activists.

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A spate of individuals across the UK have recently reported having their bank accounts closed, for no specific reason.

The CEO of a Northern Ireland charity has suggested that the UK may need its own Human Rights Charter in order to stop banks closing down accounts of people who express controversial views. Dr Michael Davidson of Co Down-based Core Issues Trust was speaking after it was reported that the Treasury is planning to direct banks that they must protect free speech.The CEO of a Northern Ireland charity has suggested that the UK may need its own Human Rights Charter in order to stop banks closing down accounts of people who express controversial views. Dr Michael Davidson of Co Down-based Core Issues Trust was speaking after it was reported that the Treasury is planning to direct banks that they must protect free speech.
The CEO of a Northern Ireland charity has suggested that the UK may need its own Human Rights Charter in order to stop banks closing down accounts of people who express controversial views. Dr Michael Davidson of Co Down-based Core Issues Trust was speaking after it was reported that the Treasury is planning to direct banks that they must protect free speech.

Last week Nigel Farage said his bank accounts were closed “without explanation” and other high street lenders refused to allow him to transfer his funds to them.

And Reverend Richard Fothergill from Cumbria has also claimed that his Yorkshire Building Society account was closed after he complained to it about its LGBT messaging. (The building society responded that it never closes accounts based on opinions or beliefs).

Several former Brexit Party MEPs have also reported having their bank accounts closed after they were elected to the European Parliament.

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Dr Davidson, who has described himself as ex-gay, told the News Letter: "Maybe a citizens’ Human Rights Charter for the UK is something to seriously consider given that regulators seem powerless to stop account cancellations."

A range of UK banks, he said, are members of the United Nations Environmental Programme Financial Initiative, which in 2021 issued its 'Banking Principles on Responsible Banking', complete with gender targets. "Could this be evidence of an overreach by the UN?" he asked of the account closures.

Toby Young, head of the Free Speech Union, branded the trend of closing bank accounts as "a new and sinister form of cancel culture that needs to be stopped before it gets out of hand". Paypal accounts owned by the FSU were frozen last September, but later reinstated after protests.

A senior Treasury source told the Daily Telegraph: "No one should have their bank account denied on the grounds of freedom of expression. We expect to take action on this issue within weeks.”

The Rainbow Project and Amnesty International were also invited to comment.

Related topics:BarclaysNigel FarageNorthern Ireland