POLITICIAN and broadcaster George Galloway has threatened to take the Bank of Scotland to court for allegedly closing his bank accounts “without explanation or notice”.
The former MP claimed on social media that the bank, which is owned by the Lloyds Banking Group, was in “breach of the law” and was trying to “wreck my family life”.
He wrote on social media: “39 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.”
39 years ago I opened a personal bank account with Bank of Scotland in Byres Rd 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…
— George Galloway (@georgegalloway) September 4, 2026
A few hours later, Galloway added: “My solicitor Kevin Winters of @KRWLaw has sent a powerful letter before action to you @LloydsBank.
“You are in breach of the law. I will not stand by while you use your usurious power to wreck my family life.”
A Bank of Scotland spokesperson 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 an account.
The National further understands that the bank believes it has met all regulatory and legal requirements in its operations.
Galloway is living in self-imposed “exile” from the UK. He was in Russia during the Holyrood elections – in which he stood and failed to be elected – and now appears to be in China.
In July, the left-wing media outlet The Canary also alleged it had been “de-banked” by Lloyds Banking Group without explanation.
The outlet claimed that Lloyds was “withholding a substantial amount of our money" and had “not explained why it has taken this action".
