The BBC has admitted to errors in the way it reported the closure of Nigel Farage's Coutts bank account after mounting pressure on the broadcaster.
The corporation's business editor, Simon Jack, said on social media this morning that his original story had been "clarified" and updated.
It came after corporation found itself facing criticism after it claimed that the former Brexit Party leader's account had been shut because he fell below the financial threshold required to hold an account.
The bank requires its customers to borrow or invest at least £1million, or hold £3million in savings, according to an eligibility questionnaire on its website.
But it later emerged in a dossier produced by the bank that Farage's account was closed because his political opinions "do not align" with the bank's values.
The GB News presenter was labelled a racist and xenophobe by the bank, with it warning he had made remarks which were "distasteful and appear increasingly out of touch with wider society".
Last night the CEO of NatWest, which is the parent company of Coutts, apologised for the “deeply inappropriate comments” made about him in the official papers.
Confirming his report has now been changed, Jack tweeted this morning: “It should have been clearer at the top that the reason for Mr Farage’s account being closed was commercial – was what a source told the BBC. That has been corrected.”
The update makes clear that the broadcaster's claims about Farage falling below the financial threshold came from a source and that document show his political views had been one of the key reasons why his bank account was closed.
However, responding to the BBC's update, Farage said he was launching a formal complaint against the BBC, adding: "I want an apology."
More to follow...
from GB News https://ift.tt/6zkyZPF
The BBC has admitted to errors in the way it reported the closure of Nigel Farage's Coutts bank account after mounting pressure on the broadcaster.
The corporation's business editor, Simon Jack, said on social media this morning that his original story had been "clarified" and updated.
It came after corporation found itself facing criticism after it claimed that the former Brexit Party leader's account had been shut because he fell below the financial threshold required to hold an account.
The bank requires its customers to borrow or invest at least £1million, or hold £3million in savings, according to an eligibility questionnaire on its website.
But it later emerged in a dossier produced by the bank that Farage's account was closed because his political opinions "do not align" with the bank's values.
The GB News presenter was labelled a racist and xenophobe by the bank, with it warning he had made remarks which were "distasteful and appear increasingly out of touch with wider society".
Last night the CEO of NatWest, which is the parent company of Coutts, apologised for the “deeply inappropriate comments” made about him in the official papers.
Confirming his report has now been changed, Jack tweeted this morning: “It should have been clearer at the top that the reason for Mr Farage’s account being closed was commercial – was what a source told the BBC. That has been corrected.”
The update makes clear that the broadcaster's claims about Farage falling below the financial threshold came from a source and that document show his political views had been one of the key reasons why his bank account was closed.
However, responding to the BBC's update, Farage said he was launching a formal complaint against the BBC, adding: "I want an apology."
More to follow...
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