George Galloway threatens legal action as Bank of Scotland accounts 'closed'

George Galloway has threatened to take legal action after claiming his Bank of Scotland accounts were closed without warning.

The controversial politician and broadcaster vowed he would not stand by while the bank used its “usurious power to wreck my family life”.

He said his solicitor, Kevin Winters of Belfast-based KRW Law, had now sent Lloyds Banking Group, which owns the Bank of Scotland, a letter before action.

Former MP George Galloway (left) and his solicitor, Kevin Winter (right) of KRW Law, speak to media in 2025. | PA

“Thirty-nine years ago I opened a personal bank account with Bank of Scotland in Byres Rd Glasgow,” Mr Galloway posted on X.

“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.”

The 72-year-old 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.”

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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 account closures are rare.

Mr Galloway and Mr Winters were contacted for comment.

Mr Galloway, who famously pretended to be a cat while appearing on Celebrity Big Brother in 2006, was the MP for Glasgow Hillhead between 1987 and 2005, the MP for Bethnal Green until 2010 and the MP for Bradford West from 2012 to 2015.

In 2024, he was the MP for Rochdale for just 92 days after winning a by-election and subsequently losing his seat at the general election.

He was a member of the Labour Party until 2003 and later led the Respect Party, but has been leader of the Workers Party of Britain since founding it in 2019.

The Dundee-born politician previously said he was now living in self-imposed exile from the UK after claiming he was detained at gunpoint by British border police in 2025.