A candidate in the Tain and Easter Ross by-election has hit out at the Lloyds banking group after the multinational company announced more bank branch closures.
Peter Newman, the Scottish National Party candidate in Ward 7, called the move “despicable.”
In a social media video, the teacher also highlighted the scale of the company’s pre-tax profits in this year to June, pointing out that their £3.5 billion pre-tax profits could finance around 7,000 high street branches based upon average running costs.
Newman said:
“The closure of the Bank of Scotland in Tain is shocking.
“If you elect me today as your councillor for Tain and Easter Ross, my first priority will be to work with Maree Todd MSP and the other ward councillors to either halt the despicable closure of Tain’s Bank of Scotland or to ensure a replacement banking hub is provided instead.
“There are steps that can be taken, and I intend to take them if elected today.
“That branch has exceptional staff and a range of customers of all ages.
“Closure amounts to nothing less than discrimination against people unwilling or unable to bank online and must be halted.
“Customers are not an inconvenience.”
