Save Britain’s cashpoints, MPs tell watchdog

WATCHDOGS must be prepared to step in and stop thousands of cash machines being axed, MPs have warned.

Big banks are calling for a cut to the fees they pay independent operators of ATMs.

It is feared the lower payments could make thousands of machines unprofitable.

If this leads to closures, up to 5,000 towns and villages could lose access to a free ATM. Tory MP Nicky Morgan, chairman of the Treasury select committee, said the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) must intervene if necessary.

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) added it is essential nothing prevents companies and customers from accessing cash.

Mrs Morgan said: ‘Reports on the future of free-to-use ATMs have left many con- sumers understandably concerned about their ability to access cash in the future.

‘The relevant parties must engage constructively. If they don’t, or if consumer access to cash is at risk, the regulator should not hesitate to take appropriate action. As bank closures increase, so too does the reliance on free-to-use ATMs.

‘The ability of consumers to access cash must not suffer.’ The planned 20 per cent cut to fees has been proposed by Link, which manages Britain’s 70,000 free ATMs.

Link claims costs are too high and use of cash is falling – even though the Bank of England has said notes are ‘not in decline’. The proposals come after heavy lobbying from High Street banks – chiefly Lloyds and NatWest owner Royal Bank of Scotland – as they seek to maximise profits.

Big lenders are dramatically scaling back branch networks, with 1,000 shutting this year alone. Cash machines are seen as an expense that could also be reduced as they prod customers into signing up for cheaper internet banking – but widespread disappearances could hit vulnerable people who cannot travel far. Link attempted to head off a backlash last week by saying that iso- lated cash machines more than 1km apart – around 0.6 miles – will be exempt from the changes. But MPs fear this will not be enough to prevent closures.

Mrs Morgan wrote to Link chairman Sir Mark Boleat, urging him to ensure ‘an acceptable outcome is reached’.

She threatened to haul Link chiefs, bank bosses and independent ATM operators in front of the Treasury committee unless a sensible solution is found.

She also wrote to PSR boss Hannah Nixon, asking her to pay close attention.

Sir Mark said: ‘The Link board’s intention is to set the level of interchange at a level that will retain an extensive network of free ATMs for consumers, particularly in rural and deprived areas.’

‘Access to cash must not suffer’

YET again, senior executives of Twitter, Facebook and Google were dragged before MPs yesterday and given a richly deserved tongue-lashing for their failure to stem the tide of abuse, filth and extremist material flooding across their sites.

Yet again they responded with a stream of platitudes and feeble excuses.

Home Affairs Committee chairman Yvette Cooper bitterly complained that even antiSemitic tweets and online threats against politicians she highlighted at their last meeting had still not been removed. Clearly incensed, she accused them of condoning serious abuse and hate crime. The Mail couldn’t agree more. These amoral, tax-avoiding, mega-rich corporations have become a law unto themselves and all attempts to rein them in have failed. It may be that punitive fines are the only solution.

But social media firms are just part of the problem. The real culprits are the vile individuals who use their platforms to pour out hateful bile.

If Miss Cooper really wants to tackle the rise in abuse and intimidation, she should start by looking inside her own party. Labour’s hard-Left Momentum group – Jeremy Corbyn’s main power base – is riddled with anti-Semites and bullies. Dozens of Tory and moderate Labour MPs – especially women – have been subjected to their disgusting vitriol, some even receiving death threats.

Last week a Tory MP who clashed with Mr Corbyn in the Commons said he was targeted by the ‘Momentum hate mob’. They threatened to have his head ‘put on a spike’ and his pregnant wife was told: ‘I hope your baby dies.’

Of course, MPs have to put up with the rough and tumble of politics. But this type of intimidation is simply grotesque.

So yes, by all means take the irresponsible internet giants to task, Miss Cooper. But shouldn’t you also ask Mr Corbyn why he doesn’t crack down on the sickening behaviour of his own army of trolls?