Day of action on RBS plan

SNP politicians are planning a national day of action to prevent RBS branch closures, writes Iain McGrouther

MPs and MSPs, along with community campaigners, will gather in towns nationwide on Saturday March 10 to collect petition signatures and put pressure on RBS chiefs to rethink their ‘damaging and misguided’ plans to shut 62 branches.

Branches originally earmarked for closure included Barra and Inveraray.

Recently, RBS announced a reprieve for 10 of its most remote branches, assuring that they would remain open until the end of 2018, with an independent review on their long-term future.

SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford welcomed the move but warned it did not go nearly far enough.

Mr Blackford said: ‘After huge pressure from the SNP and community campaigners, RBS announced a reprieve for 10 local branches – but our fight to save the remaining banks continues.

‘The SNP national day of action is aimed at keeping the pressure on RBS. They have shown they are willing to listen but their damaging and misguided plans to continue with the closure of 52 branches are completely unacceptable and must be challenged.’

The SNP has raised the issue four times at Prime Minister’s Questions, and in three separate parliamentary debates, calling for the UK government to use its ‘power and responsibility’ as the majority shareholder to intervene.