Leonard calls for Holyrood protest

The leader of Scottish Labour is seeking Holyrood’s support against bank closures.

Richard Leonard is hoping the Scottish Parliament’s influence will force the UK Government to intervene in the RBS decision.

If accepted, the motion is likely to lead to a clear expression of parliament’s will against the closures, piling pressure on the UK Government to react.

The Courier is campaigning against the closures, which threaten to cut off vulnerable customers.

Mr Leonard said: “This announcement by the Royal Bank of Scotland will damage high streets the length and breadth of Scotland.

“It will hurt the elderly and the vulnerable, who depend on local banks the most.

“All of this has been decided by bankers determined to cut costs and boost profits – and despite their promise in 2010 that they would not close branches if they were the last bank in town.”

Last week SNP business minister Paul Wheelhouse wrote to the Treasury calling for it to “establish and enforce a guaranteed minimum level of service provision for essential banking services”.

A Treasury spokeswoman said: “The decision to open and close branches is a commercial decision taken by the management team of each bank.

“The Government does not intervene in these decisions.”

Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard.