Political Vetting?

March

13

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There’s an old joke about a man who asks an insurance broker about arranging some car insurance for him.

The broker says “Third Party?”

and the man replies “Actually I am a Lib Dem. SO WHAT?”

Suddenly sort of thing is encroaching into real life. According to the Political Betting website:

Why is RBS politically vetting potential customers??

One of the big services that the taxpayer-owned bank provides is RBS Streamline – a mechanism by which retailers and other others can offer credit/debit card facilities. As we move more and more away from cash this side of the bank?s business has grown and grown and RBS is now a leader in its field.

So how come that the firm is now, apparently, subjecting those merchants who want to use the service to political vetting – a move that is said to have only happened since the bank became part of the public sector?

According to an excellent piece by Fraser Nelson in this week?s Spectator, a Cheshire-based computer consultant, recently tried to sign up for the service so he could accept card payments.

According to Nelson after going through the standard points the man was asked about his political affiliation and whether he know any MPs, councillors or mayors? The report goes on: ?It was a new question, the lady explained to him, which had been introduced soon after the government took control of RBS. She said, in his paraphrase, that ?political influences may be used for corrupt purposes?.

Are any local business people thinking of applying to RBS Streamline soon? We’d be interested in hearing if this question about knowing councillors is being routinely asked…

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