Political Support for Islay Businesses

I picked up an interesting article this afternoon regarding the withdrawal of the Islay bank manager at the Bank of Scotland in Shore Street. Earlier the bank announced that the current bank manager would be replaced by a Edinburgh based call centre. Islay businesses were outraged and protested heavily against this decision. The people at For Argyll backed the businesses on Islay by writing several posts on their excellent blog, putting pressure on local politicians and BoS and to allow people to speak out on their blog. In the meanwhile several business owners on Islay were busy contacting the Bank of Scotland and local as well as national politicians to end this ridiculous situation. Other islands in the west of Scotland face similar actions from their bank. Time for politicians to step in. A full quote from the article: Continue reading.....

Speaking in the House of Commons today, Alan Reid MP called on the Chancellor to intervene to save the Islay Bank Manager post which the Bank of Scotland are axing. The exchange between Alan Reid MP and Leader of the House Harriet Harman was; “Mr. Alan Reid (Argyll and Bute) (LD): Can we have a debate on the responsibilities of banks in which the Government are the main shareholder to support small businesses? For example, the Bank of Scotland has withdrawn the post of business relationship manager from its branch on the island of Islay, causing widespread anger among businesses on the island. A manager based on the mainland will never understand the unique circumstances of an island economy. Surely the Chancellor, as the main shareholder in the bank, has a responsibility to ensure that it services businesses throughout the country, so will he intervene in that case?

Ms Harman: I suggest that the hon. Gentleman take the opportunity to raise this matter with the Treasury Minister who will be opening the debate on Thursday 26 November. Of course it is important that all our banks serve their communities, wherever they are.”

Speaking afterwards Alan Reid said; “Having rescued the Bank of Scotland with billions of pounds of taxpayers’ money, the Chancellor, the Bank’s main shareholder, must ensure that it services all communities in the country. That means reinstating the Islay manager. Many businesses on Islay have contacted me to say how worried they are that someone in a remote bank call centre will not understand their business, and so their business will be deprived of badly needed support from the Bank. I am pleased that Harriet Harman agreed with me that banks must serve their communities, wherever they are. “I will be raising this again in the House of Commons next Thursday when the House debates the economy and business. I hope that the Chancellor will listen to the Islay business community and instruct the Bank to reinstate this manager’s post.”

Alan Reid has also tabled a House of Commons Early Day Motion which reads; “That this House notes the decision of the Bank of Scotland to remove the post of business relationship manager from its branch on the island of Islay; further notes the strong concern expressed by the island's business community that managers based on the mainland will not have the same understanding of the island's people, businesses and economy as a manager based on the island; and urges the Bank of Scotland to reinstate this post.” It has attracted the support of 27 MP’s so far.

For the latest and most comprehensive coverage on the Islay bank manager issue I recommend the For Argyll website.