It looks very much like the timeline was something like this:
- Coutts wanted rid of NF so started a report on him to built a case. This report went beyond their KYC obligations and included defamatory material.
- The report concluded that he was not the sort they wanted, but continued to be commercially viable.
- Naughty bank hatches a plan to end his mortgage to fix that.
- Bank account closed, NF briefed the press.
- Coutts via their CEO briefed the Beeb via a dinner chit chat, that he was actually too poor to keep his account. breach of data protection law as well as confidentiality.
- the beeb ran the story
- NF submitted a subject access request, proving the facts.
- naughty bank went in to damage limitation, but made it worse
- Government people stepped in because it appears he was de-banked for political reasons - which are protected.
- CEO apologised and the beeb amended the story.
- NF enjoys the banks bad PR, even the guardian is confused as it doesn't know if it hates the Sloane rangers at the bank more than NF.
- NF consults lawyers - Lawyers prepare bills and do a little work
- NF asks ICO to investigate the naughty bank, more meat for his case.
- NF demands apology from BBC due to damages, gravy on the side
www.independent.co.uk
