Lloyds Bank protest to hit HQ & Parliament 

Penzance businesses & campaigners march on London 

Local MP, Andrew George, will join Penzance campaigners when they “march on” London to up the campaign against the Lloyds Bank’s decision to close their Penzance branch. 

Protestors will meet at Lloyds HQ, 33 Old Broad Street, at 11:30am on Tuesday 9th December to deliver petitions gathered since the campaign was launched a few weeks ago. Nearly three thousand people have signed the petition and over 100 customers have so far written to Lloyds CEO, Charlie Nunn, saying they will withdraw their custom if the Bank group goes ahead with its planned closure of the branch. 

Andrew said, “Lloyds’ proposed replacement – a single ‘community banker’ visiting once a fortnight – simply isn’t enough. During the 2008 crisis the bank was bailed-out with £37 billion of taxpayers’ money, but just walk away from us when it suits them. 

“The impact on the vulnerable, businesses and charities with complex transactions, and the digitally excluded will be very significant.” 

Of the campaign, he said, “We’re realistic. We know this is a commercial decision and the odds are stacked against us. But Penzance isn’t the kind of place to take something like this lying down. The level of local support has been incredible. We want them to ‘pause’ for at least a year, and to talk to us. There’s been no local consultation, nor proper impact assessment.” 

Andrew has gathered cross-party support for his protest to Lloyds CEO and for a parliamentary motion, which criticises Lloyds’ decision and calls on the government to protect face-to-face financial services to protect cyber security.  

He will also formally deliver the parliamentary version of the petition in the Chamber of the Commons this week. 

The campaign goes on. Campaigners are keen to add thousands more signatures support of the campaign which will go on into the new year.