Andrew Boff said he has been sanctioned because he’s been flagged as potentially funding Russia’s war machine with his card purchases in Ukraine
The Chair of the London Assembly has seen his bank account closed following a visit to Ukraine.
Veteran Conservative Assembly Member Andrew Boff – an ardent supporter of the Ukrainian cause – visited the Eastern European nation in late May with the Council of Europe.
The human rights organisation had sent a delegation to the Ukraine Recovery Conference’s International Summit of Cities and Regions in Kyiv, the capital city.
Mr Boff spent £36 using his bank card linked to a First Direct account, but discovered it no longer worked when he returned to the UK the next day.
On July 8 – almost two months later – the bank, a division of HSBC, informed him that they had “identified transactions made in a sanctioned country”.
The letter, seen by the LDRS, reads: “As part of regulations, we must comply with sanction laws and manage any risks effectively. Following a recent review, we determined that the management of these risks is outside of our acceptable limits.”
Despite banking with First Direct for 30 years, Mr Boff says he is not allowed to appeal, and his account will close in October.
He has now issued a public warning to all those wishing to travel to Ukraine in support of the nation, which has been battling a Russian invasion since 2022, to check if they may also fall foul of sanction rules.
Mr Boff, who became Chair of the London Assembly for the third time in May, said: “It is imperative that we have a robust sanctions programme so as to clamp down on the means that the Russian war machine has to fund its brutal war.
“But a robust sanctions programme is one which can differentiate between buying a coffee in Ukraine and a coffee in Russia.
“I am disappointed that First Direct have been unable to communicate more comprehensively, and that there has been no way for me to clarify to them what has happened with the hope of regaining access to my savings and direct debits.
“This is simply unacceptable and I hope that the system can be revised before more Brits are caught this way.
“HSBC, which issued the instruction to First Direct, is headquartered in London but has deep exposure to Hong Kong and China, which makes its treatment of a UK customer after a visit to Ukraine all the more troubling.”
The Tory Assembly Member was backed by Reform UK’s Alex Wilson, who told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “The debanking of elected politicians is an unfair and deeply undemocratic practice which is tantamount to political interference.
“Reform UK have suffered from this more than any other party, with the unjust closure of Nigel Farage’s NatWest account as well as the central Party’s MetroBank account a few years ago. It’s concerning that the trend continues.
“I hope that First Direct rescind this shocking decision and apologise to Mr Boff.”
HSBC declined to comment.
Stay up to date about London’s hottest events, latest restaurant openings, and best deals with our Going Out Out newsletter. Sign up HERE!
