Banking Hubs

Debate between Gordon McKee and Graham Leadbitter

Wednesday 20th May 2026 Commons Chamber

[Graham Leadbitter]

I absolutely agree. I am pleased to see the Bill coming forward, as it will provide opportunities to make progress on this important issue.

There is also the vital question of community sustainability. The loss of banking services in rural communities makes it harder to attract people to live and work there. It also means the loss of local banking jobs that have long provided access to respected professional jobs and the potential of a career in financial services.

[Gordon McKee (Glasgow South) (Lab)]

The hon. Member rightly talks about the lack of banking access in his constituency and in rural areas. I have noticed that there is now a lack of banking access even in my urban constituency in Glasgow, particularly in areas such as Castlemilk and Carnwadric. That is particularly bad because some of the people there do not have access to a car. Does the hon. Member agree that banking hubs are also important in urban areas where those services are not provided?

[Graham Leadbitter]

Certainly; there are some areas, particularly large estates in urban areas, where we can see services disappearing simply because of how people live their lives. It is important that the state takes action to protect those critical services that people access. I was a student in Glasgow, and I see lots of places where there were banks that I used when I was a student which simply do not exist any more.