Lib Dems call for break up of big banks

11.28.19am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 24th Sep 2009

Commenting after chief economist Dr Andrew Goudie expressed a desire to see more competition in Scotland's banking sector to Holyrood's Economy Committee today (Wednesday), Liberal Democrat Finance spokesperson Jeremy Purvis said:

"Mr Goudie's call echoes the concerns raised by the FSB earlier in the week.

"Alistair Darling and Gordon Brown's banking shambles has led to a major reduction in competition in the market place.

"The Labour Government swept aside their own competition rules to force through the Lloyds takeover of HBOS. This has resulted in another giant, centralised bank that doesn't serve the needs of local people or small businesses.

"Liberal Democrats want to see Scotland's huge banking institutions broken down to give businesses the choice of smaller and more secure banks.

"We want to see the Bank of Scotland brought home to Scotland and less centralisation of our major banks."

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