THE Unity Trust Bank is facing calls from the trade union movement and beyond to reverse its decision to freeze the funds of the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign (SPSC).

The bank has long been used and supported by the movement as an ethical alternative to more commercial banks.

Campaigners argue that its reputation could be undermined by a decision thought to have been prompted by the presence of a link to Palestine Action on the SPSC website, despite it being voluntarily removed by the organisation before Palestine Action was proscribed by the government on July 5.

Now dozens of its customers — including branches in unions such as Aslef, CWU, EIS, NEU, RMT, Unison, Unite, as well as TUC regions, trades councils and the Socialist Educational Association — have signed an open letter to the bank demanding a rethink.

They are calling for the SPSC account to be unfrozen immediately and an investigation into the circumstances that led to the decision, clarity on any interference from third parties and an assurance that the bank will operate independently of political interference.

SPSC trade union officer Hussein Ezzedine said: “The growing list of unions and progressive groups reflects a growing recognition of the crackdown on dissent in the UK.  

“From the criminalisation of ideas to narrative delegitimisation, increased scrutiny and repression, defenders of the genocidal state will stop at nothing to preserve support for Israel’s unlawful actions in Palestine.  

“The denial of banking facilities is part of this strategy — but we must not bow to intimidation. We call on more organisations to add their names in solidarity and for Unity Trust to release our funds with immediate effect.”

A Unity Trust Bank spokesperson said: “There are a variety of reasons why we may be required to, or decide to, suspend or close an account in order to continue to comply with the legal and regulatory framework we operate in as a bank.”