A former City trader debanked by Coutts last year without explanation is among “so many others” to have had their bank accounts closed, Nigel Farage has claimed.

Mr Farage said banks must provide reasons for closing customer accounts in the wake of the Coutts scandal which saw him targeted over his political views.

And while complaints can be submitted to the Financial Ombudsman Service, Mr Farage suggested these are often not dealt with in a timely fashion.

Speaking to Times Radio, Mr Farage claimed a former trader, whom he did not name, had yet to receive an answer as to why his Coutts accounts was shut last year without an apparent explanation.

He said: “A friend of mine, a former city trader, was debanked by Coutts 15 months ago. He wrote to the ombudsman, he continues to write to the ombudsman.

“He still hasn’t got an answer. And this matters because these aren’t just normal private companies, but making commercial decisions about who people can bank with.”