Martin supports 'Save the Cheque' campaign (Cheltenham Liberal Democrats)

Cheltenham Liberal Democrats <info@cheltlibdems.org.uk>

Martin supports 'Save the Cheque' campaign

December 23, 2009 6:09 PM

Cheltenham MP Martin Horwood has supported a cross-party motion in Parliament, launched by fellow LibDem MP Mark Hunter, to 'save the cheque' amidst growing concerns that high street banks are planning to stop the use of cheques. Over fifty MPs have already signed the motion, including that of Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor Vince Cable.

Martin said:

"I can see this will be very convenient for the banks, but abolishing the cheque will cause great inconvenience to many people who rely on cheques as a means of payment - particularly many elderly people. This development is most unwelcome in its own right but taken together with the news on bank charges I think they amount to nothing less than an insult to the British public."

Leading consumer group Which? Has also given its officially backing to the "save the cheque" campaign.

The campaign is designed to put pressure on bankers to think again before abolishing the cheque. If the decision is made to abolish the cheque, many of the nation's most vulnerable people will face great inconvenience. The cheque has been around for over 2,000 years, but bankers plan to abolish it to save money.

A spokesperson for Which? said:

"Which? opposes setting an end-date for phasing out cheques until there are cheap and safe alternatives in place for people who rely on them. Prematurely getting rid of cheques will make life very difficult for many of the most vulnerable, including the elderly, the house-bound and those who don't have access to the internet."