Rishi Sunak has thrown his weight behind GB News’ Don’t Kill Cash campaign.
In an exclusive interview with GB News, the Prime Minister acknowledged the need for vulnerable people and people in rural communities to have access to cash.
It comes as almost a quarter of a million people have signed a petition calling on the Government to introduce legislation protecting the status of cash as legal tender and as a widely accepted means of payment in the UK until at least 2050.
Sunak said the issue is of deep concern to members of his constituency, Richmond (Yorks), and argues the problem has been acted on before.
“I represent a rural area with people who are concerned about this particular issue, and that’s why as Chancellor I started this process”, he told GB News Economics and Business Editor Liam Halligan.
“Recently we have legislated in law for access to cash regulations. This will allow the Government to allow people have access to cash, particularly in rural areas.”
While Sunak made positive noises regarding the need for access to cash, he stopped short of committing to introducing the legislation demanded by GB News’ petition, which is just 10,000 signatures short of its goal.
He said: “We accept it’s important to people. Obviously a lot of people are transitioning to using their phones or online to do their banking.
“Whilst that transition happens, people still need access to their cash, which is why we’ve passed new laws which will allow us to work with financial providers like banks, the Post Office and others to ensure access to these vital services.”
Britain continues its unrelenting transition to a cashless society as more shops, cafes and pubs choose to only accept card payments.
Scan the code to add your name to the petition!
GB News
As a result of the rise of services such as Apple and Google Pay, vulnerable people who rely on cash are therefore being left behind as a result.
Over five million adults continue to rely on cash in the UK and it’s used in six billion transactions each year, but as society sleepwalks towards a fully cashless operation, GB News has called on legislation to ensure this does not become the case.
It comes after the campaign received a boost as plans to shut almost all rail ticket offices in England were thrown into chaos as a result of a public consultation on the proposal.
Any delay is a boost to cash-dependent Britons who, without ticket offices, will be left to rely on in-station ticket machines or mobile apps.
Support for the campaign has come from both sides of the political spectrum, including RMT union leader Mick Lynch, who had previously committed to never appearing on The People’s Channel.
Speaking to Patrick Christys last month, he said he was "absolutely" behind the GB News campaign, adding: "We don't want cash to go out.”
The general secretary of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers continued: "It becomes more and more difficult for those on low budgets, for instance, who use cash as a means of controlling their weekly and monthly spend.
"Because if you take a fixed amount of money and budget to that it means you're in control, to some extent, of your life.
"And if you're just doing it on the card or some kind of tap method you can quickly run out of control of your life."
