About the APPG…

All Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs) make a rich and valuable contribution to our parliamentary democracy.  They enable backbench MPs and peers from across the political spectrum to collaborate around a common interest. 

The APPG on Fair Banking is a key driver for change and a forum for education that brings together Parliamentarians, organisations and individuals from the private and public sector who share the objective of creating a thriving and resilient relationship between businesses and lenders. 

We engage with all stakeholders who have an interest in the strength and resilience of SMEs and the financial sector more generally, and try to listen to as many voices as possible. As a result, the APPG is in the position to take the lead in restoring trust in business banking and finance - an essential step for SMEs to have the confidence to take risks and thrive for the benefit of their local communities and the UK as a whole.

Officers

Luke Charters MP
Co-Chair

Members

  • Debbie Abrahams MP

  • Stuart Andrew MP

  • Tonia Antoniazzi MP

  • Kirsty Blackman MP

  • James Cartlidge MP

  • Geoffery Cox MP

  • Lord Davies

  • Caroline Dinenage MP

  • Bill Esterson MP

  • Lord Flight

  • Stephen Flynn MP

  • George Freeman MP

  • Mark Garnier MP

  • Andrew Griffith MP

  • Dame Nia Griffith MP

Lloyd Hatton MP | Chair

Lloyd is the MP for South Dorset, and worked with us at the APPG on Fair Banking before he was elected.

The Earl of Lindsay
Co-Chair

David Burton-Sampson MP
Co-Chair

  • Damian Hinds MP

  • Kevin Hollinrake MP

  • Bernard Jenkin MP

  • Ben Lake MP

  • Chris Law MP

  • Clive Lewis MP

  • Siobhain McDonagh MP

  • John McDonnell MP

  • Lord McFall

  • Catherine McKinnell MP

  • Lord Naseby

  • Toby Perkins MP

  • Mike Reader MP

  • Sam Rushworth MP

  • Jim Shannon MP

  • Lord Sharkey 

  • Lord Sikka

  • Earl Stopford

  • Graham Stuart MP

  • Desmond Swayne MP

  • Mark Tami MP

  • Lord Taylor

  • Lord Triesman

  • Tom Tugendhat MP

  • Baroness Verma

  • Martin Vickers MP

  • Sammy Wilson MP

  • Lord Wrigglesworth 

Donors

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All Party Parliamentary Groups receive no taxpayer funding. There are costs, however, in running a professional and effective group which is done through the secretariat, The Athena Foundation. Funds are required for research, administration, event management, running websites and more. All funds received (no matter how great or small the amount) are declared within the accounts of the Athena Foundation and reported to the Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards. Please note that all monies go directly to funding the salaries and reasonable expenses of our key people; nothing goes, or will ever go, to any officer or parliamentarian. We always seek to minimise costs to make sure your money is spent wisely in order to get justice and compensation for victims and to work towards levelling the playing the field between businesses and financial institutions.

FAQs

  • The APPG brings together senior and influential figures and organisations in finance, commercial banking, policy and business in order to understand the key challenges in financing businesses for sustainable growth.

    Some measures require action from the government and new legislation. We urge all parties to call on the government to take these necessary steps. We believe these reforms will be in the long-term interest of everyone – SMEs and financial services providers. Ultimately, it is in the interest of local communities and the UK economy.

  • The APPG engages equally with all stakeholders to achieve our core objectives. Crucially, we engage closely with the campaign groups that represent SMEs as the groups objectives are guided by the problems faced by SMEs.

    We work closely with the Government and other Parliamentarians by organising meetings and debates to build support for our reforms. We also engage actively with the banking industry and the regulators so that we can use our position of influence to promote positive and constructive change for the benefit of consumers and the industry alike.

  • The APPG has four ongoing primary workstreams: SME access to finance, financial redress and compensation, economic crime and de-banking.

  • The group receives no taxpayer funding for its work, which means we must rely on external funding to meet the costs required to run a professional and effective group. Funds are required for research, administration, event management, running a website and more.

    We receive project specific funding for individual workstreams. This funding does not influence the work of the group and participants have no influence on the terms of reference of the project or the outcomes of any work, which are at the sole discretion of the APPG in line with our key objectives.

  • All APPGs face the challenge of raising funding without the perception of conflict. It is important to receive funding in order to pay staff and produce research. The APPG is very clear with all contributors that the funding confers no special access, privileges or influence.

  • If you think that the output of the Group can be improved, or if there is an aspect of business banking that is being overlooked by the Group then we welcome representations from all individuals and organisations. If you would like to discuss this further, please email info@theathenafoundation.org.uk.