Organisation: Co-operative Bank

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Analysis and commentary by Echo Research.

Co-operative Bank, noted for its strong stance on ethical issues took the moral high ground last week, when its presented right-wing religious group Christian Voice with its marching orders, "Co-op shuts "anti-gay" group's account"(dehavilland.co.uk, 24/6). Christian Voice was asked to take its business elsewhere, because its anti-homosexual "discriminatory pronouncements"(Sunday Times, 26/6) were deemed inappropriate for a bank proud of its commitment to "diversity and dignity"(ekklesia.co.uk, 25/6).

Co-operative Bank's message attracted general endorsement, but there were dissenters, Stephen Green of Christian Voice being the most vocal. He spoke of the bank's "unethical and discriminatory attitude"(Times, 24/6) and likened its actions to those of "politically-correct bully-boys"(Manchester Online, 24/6).

Contrary viewpoints also emerged from the Daily Telegraph, which referred to the "amusing clash"between "evangelical Christianity and evangelical political correctness"(25/6), and more notably from Terry Sanderson of the Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association . "Mr Green is offensive and extreme in his opinions about gay people, but in a democratic society he should be entitled to those views"(rainbownetwork.com, 24/6).

For the Co-operative network, the bank's moral stand also had savvy timing, coming just days before its sister organisation, Co-operative Insurance Services, announced its new Ethical Engagement Policy, "Ethics priority at insurance giant"(Daily Mail, 27/6).