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©2009-2021 Big Brother Watch. All Rights Reserved.

Big Brother Watch, a limited company registered in England and Wales.
Registered office Chinaworks, London, SE1 7SJ
Registered number 06982557.

info@bigbrotherwatch.org.uk| Privacy Policy

No Spycoin

The Government’s plan to pilot a Central Bank Digital Currency by 2025 would threaten privacy like never before. Find out more, and join our campaign to stop the Spycoin!


TAKE ACTION

Learn more

UPDATE: We’ve published a pioneering new report with the New Economics Foundation outlining the privacy concerns associated with CBDCs.

The report explores privacy risks posed by CBDCs, the challenges involved in building a privacy-preserving CBDC and concerns around the formation of a cashless society.

Take action now



  1. OVERVIEW
  2. REPORT
  3. EMAIL YOUR MP
  4. TAKE ACTION
  5. WHAT IS A CBDC?
  6. KEY ISSUES
  7. BRIEFINGS
  8. MEDIA

No one has made the case for why the UK needs a “digital pound” - but it would come at a major cost to our privacy, financial freedom and equality. The risks are huge. In a worst case scenario, a CBDC could create a vast new web of financial surveillance and control.

The proposal would:

Allow surveillance of your transactions
Enable your money to be programmed to limit spending Disadvantage migrants, ethnic minorities, older people, and poorer people Rely on an ID system and risk digital ID/bank theft and fraud

Take action now, or read our 7 key reasons to oppose the Government’s plans for a UK CBDC.

  1. OVERVIEW
  2. REPORT
  3. EMAIL YOUR MP
  4. TAKE ACTION
  5. WHAT IS A CBDC?
  6. KEY ISSUES
  7. BRIEFINGS
  8. MEDIA

Big Bank is Watching You: Preserving Privacy Amid the Rise of CBDCs


Our groundbreaking new report, "Big Bank is Watching You: Preserving Privacy Amid the Rise of CBDCs” explores the privacy risks associated with CBDCs and the challenges involved in building a privacy-preserving CBDC.

The Government has yet to make the case for a UK CBDC. We insist that the Government recognises an array of serious civil liberties concerns. The key report recommendations are:

  • The Government should not introduce a CBDC unless a compelling case is made for why one is needed.

  • Any UK CBDC should retain the anonymous nature of cash by adopting an e-cash design.

  • The Bank of England must ensure that CBDC design does not infer a certain monetary policy stance.

  • Prohibition of programmable money without user consent should be embedded in the design of any UK CBDC.

  • A UK CBDC should be exempt from paying interest by design.

Image with link to the report titled Big Bank is Watching You: Preserving Privacy Amid the Rise of CBDCs

  1. OVERVIEW
  2. REPORT
  3. EMAIL YOUR MP
  4. TAKE ACTION
  5. WHAT IS A CBDC?
  6. KEY ISSUES
  7. BRIEFINGS
  8. MEDIA

EMAIL YOUR MP

Make sure you personalise your email with your name, postcode, and your own reasoned arguments and feelings about a UK Central Bank Digital Currency

Step 1: Select your MP from the list below:

If you're not sure who your MP is, you can find out here.

  • Jack Abbott Labour Ipswich
  • Ms Diane Abbott Labour Hackney North and Stoke Newington
  • Debbie Abrahams Labour Oldham East and Saddleworth
  • Shockat Adam Independent Leicester South
  • Dr Zubir Ahmed Labour Glasgow South West
  • Luke Akehurst Labour North Durham
  • Bayo Alaba Labour Southend East and Rochford
  • Daniel Aldridge Labour Weston-super-Mare
  • Heidi Alexander Labour Swindon South
  • Mr Douglas Alexander Labour Lothian East
  • Sadik Al-Hassan Labour North Somerset
  • Rushanara Ali Labour Bethnal Green and Stepney
  • Tahir Ali Labour Birmingham Hall Green and Moseley
  • Dr Rosena Allin-Khan Labour Tooting
  • Jim Allister Traditional Unionist Voice North Antrim
  • Sarah Pochin Reform UK Runcorn and Helsby
  • Mr Gideon Amos Liberal Democrat Taunton and Wellington
  • Callum Anderson Labour Buckingham and Bletchley
  • Fleur Anderson Labour Putney
  • Lee Anderson Reform UK Ashfield
  • Stuart Anderson Conservative South Shropshire
  • Stuart Andrew Conservative Daventry
  • Tonia Antoniazzi Labour Gower
  • Steff Aquarone Liberal Democrat North Norfolk
  • Edward Argar Conservative Melton and Syston
  • Dr Scott Arthur Labour Edinburgh South West
  • Jess Asato Labour Lowestoft
  • James Asser Labour West Ham and Beckton
  • Jas Athwal Labour Ilford South
  • Victoria Atkins Conservative Louth and Horncastle
  • Catherine Atkinson Labour Derby North
  • Lewis Atkinson Labour Sunderland Central
  • Josh Babarinde Liberal Democrat Eastbourne
  • Gareth Bacon Conservative Orpington
  • Mrs Kemi Badenoch Conservative North West Essex
  • Calvin Bailey Labour Leyton and Wanstead
  • Olivia Bailey Labour Reading West and Mid Berkshire
  • David Baines Labour St Helens North
  • Alex Baker Labour Aldershot
  • Richard Baker Labour Glenrothes and Mid Fife
  • Dame Harriett Baldwin Conservative West Worcestershire
  • Alex Ballinger Labour Halesowen
  • Antonia Bance Labour Tipton and Wednesbury
  • Steve Barclay Conservative North East Cambridgeshire
  • Paula Barker Labour Liverpool Wavertree
  • Lee Barron Labour Corby and East Northamptonshire
  • Mr Alex Barros-Curtis Labour Cardiff West
  • Johanna Baxter Labour Paisley and Renfrewshire South
  • Danny Beales Labour Uxbridge and South Ruislip
  • Mrs Lorraine Beavers Labour Blackpool North and Fleetwood
  • Mr Peter Bedford Conservative Mid Leicestershire
  • Orfhlaith Begley Sinn FÈin West Tyrone
  • Apsana Begum Labour Poplar and Limehouse
  • Torsten Bell Labour Swansea West
  • Hilary Benn Labour Leeds South
  • Alison Bennett Liberal Democrat Mid Sussex
  • Sian Berry Green Party Brighton Pavilion
  • Mr Clive Betts Labour Sheffield South East
  • Saqib Bhatti Conservative Meriden and Solihull East
  • Polly Billington Labour East Thanet
  • Matt Bishop Labour Forest of Dean
  • Bob Blackman Conservative Harrow East
  • Kirsty Blackman Scottish National Party Aberdeen North
  • Olivia Blake Labour Sheffield Hallam
  • Rachel Blake Labour Cities of London and Westminster
  • Mr Chris Bloore Labour Redditch
  • Mrs Elsie Blundell Labour Heywood and Middleton North
  • Kevin Bonavia Labour Stevenage
  • Sarah Bool Conservative South Northamptonshire
  • Jade Botterill Labour Ossett and Denby Dale
  • Andrew Bowie Conservative West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine
  • Sureena Brackenridge Labour Wolverhampton North East
  • Dame Karen Bradley Conservative Staffordshire Moorlands
  • Aphra Brandreth Conservative Chester South and Eddisbury
  • Jonathan Brash Labour Hartlepool
  • Suella Braverman Conservative Fareham and Waterlooville
  • Alex Brewer Liberal Democrat North East Hampshire
  • Mr Phil Brickell Labour Bolton West
  • Jess Brown-Fuller Liberal Democrat Chichester
  • Sir Chris Bryant Labour Rhondda and Ogmore
  • Julia Buckley Labour Shrewsbury
  • Alex Burghart Conservative Brentwood and Ongar
  • Richard Burgon Labour Leeds East
  • Maureen Burke Labour Glasgow North East
  • David Burton-Sampson Labour Southend West and Leigh
  • Dawn Butler Labour Brent East
  • Ian Byrne Labour Liverpool West Derby
  • Liam Byrne Labour Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North
  • Ruth Cadbury Labour Brentford and Isleworth
  • Nesil Caliskan Labour Barking
  • Irene Campbell Labour North Ayrshire and Arran
  • Juliet Campbell Labour Broxtowe
  • Mr Gregory Campbell Democratic Unionist Party East Londonderry
  • Sir Alan Campbell Labour Tynemouth
  • Markus Campbell-Savours Labour Penrith and Solway
  • Charlotte Cane Liberal Democrat Ely and East Cambridgeshire
  • Dan Carden Labour Liverpool Walton
  • Sam Carling Labour North West Cambridgeshire
  • Mr Alistair Carmichael Liberal Democrat Orkney and Shetland
  • Al Carns Labour Birmingham Selly Oak
  • James Cartlidge Conservative South Suffolk
  • David Chadwick Liberal Democrat Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe
  • Wendy Chamberlain Liberal Democrat North East Fife
  • Danny Chambers Liberal Democrat Winchester
  • Sarah Champion Labour Rotherham
  • Bambos Charalambous Labour Southgate and Wood Green
  • Luke Charters Labour York Outer
  • Sir Christopher Chope Conservative Christchurch
  • Ellie Chowns Green Party North Herefordshire
  • Feryal Clark Labour Enfield North
  • Mr James Cleverly Conservative Braintree
  • Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown Conservative North Cotswolds
  • Lewis Cocking Conservative Broxbourne
  • Chris Coghlan Liberal Democrat Dorking and Horley
  • Ben Coleman Labour Chelsea and Fulham
  • Jacob Collier Labour Burton and Uttoxeter
  • Lizzi Collinge Labour Morecambe and Lunesdale
  • Tom Collins Labour Worcester
  • Victoria Collins Liberal Democrat Harpenden and Berkhamsted
  • Liam Conlon Labour Beckenham and Penge
  • Sarah Coombes Labour West Bromwich
  • Andrew Cooper Labour Mid Cheshire
  • Daisy Cooper Liberal Democrat St Albans
  • Dr Beccy Cooper Labour Worthing West
  • John Cooper Conservative Dumfries and Galloway
  • Yvette Cooper Labour Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley
  • Jeremy Corbyn Independent Islington North
  • Alberto Costa Conservative South Leicestershire
  • Deirdre Costigan Labour Ealing Southall
  • Claire Coutinho Conservative East Surrey
  • Pam Cox Labour Colchester
  • Sir Geoffrey Cox Conservative Torridge and Tavistock
  • Neil Coyle Labour Bermondsey and Old Southwark
  • Jen Craft Labour Thurrock
  • Mary Creagh Labour Coventry East
  • Stella Creasy Labour Walthamstow
  • Torcuil Crichton Labour Na h-Eileanan an Iar
  • Harriet Cross Conservative Gordon and Buchan
  • Pat Cullen Sinn FÈin Fermanagh and South Tyrone
  • Judith Cummins Labour Bradford South
  • Chris Curtis Labour Milton Keynes North
  • Janet Daby Labour Lewisham East
  • Nicholas Dakin Labour Scunthorpe
  • Ashley Dalton Labour West Lancashire
  • Adam Dance Liberal Democrat Yeovil
  • Steve Darling Liberal Democrat Torbay
  • Emily Darlington Labour Milton Keynes Central
  • Ed Davey Liberal Democrat Kingston and Surbiton
  • Gareth Davies Conservative Grantham and Bourne
  • Jonathan Davies Labour Mid Derbyshire
  • Mims Davies Conservative East Grinstead and Uckfield
  • Ms Ann Davies Plaid Cymru Caerfyrddin
  • Paul Davies Labour Colne Valley
  • Shaun Davies Labour Telford
  • Alex Davies-Jones Labour Pontypridd
  • Sir David Davis Conservative Goole and Pocklington
  • Marsha De Cordova Labour Battersea
  • Bobby Dean Liberal Democrat Carshalton and Wallington
  • Josh Dean Labour Hertford and Stortford
  • Kate Dearden Labour Halifax
  • Carla Denyer Green Party Bristol Central
  • Charlie Dewhirst Conservative Bridlington and The Wolds
  • Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi Labour Slough
  • Jim Dickson Labour Dartford
  • Mr Lee Dillon Liberal Democrat Newbury
  • Dame Caroline Dinenage Conservative Gosport
  • Anna Dixon Labour Shipley
  • Samantha Dixon Labour Chester North and Neston
  • Anneliese Dodds Labour Oxford East
  • Helena Dollimore Labour Hastings and Rye
  • Dave Doogan Scottish National Party Angus and Perthshire Glens
  • Stephen Doughty Labour Cardiff South and Penarth
  • Peter Dowd Labour Bootle
  • Sir Oliver Dowden Conservative Hertsmere
  • Graeme Downie Labour Dunfermline and Dollar
  • Rosie Duffield Labour Canterbury
  • Sir Iain Duncan Smith Conservative Chingford and Woodford Green
  • Neil Duncan-Jordan Labour Poole
  • Sarah Dyke Liberal Democrat Glastonbury and Somerton
  • Dame Angela Eagle Labour Wallasey
  • Maria Eagle Labour Liverpool Garston
  • Alex Easton Independent North Down
  • Colum Eastwood Social Democratic & Labour Party Foyle
  • Sorcha Eastwood Alliance Lagan Valley
  • Cat Eccles Labour Stourbridge
  • Lauren Edwards Labour Rochester and Strood
  • Sarah Edwards Labour Tamworth
  • Clive Efford Labour Eltham and Chislehurst
  • Damien Egan Labour Bristol North East
  • Maya Ellis Labour Ribble Valley
  • Chris Elmore Labour Bridgend
  • Kirith Entwistle Labour Bolton North East
  • Florence Eshalomi Labour Vauxhall and Camberwell Green
  • Bill Esterson Labour Sefton Central
  • Chris Evans Labour Caerphilly
  • Dr Luke Evans Conservative Hinckley and Bosworth
  • Miatta Fahnbulleh Labour Peckham
  • Hamish Falconer Labour Lincoln
  • Nigel Farage Reform UK Clacton
  • Linsey Farnsworth Labour Amber Valley
  • Tim Farron Liberal Democrat Westmorland and Lonsdale
  • Josh Fenton-Glynn Labour Calder Valley
  • Mark Ferguson Labour Gateshead Central and Whickham
  • Patricia Ferguson Labour Glasgow West
  • John Finucane Sinn FÈin Belfast North
  • Natalie Fleet Labour Bolsover
  • Stephen Flynn Scottish National Party Aberdeen South
  • Emma Foody Labour Cramlington and Killingworth
  • Catherine Fookes Labour Monmouthshire
  • Richard Foord Liberal Democrat Honiton and Sidmouth
  • Will Forster Liberal Democrat Woking
  • Peter Fortune Conservative Bromley and Biggin Hill
  • Paul Foster Labour South Ribble
  • Sir Ashley Fox Conservative Bridgwater
  • Vicky Foxcroft Labour Lewisham North
  • Mary Kelly Foy Labour City of Durham
  • Daniel Francis Labour Bexleyheath and Crayford
  • Mr Mark Francois Conservative Rayleigh and Wickford
  • Zöe Franklin Liberal Democrat Guildford
  • George Freeman Conservative Mid Norfolk
  • Mr Louie French Conservative Old Bexley and Sidcup
  • Mr James Frith Labour Bury North
  • Richard Fuller Conservative North Bedfordshire
  • Gill Furniss Labour Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough
  • Sir Roger Gale Conservative Herne Bay and Sandwich
  • Barry Gardiner Labour Brent West
  • Allison Gardner Labour Stoke-on-Trent South
  • Mark Garnier Conservative Wyre Forest
  • Anna Gelderd Labour South East Cornwall
  • Alan Gemmell Labour Central Ayrshire
  • Andrew George Liberal Democrat St Ives
  • Gill German Labour Clwyd North
  • Stephen Gethins Scottish National Party Arbroath and Broughty Ferry
  • Ms Nusrat Ghani Conservative Sussex Weald
  • Sarah Gibson Liberal Democrat Chippenham
  • Tracy Gilbert Labour Edinburgh North and Leith
  • Preet Kaur Gill Labour Birmingham Edgbaston
  • Rachel Gilmour Liberal Democrat Tiverton and Minehead
  • Becky Gittins Labour Clwyd East
  • John Glen Conservative Salisbury
  • Mary Glindon Labour Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend
  • Olly Glover Liberal Democrat Didcot and Wantage
  • Marie Goldman Liberal Democrat Chelmsford
  • Ben Goldsborough Labour South Norfolk
  • Tom Gordon Liberal Democrat Harrogate and Knaresborough
  • Jodie Gosling Labour Nuneaton
  • Georgia Gould Labour Queen's Park and Maida Vale
  • John Grady Labour Glasgow East
  • Helen Grant Conservative Maidstone and Malling
  • Sarah Green Liberal Democrat Chesham and Amersham
  • Lilian Greenwood Labour Nottingham South
  • Andrew Griffith Conservative Arundel and South Downs
  • Dame Nia Griffith Labour Llanelli
  • Alison Griffiths Conservative Bognor Regis and Littlehampton
  • Andrew Gwynne Labour Gorton and Denton
  • Amanda Hack Labour North West Leicestershire
  • Louise Haigh Labour Sheffield Heeley
  • Sarah Hall Labour Warrington South
  • Fabian Hamilton Labour Leeds North East
  • Paulette Hamilton Labour Birmingham Erdington
  • Claire Hanna Social Democratic & Labour Party Belfast South and Mid Down
  • Monica Harding Liberal Democrat Esher and Walton
  • Emma Hardy Labour Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice
  • Carolyn Harris Labour Neath and Swansea East
  • Rebecca Harris Conservative Castle Point
  • Lloyd Hatton Labour South Dorset
  • Helen Hayes Labour Dulwich and West Norwood
  • Sir John Hayes Conservative South Holland and The Deepings
  • Tom Hayes Labour Bournemouth East
  • Claire Hazelgrove Labour Filton and Bradley Stoke
  • Chris Hazzard Sinn FÈin South Down
  • John Healey Labour Rawmarsh and Conisbrough
  • Sir Mark Hendrick Labour Preston
  • Pippa Heylings Liberal Democrat South Cambridgeshire
  • Dame Meg Hillier Labour Hackney South and Shoreditch
  • Chris Hinchliff Labour North East Hertfordshire
  • Jonathan Hinder Labour Pendle and Clitheroe
  • Damian Hinds Conservative East Hampshire
  • Simon Hoare Conservative North Dorset
  • Wera Hobhouse Liberal Democrat Bath
  • Mrs Sharon Hodgson Labour Washington and Gateshead South
  • Mr Richard Holden Conservative Basildon and Billericay
  • Kevin Hollinrake Conservative Thirsk and Malton
  • Paul Holmes Conservative Hamble Valley
  • Rachel Hopkins Labour Luton South and South Bedfordshire
  • Sir Lindsay Hoyle Speaker Chorley
  • Nigel Huddleston Conservative Droitwich and Evesham
  • Dr Neil Hudson Conservative Epping Forest
  • Claire Hughes Labour Bangor Aberconwy
  • D·ire Hughes Sinn FÈin Newry and Armagh
  • Alison Hume Labour Scarborough and Whitby
  • Jeremy Hunt Conservative Godalming and Ash
  • Dr Rupa Huq Labour Ealing Central and Acton
  • Patrick Hurley Labour Southport
  • Imran Hussain Labour Bradford East
  • Mr Adnan Hussain Independent Blackburn
  • Leigh Ingham Labour Stafford
  • Natasha Irons Labour Croydon East
  • Sally Jameson Labour Doncaster Central
  • Christine Jardine Liberal Democrat Edinburgh West
  • Dan Jarvis Labour Barnsley North
  • Liz Jarvis Liberal Democrat Eastleigh
  • Sir Bernard Jenkin Conservative Harwich and North Essex
  • Robert Jenrick Conservative Newark
  • Terry Jermy Labour South West Norfolk
  • Adam Jogee Labour Newcastle-under-Lyme
  • Dame Diana Johnson Labour Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham
  • Dr Caroline Johnson Conservative Sleaford and North Hykeham
  • Kim Johnson Labour Liverpool Riverside
  • Clive Jones Liberal Democrat Wokingham
  • Darren Jones Labour Bristol North West
  • Gerald Jones Labour Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare
  • Lillian Jones Labour Kilmarnock and Loudoun
  • Louise Jones Labour North East Derbyshire
  • Ruth Jones Labour Newport West and Islwyn
  • Sarah Jones Labour Croydon West
  • Lincoln Jopp Conservative Spelthorne
  • Gurinder Josan Labour Smethwick
  • Sojan Joseph Labour Ashford
  • Warinder Juss Labour Wolverhampton West
  • Chris Kane Labour Stirling and Strathallan
  • Mike Kane Labour Wythenshawe and Sale East
  • Satvir Kaur Labour Southampton Test
  • Alicia Kearns Conservative Rutland and Stamford
  • Liz Kendall Labour Leicester West
  • Afzal Khan Labour Manchester Rusholme
  • Ayoub Khan Independent Birmingham Perry Barr
  • Naushabah Khan Labour Gillingham and Rainham
  • Stephen Kinnock Labour Aberafan Maesteg
  • Jayne Kirkham Labour Truro and Falmouth
  • Gen Kitchen Labour Wellingborough and Rushden
  • Mr Paul Kohler Liberal Democrat Wimbledon
  • Danny Kruger Conservative East Wiltshire
  • Sonia Kumar Labour Dudley
  • Uma Kumaran Labour Stratford and Bow
  • Peter Kyle Labour Hove and Portslade
  • Laura Kyrke-Smith Labour Aylesbury
  • Ben Lake Plaid Cymru Ceredigion Preseli
  • Katie Lam Conservative Weald of Kent
  • Peter Lamb Labour Crawley
  • Mr David Lammy Labour Tottenham
  • John Lamont Conservative Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
  • Ian Lavery Labour Blyth and Ashington
  • Chris Law Scottish National Party Dundee Central
  • Noah Law Labour St Austell and Newquay
  • Kim Leadbeater Labour Spen Valley
  • Graham Leadbitter Scottish National Party Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey
  • Sir Edward Leigh Conservative Gainsborough
  • Brian Leishman Labour Alloa and Grangemouth
  • Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck Labour South Shields
  • Andrew Lewin Labour Welwyn Hatfield
  • Clive Lewis Labour Norwich South
  • Sir Julian Lewis Conservative New Forest East
  • Simon Lightwood Labour Wakefield and Rothwell
  • Carla Lockhart Democratic Unionist Party Upper Bann
  • Seamus Logan Scottish National Party Aberdeenshire North and Moray East
  • Rebecca Long Bailey Labour Salford
  • Julia Lopez Conservative Hornchurch and Upminster
  • Rupert Lowe Reform UK Great Yarmouth
  • Josh MacAlister Labour Whitehaven and Workington
  • James MacCleary Liberal Democrat Lewes
  • Alice Macdonald Labour Norwich North
  • Angus MacDonald Liberal Democrat Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire
  • Andy MacNae Labour Rossendale and Darwen
  • Justin Madders Labour Ellesmere Port and Bromborough
  • Ben Maguire Liberal Democrat North Cornwall
  • Helen Maguire Liberal Democrat Epsom and Ewell
  • Shabana Mahmood Labour Birmingham Ladywood
  • Alan Mak Conservative Havant
  • Seema Malhotra Labour Feltham and Heston
  • Mr Cathal Mallaghan Sinn FÈin Mid Ulster
  • Kit Malthouse Conservative North West Hampshire
  • Amanda Martin Labour Portsmouth North
  • Mike Martin Liberal Democrat Tunbridge Wells
  • Rachael Maskell Labour York Central
  • Paul Maskey Sinn FÈin Belfast West
  • Keir Mather Labour Selby
  • Brian Mathew Liberal Democrat Melksham and Devizes
  • Alex Mayer Labour Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard
  • Jerome Mayhew Conservative Broadland and Fakenham
  • Charles Maynard Liberal Democrat Witney
  • Douglas McAllister Labour West Dunbartonshire
  • Kerry McCarthy Labour Bristol East
  • Martin McCluskey Labour Inverclyde and Renfrewshire West
  • Dame Siobhain McDonagh Labour Mitcham and Morden
  • Andy McDonald Labour Middlesbrough and Thornaby East
  • Chris McDonald Labour Stockton North
  • John McDonnell Labour Hayes and Harlington
  • Blair McDougall Labour East Renfrewshire
  • Lola McEvoy Labour Darlington
  • Pat McFadden Labour Wolverhampton South East
  • Alison McGovern Labour Birkenhead
  • Alex McIntyre Labour Gloucester
  • Gordon McKee Labour Glasgow South
  • Kevin McKenna Labour Sittingbourne and Sheppey
  • Catherine McKinnell Labour Newcastle upon Tyne North
  • Jim McMahon Labour Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton
  • Anna McMorrin Labour Cardiff North
  • James McMurdock Reform UK South Basildon and East Thurrock
  • Frank McNally Labour Coatbridge and Bellshill
  • Kirsty McNeill Labour Midlothian
  • Esther McVey Conservative Tatton
  • Llinos Medi Plaid Cymru Ynys MÙn
  • Anneliese Midgley Labour Knowsley
  • Ed Miliband Labour Doncaster North
  • Calum Miller Liberal Democrat Bicester and Woodstock
  • John Milne Liberal Democrat Horsham
  • Ms Julie Minns Labour Carlisle
  • Navendu Mishra Labour Stockport
  • Mr Andrew Mitchell Conservative Sutton Coldfield
  • Abtisam Mohamed Labour Sheffield Central
  • Iqbal Mohamed Independent Dewsbury and Batley
  • Mr Gagan Mohindra Conservative South West Hertfordshire
  • Perran Moon Labour Camborne and Redruth
  • Robbie Moore Conservative Keighley and Ilkley
  • Layla Moran Liberal Democrat Oxford West and Abingdon
  • Jessica Morden Labour Newport East
  • Edward Morello Liberal Democrat West Dorset
  • Helen Morgan Liberal Democrat North Shropshire
  • Stephen Morgan Labour Portsmouth South
  • Grahame Morris Labour Easington
  • Joe Morris Labour Hexham
  • Mr Tom Morrison Liberal Democrat Cheadle
  • Joy Morrissey Conservative Beaconsfield
  • Wendy Morton Conservative Aldridge-Brownhills
  • Dr Kieran Mullan Conservative Bexhill and Battle
  • Margaret Mullane Labour Dagenham and Rainham
  • David Mundell Conservative Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale
  • Tessa Munt Liberal Democrat Wells and Mendip Hills
  • Luke Murphy Labour Basingstoke
  • Chris Murray Labour Edinburgh East and Musselburgh
  • Ian Murray Labour Edinburgh South
  • James Murray Labour Ealing North
  • Katrina Murray Labour Cumbernauld and Kirkintilloch
  • Susan Murray Liberal Democrat Mid Dunbartonshire
  • Dr Andrew Murrison Conservative South West Wiltshire
  • Luke Myer Labour Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland
  • James Naish Labour Rushcliffe
  • Connor Naismith Labour Crewe and Nantwich
  • Lisa Nandy Labour Wigan
  • Kanishka Narayan Labour Vale of Glamorgan
  • Pamela Nash Labour Motherwell, Wishaw and Carluke
  • Josh Newbury Labour Cannock Chase
  • Samantha Niblett Labour South Derbyshire
  • Charlotte Nichols Labour Warrington North
  • Caroline Nokes Conservative Romsey and Southampton North
  • Jesse Norman Conservative Hereford and South Herefordshire
  • Alex Norris Labour Nottingham North and Kimberley
  • Dan Norris Labour North East Somerset and Hanham
  • Ben Obese-Jecty Conservative Huntingdon
  • Neil O'Brien Conservative Harborough, Oadby and Wigston
  • Brendan O'Hara Scottish National Party Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber
  • Sarah Olney Liberal Democrat Richmond Park
  • Melanie Onn Labour Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes
  • Chi Onwurah Labour Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West
  • Dr Simon Opher Labour Stroud
  • Ms Abena Oppong-Asare Labour Erith and Thamesmead
  • Kate Osamor Labour Edmonton and Winchmore Hill
  • Kate Osborne Labour Jarrow and Gateshead East
  • Tristan Osborne Labour Chatham and Aylesford
  • Taiwo Owatemi Labour Coventry North West
  • Sarah Owen Labour Luton North
  • Darren Paffey Labour Southampton Itchen
  • Andrew Pakes Labour Peterborough
  • Priti Patel Conservative Witham
  • Matthew Patrick Labour Wirral West
  • Rebecca Paul Conservative Reigate
  • Michael Payne Labour Gedling
  • Stephanie Peacock Labour Barnsley South
  • Jon Pearce Labour High Peak
  • Matthew Pennycook Labour Greenwich and Woolwich
  • Mr Toby Perkins Labour Chesterfield
  • Manuela Perteghella Liberal Democrat Stratford-on-Avon
  • Jess Phillips Labour Birmingham Yardley
  • Bridget Phillipson Labour Houghton and Sunderland South
  • Chris Philp Conservative Croydon South
  • Al Pinkerton Liberal Democrat Surrey Heath
  • David Pinto-Duschinsky Labour Hendon
  • Lee Pitcher Labour Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme
  • Jo Platt Labour Leigh and Atherton
  • Luke Pollard Labour Plymouth Sutton and Devonport
  • Joe Powell Labour Kensington and Bayswater
  • Lucy Powell Labour Manchester Central
  • Gregor Poynton Labour Livingston
  • Peter Prinsley Labour Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket
  • Mark Pritchard Conservative The Wrekin
  • Richard Quigley Labour Isle of Wight West
  • Yasmin Qureshi Labour Bolton South and Walkden
  • Steve Race Labour Exeter
  • Shivani Raja Conservative Leicester East
  • Adrian Ramsay Green Party Waveney Valley
  • Mr Connor Rand Labour Altrincham and Sale West
  • Andrew Ranger Labour Wrexham
  • Jack Rankin Conservative Windsor
  • Angela Rayner Labour Ashton-under-Lyne
  • Mike Reader Labour Northampton South
  • David Reed Conservative Exmouth and Exeter East
  • Steve Reed Labour Streatham and Croydon North
  • Ellie Reeves Labour Lewisham West and East Dulwich
  • Rachel Reeves Labour Leeds West and Pudsey
  • Joani Reid Labour East Kilbride and Strathaven
  • Emma Reynolds Labour Wycombe
  • Jonathan Reynolds Labour Stalybridge and Hyde
  • Mr Joshua Reynolds Liberal Democrat Maidenhead
  • Martin Rhodes Labour Glasgow North
  • Bell Ribeiro-Addy Labour Clapham and Brixton Hill
  • Jake Richards Labour Rother Valley
  • Jenny Riddell-Carpenter Labour Suffolk Coastal
  • Lucy Rigby Labour Northampton North
  • Ms Marie Rimmer Labour St Helens South and Whiston
  • Dave Robertson Labour Lichfield
  • Joe Robertson Conservative Isle of Wight East
  • Gavin Robinson Democratic Unionist Party Belfast East
  • Tim Roca Labour Macclesfield
  • Matt Rodda Labour Reading Central
  • Ian Roome Liberal Democrat North Devon
  • Andrew Rosindell Conservative Romford
  • Sam Rushworth Labour Bishop Auckland
  • Mrs Sarah Russell Labour Congleton
  • Tom Rutland Labour East Worthing and Shoreham
  • Oliver Ryan Labour Burnley
  • Anna Sabine Liberal Democrat Frome and East Somerset
  • Sarah Sackman Labour Finchley and Golders Green
  • Jeevun Sandher Labour Loughborough
  • Dr Roz Savage Liberal Democrat South Cotswolds
  • Liz Saville Roberts Plaid Cymru Dwyfor Meirionnydd
  • Michelle Scrogham Labour Barrow and Furness
  • Mr Mark Sewards Labour Leeds South West and Morley
  • Naz Shah Labour Bradford West
  • Baggy Shanker Labour Derby South
  • Michael Shanks Labour Rutherglen
  • Jim Shannon Democratic Unionist Party Strangford
  • Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst Conservative Solihull West and Shirley
  • Sir Alec Shelbrooke Conservative Wetherby and Easingwold
  • Tulip Siddiq Labour Hampstead and Highgate
  • David Simmonds Conservative Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner
  • Josh Simons Labour Makerfield
  • Vikki Slade Liberal Democrat Mid Dorset and North Poole
  • Andy Slaughter Labour Hammersmith and Chiswick
  • John Slinger Labour Rugby
  • Lisa Smart Liberal Democrat Hazel Grove
  • Cat Smith Labour Lancaster and Wyre
  • David Smith Labour North Northumberland
  • Greg Smith Conservative Mid Buckinghamshire
  • Jeff Smith Labour Manchester Withington
  • Nick Smith Labour Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney
  • Rebecca Smith Conservative South West Devon
  • Sarah Smith Labour Hyndburn
  • Sir Julian Smith Conservative Skipton and Ripon
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    1. OVERVIEW
    2. REPORT
    3. EMAIL YOUR MP
    4. TAKE ACTION
    5. WHAT IS A CBDC?
    6. KEY ISSUES
    7. BRIEFINGS
    8. MEDIA

    What is a CBDC?

    A centralised bank digital currency (or CBDC) is a “new form of digital money” issued by a central bank instead of a commercial bank. In this case, it is the Bank of England rather than banks such as Lloyds, Halifax, or Barclays. Unlike conventional currency which can be withdrawn as physical notes and coins, a CBDC would only be displayed and accessed digitally, through a computer, phone or other device.

    As they are mediated by state-owned banks, CBDC payments allow the government oversight of the public’s financial activities. This is unlike cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, which are a form of digital currency that can be traded and exchanged without a third-party go-between. CBDCs are becoming increasingly popular: over 90 central banks are currently either researching, developing or piloting them. However, the rush to issue a new digital pound threatens the public’s privacy.

    Widespread adoption of any centralised digital currency will drastically change how much data is generated by everyday transactions, and therefore how much of the public’s identity, income and transaction information the state has access to; provoking serious risks of state surveillance.

    1. OVERVIEW
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    3. EMAIL YOUR MP
    4. TAKE ACTION
    5. WHAT IS A CBDC?
    6. KEY ISSUES
    7. BRIEFINGS
    8. MEDIA

    7 KEY ISSUES

    1. A SOLUTION IN SEARCH OF A PROBLEM

    A UK CBDC would have a major impact on this country.

    There is insufficient evidence to support such a significant change that would transform the financial landscape, endanger privacy and a range of human rights, create security risks, and could irreversibly redefine the relationship between citizen and state. Parliament’s Economic Affairs Committee described the UK CBDC proposal as a “solution in search of a problem”.

    2. PRIVACY INTRUSION

    Generalised surveillance of CBDC transactions would be inevitable given the context of the current legal landscape, particularly counter-terror law, anti-money laundering law and investigatory powers law.

    More info

    Every transaction would be recordable and anyone with access to the core ledger – be it a public authority or hacker – could potentially see these transactions. The Government has committed to introducing legislation to guarantee user privacy (however, there's no detail on what these protections are, so we don't know how good they'll be).

    3. PROGRAMMABLE MONEY AND FINANCIAL CONTROL

    The potential to program the public’s personal finances or welfare payments could lead to financial control, an invasion of privacy, potentially a breach of the right to protection of property and, depending on the limitations set, could pose a serious threat to a range of other fundamental rights – from freedom of expression, to freedom of assembly and protection from discrimination.

    More info

    Whilst the Bank and Government have promised legislation guaranteeing they would not program users' digital pounds - a future government could. In recent years, money has become a target for private and state actors around the world attempting to shut-down and digitally debank campaigners and silence voices.

    For example, the Canadian Government used emergency powers to freeze the bank accounts of suspected protesters against vaccine mandates. More recently, PayPal cancelled the account of a UK journalist and free speech campaigners. Despite the risks, the consultation document praises the “potential benefits of programmability for innovation”.

    4. DIGITAL ID, CBDC AND DISCRIMINATION

    It is nigh on impossible to issue a UK CBDC without a comprehensive digital identity system. Combining digital identity and CBDCs poses a serious risk of surveillance, security breaches, hacking/identity theft, and discrimination.

    More info

    Everyone should have the right to access the economy with or without digital currency, and with or without digital ID. The consultation document proposes “tiered wallets” where “users with limited forms of ID could open basic digital pound wallets allowing limited, low-value payments”.

    Creating tiered levels of access to money in exchange for increasing amounts of identification amounts to a discriminatory, identity paywall that would most affect migrants, ethnic minorities, older people, and poorer people, who are least likely to hold advanced forms of ID. The Government has said it would not be responsible for verifying users’ identity but there are still questions over data access.

    5. DATA EXPLOITATION

    The consultation points out that providers can use personal data to “develop marketing activities” and “tailor products and services”.

    Exploiting personal data in this way would endorse mass surveillance and exploitation of the public’s sensitive personal data, further shrinking the private sphere in a growing digital panopticon.

    6. SECURITY RISKS

    A centralised CBDC system would create a huge platform of population data and, as such, become a “critical piece of national infrastructure”. This would provide hostile state and non-state actors with a large target to focus cyberattacks on.

    Combining digital identity and CBDC poses a serious risk of security breaches and hacking/identity theft and a successful breach could put the entire public at risk.

    7. UNDEMOCRATIC

    The decision to develop a UK CBDC should not be made by the Bank of England and HM Treasury alone – yet the pilot planned for 2025 seems to minimise parliamentary involvement.

    The Government has now committed to introducing primary legislation with a vote in both Houses of Parliament before launching a digital pound.

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    1. OVERVIEW
    2. REPORT
    3. EMAIL YOUR MP
    4. TAKE ACTION
    5. WHAT IS A CBDC?
    6. KEY ISSUES
    7. BRIEFINGS
    8. MEDIA

    BRIEFINGS

    Big Brother Watch submission to the Bank of England and HM Treasury’s joint consultation on a UK digital pound

    REPORTS

    We’ve published two groundbreaking reports: an analysis of CBDC pilots from around the world in 2023 and an exploration of privacy and security considerations for a UK CBDC in 2025, co-authored with the New Economics Forum.

    1. OVERVIEW
    2. REPORT
    3. EMAIL YOUR MP
    4. TAKE ACTION
    5. WHAT IS A CBDC?
    6. KEY ISSUES
    7. BRIEFINGS
    8. MEDIA

    IN THE MEDIA

    Forbes – A UK CBDC poses serious privacy risks

    October 13, 2024

    Cointelegraph – Campaigners say there are “serious privacy concerns” about a digital pound

    February 14, 2024

    PoliticsHome – Privacy campaigners warn a UK CBDC could spell the end of privacy

    November 29, 2023

    City A.M. – A digital pound can’t come with a trade-off for privacy

    July 6, 2023

    The Telegraph – 50,000 people respond to the Government consultation on a UK CBDC

    July 3, 2023

    UnHerd – Britcoin will bring in a new wave of financial censorship

    June 30, 2023

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