High street banks are accused of endangering national security by refusing to offer bank accounts to defence companies

British lenders are under fire for 'virtue-signalling' by refusing to offer bank accounts to defence companies. Palestine Action have claimed responsibility for the damage in protest to the investment Barclays have in arms to Israel Sir Ben Wallace said: 'As war and insecurity spreads around the globe, it is time for our financial institutions to stop this vacuous virtue signalling.' Thousands of pro-Palestine protesters gather in Trafalgar Square calling on the UK government to stop arming Israel The scene at Barclay's bank in Richmond after several branches were attacked by supporters of Palestine Action on June 10 However, a failure to provide financial services to Britain's defence companies could pose a serious threat to national security as global conflicts heat up, experts have warned. Sir Ben Wallace, a former Tory defence secretary, told the Telegraph: 'As war and insecurity spreads around the globe, it is time for our financial institutions to stop this vacuous virtue signalling.' A police officer stands at the scene in Bristol after a Barclays branch was targeted by activists on June 10 A woman in Bristol carefully picks her way over the shattered and stained broken window glass of a Barclays branch The St Johns Wood branch cash machines were covered with red paint after the branch was targeted by activists on June 10 A report by ADS and UK Finance, which represents the banking sector, last year warned that accessing finance and banking services has become harder following a spike in debanking complaints.