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“To children living in council homes, in temporary accommodation or in our care, who are picking up free school meals, food parcels and avoiding debt collectors, I say this: 'If I can get here, so can you.” - Shaun Davies, MP for Telford

Hi friend,

One of the newest members of parliament, Shaun Davies made an impassioned first speech in the commons this week about child poverty in the UK [1]. His memories of debt collectors after all these years really struck a chord with me.

“I was in poverty as a child. I remember switching the lights off in our council house and lying on the floor as debt collectors banged on our door.”

No child should even be aware of debt collectors, let alone live in fear of them. That’s why Shaun Davies is among the hundreds of MPs in the new parliament who I sent a copy of the Together Against Debt People’s Manifesto to this week [2].
Here is my colleague Fin, helping me pack manifestos off to post
One of three main demands of the manifesto – created by people with lived experience of debt, is that we all deserve to be treated with dignity and protected from exploitation and harassment by creditors, debt collectors and bailiffs.

With 10 million people in debt in the UK, we’re preparing to take our campaign to the next level with this new government. And sending all MPs our manifesto is an important first step – so we can make sure that both new and returning MPs not only hear the voices of those of us who have struggled with debt, but to hear our solutions too.
While we plan our next steps, why not test your own knowledge on the household debt crisis with our quiz. Here's the first question:

On average, how much money do people seeking debt advice from Citizens Advice have left over at the end of the month after paying for just the essentials?

We’ll be in touch again soon, but in the meanwhile, take care.

In solidarity,
Joe

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Notes

[1] Shropshire Star, https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/politics/2024/07/27/i-remember-lying-on-the-floor-as-debt-collectors-banged-on-our-door-new-mp-vows-to-stand-up-for-telford-in-maiden-speech/

[2] You can read the full Together Against Debt People’s Manifesto here

PS. In case you missed it, the Election Rally with Together Against Debt members is online here for you to watch. I hope it leaves you as inspired as I am. 

Justice is possible

Across the world, millions of people’s lives are being destroyed by unfair debt.  

But when we act together, we have the strength to win justice and build a fair economy that puts human life before debt.

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