Press release – for immediate release
New polling has indicated that a record 6.7 million people in Britain are now in financial difficulty. [1]
Polling conducted for Debt Awareness Week indicates that 13% of people have missed three or more credit or bill payments over the past six months. [2]
The polling was commissioned by Debt Justice to coincide with the launch of the ‘Together Against Debt Manifesto’, a set of policy demands developed by people most affected by the household debt crisis. [3]
The Manifesto calls on all political parties to make a commitment to address the crisis by ensuring that everyone weighed down by unmanageable debt can have a fresh start, that they provide protection from debt collector harassment and guarantee decent incomes for all.
The polling shows that government action on debt would have strong public support across all ages, classes, regions, current debt status and amongst voters of all political parties. [4]
More than eight in ten (83%) agreed that the government should ensure everyone pushed into unmanageable debt can access fair debt solutions to reset their finances and rebuild their lives. In a likely election year, almost half (49%) said it would make them more likely to support a political party committed to this policy.
85% agreed that the government should ensure free, impartial, high quality debt advice is available in every community.
77% agreed that the government should ensure everyone can meet essential costs such as food, energy and housing, without being pushed into debt.
69% agreed that the government should ensure everyone pushed into unmanageable debt is protected from creditor and bailiff harassment.
Joe Cox, Senior Policy Officer for Debt Justice said:
“The household debt crisis is becoming ever more entrenched and polling shows there is strong public support to address it. We need to see policies in party manifestos that can match the scale of the UK’s household debt emergency. As millions of people are currently weighed down by debt and under intolerable strain, it is time for some political leadership.”
Paula* from Glasgow, said:
“I am currently in crippling debt. I’ve been so overwhelmed by the onslaught of letters demanding unpayable amounts that I have felt completely paralysed with fear and shame. The current status quo is forcing people already in debt into more debt. We need to address this situation with immediate effect to allow people in debt to turn their situation around.”
Tracey from Lancashire said:
“I’ve been classed as disabled and I’ve no way of paying any debt back and the debt companies constantly hound you to the point where I’m scared to open mail or answer the door or even go out at all.”
Debbie from Kent said:
“It’s horrible, frightening and demeaning to be living under debt.”
Notes
* Name changed to protect anonymity
[1] Nationally representative polling was conducted by Walnut Unlimited between 23rd – 26th February 2024.
Number of people in financial difficulty based on a GB adult population of 51,660,114.
Data tables available at https://debtjustice.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/WalnutOmnibus-Debt-Justice-Policy-Development-Weighted.xlsx
[2] Debt Awareness Week is an annual event that aims to reach as many people as possible to let them know that help is available. https://www.stepchange.org/debt-awareness-week.aspx#:~:text=18%20to%2024%20March%202024,problems%20for%20over%2030%20years.
The FCA Financial Lives Survey in 2017 found that 8% of UK adults were in financial difficulty. This fell to 7% in 2020, grew to 8% in 2022 and reached 11% in 2023. See https://www.fca.org.uk/financial-lives/resources-library
[3] https://debtjustice.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/TAD-Manifesto-short-v5.pdf
[4] Polling confirms support for all the following manifesto demands. At least 60% of the public support each measure of the following measures, up to 85% for debt advice. People in debt support every measure ranging from 86% to 75%.
- The UK government should ensure everyone can meet essential costs such as food, energy and housing, without being pushed into debt
- The UK government should ensure everyone pushed into unmanageable debt is protected from creditor and bailiff harassment
- The UK government should ensure everyone pushed into unmanageable debt can access fair debt solutions to reset their finances and rebuild their lives
- The UK government should ensure free, impartial, high quality debt advice is available in every community
- The UK government should ensure all creditors conduct a standardised affordability assessment before trying to collect any repayments from people in debt
- The UK government should set limits on the number of times people in debt can be contacted by creditors
Debt Justice (formerly Jubilee Debt Campaign) is a campaigning organisation working to end unjust debt and the poverty and inequality it perpetuates, in the UK and across the world https://debtjustice.org.uk/
The Debt Justice Privacy Policy is available at https://debtjustice.org.uk/privacy-policy-2