“I’m ready to fight harder...for a Greater Manchester where people can live free from the fear of debt, hunger and eviction.”
These were the words spoken by Andy Burnham, the newly re-elected mayor of Greater Manchester, in his acceptance speech after winning his third term. He used his speech to say how he had been powerfully affected by hearing people speak about the impact of the debt crisis at our hustings event a week earlier in Manchester, where we had invited all the mayoral candidates.
The candidates heard first-hand how people had been pushed into debt through high living costs and a punitive benefits system, leaving people trapped in poverty and hardship. Burnham was visibly moved by a passionate and inspiring speech by Jo, a member of our Together Against Debt group in Manchester, and quoted her in his acceptance speech.
At the hustings event, campaigners from our group in Manchester called on mayoral candidates to support the Together Against Debt People’s Manifesto, which sets out our three key demands to address the UK household debt crisis.
The manifesto was co-produced with people in debt, bringing their stories, priorities and solutions together to create a platform for change.
Now that we have caught the attention of politicians in the local and mayoral elections, we will continue to build support across all parties for the demands in the manifesto, as we move ever closer to a general election.
We must build on this momentum and ensure whichever party is elected commits to taking action to end the household debt crisis.
You can show your solidarity with people on the sharp end of the debt crisis by adding your name to support the manifesto.