#debt-uk

[itistimetodisappear]

If you want and update on how it's going:

Trump fucking over ukraine and siding with Russia has forced the UK to up its defence spending in order to protect the UK and Ukraine, which has caused them to cut environmental spending and specifically DEFRA which means the sustainable farming scheme has been axed which means farmers are gonna farm intensively to survive because they are no longer recieving money to protect the environment.

Boy they weren't kidding when they say you should care about politics because it affects you. British wildlife is fucked because of orange man

[faithinlouisfuture]

Louis being an absolute delight on the red carpet (x)

[zee-man-chatter]

A very informative, but not overly cheery report on Britain's finances which have been severely impacted by loans to Ukraine. Starmer's misrepresentation of national debt, and illegal immigration are also covered.

[mariemariemaria]

you have to go to uni otherwise your life will go nowhere why would you go to uni these days the trades are dying we need more people in the trades no no we don't want more women in the trades we need more doctors nurses teachers so you have to get a degree or multiple degrees why are you complaining about debt you chose to do this you have to get at LEAST a masters degree because bachelors are basically useless they're handing degrees out like sweets these days you shouldn't go to uni if you can't afford it you have to get good grades at a level to get anywhere wait you don't want to go to uni? then what the fuck do you expect from life? student loans are fine they're not like other debt the highest student loan debt is £230,000 you'll be repaying it for your whole life there are so many useless degrees they need to get rid of them STEM is the way to go why is art and literature and music so bad these days the top earners at unis are on six figure salaries your student loan interest will go up year on year and btw we are really looking for someone with a higher level of education for this entry level position

[possiblyunhinged]

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Dispatches (@c4dispatches)

Living with the affliction called being English means I can't even marvel at genuine kindness without fearing an inevitable backlash the media will launch against Michael Sheen—just as they did with Rashford and anyone else who dares receive rightful praise beyond five minutes.

Debt has quite literally destroyed my family’s life; it certainly played a part in destroying mine. My mum's health is in tatters after decades spent struggling just to keep a roof over our heads. Loans. Begging. Pleading for help she never received—only shame in return.

The lack of understanding about how working-class people are losing their ability to simply exist without constant fear—wondering how they'll pay bills or manage a weekly shop, let alone handle an unexpected repair—is a level of ignorance that is deadly.

Financial struggles are among the leading reasons people take their own lives. Thousands did exactly that after mine closures, abandoned by a government unwilling to offer even the reassurance that things would ever be okay.

Yet we’re told we live in a "kind, Christian country," so generous that the world supposedly takes advantage. Funny—I’ve never witnessed this generosity, but perhaps the 20,000 people earning £23 million in passive income might see it differently.

[galadriel1010]

Another day, another debt help advert on Tumblr. Don't do it.

If you're in the UK, you can go to StepChange or Money Advice Trust for free debt advice online or over the phone, Citizens Advice Bureau if you have other challenges piling on top of your debt, or Christians Against Poverty if you are comfortable going to them.

Some debt relief options have a fee, many do not. What you need to do is go through your finances and work out your income and expenditure. Track it over the last few months if you can and then do a debt advice session online, over the phone or in-person, depending on your needs. Set yourself aside as much time to do it as you can so you aren't rushed as well as stressed. Do not be afraid to pick up the phone or use the text chat if you need support, the staff are there to help.

Don't leave it to the last minute. Do it now, even if you don't think you need it. People often don't reach out for support until they are in crisis, by which point they have fewer options. The earlier you ask for help, the more you can be helped.

Do a benefits check on Policy on Practice or Turn2Us to make sure you're claiming all benefits you're entitled to, too.

[niamhthefae]

i wish there was a place i could get vampire fangs when it's not october. what if i want to be a spooky little dude in april? or december? HUH?

[thetimelordbatgirl]

You know that moment from Spongebob where Patrick cries, "Gary? I thought we had something special!"??? Keir Starmer when Donald Trump inevitably announces tariffs on the UK because lord that man seems to be the only leader who wants to get close with Trump for some fucking reason while other leaders rightfully despise Trump.

[resist-the-oligarchs]

What a country.

Britain punishes homeless people for being in debt.

A "Kafka-esque nightmare", as this article says.

#whatiswrongwithBritain?

[eaglesnick]

Healthcare should be a human right, not a commodity for sale” – Jim Wallace

In October last year the GOOD LAW project investigated Wes Streeting and his connection to private health care. They found that:

“More than 60% of the registered donations accepted by the health secretary come from people and companies linked to private health.” (23/10/24)

In total, a massive £311,400 has found its way into the Streeting coffers from companies and individuals with private health care provision interests. Rachel Reeves was the second highest recipient of donations linked to private healthcare. Keir Starmer received £157,500 from private healthcare donors, while Yvette Cooper was given a whopping £295,205.

The point is, those at the top of the Labour party are indebted to private healthcare providers and it is therefore no surprise that Wes Streeting is yet again advocating more private sector involvement in the NHS.

“Health Secretary signals support for more private investment to fix the NHS” (Independent: 17/02/25)

If you are ill then I doubt very much you care where your treatment comes from. All you want is treatment for your illness or the illness of your loved ones. But it does matter. We know from our everyday experiences what privatisation has done to the railways, the water companies, energy prices and to the NHS in the form of the Private Finance Initiative (PFI)

PFI is a way of financing public sector projects through private sector investment. The concept was introduced in the UK in the 1990s and has been used for building and maintaining infrastructure projects, such as hospitals, schools, and roads.

PFI has been costly for the taxpayer in all areas but let us concentrate on hospitals as Wes Streeting is seriously considering signing more PFI contracts within the NHS. Despite admitting that hospital PFI schemes: “..did lumber the NHS with an enormous cost that it continues to bear” he is never-the-less:

“actually very sympathetic to the argument that we should try and leverage in private finance.” (Independent: 17/02/25)

PFI schemes have been criticised for being more expensive in the long run compared to traditional public financing. Hospitals built under PFI schemes can incur substantial costs over their 30 to 60-year contracts, leading to financial strain on the NHS. He knows this yet is continuing to press for more private finance investment.

There is a lack of clear and joined-up public accountability in PFI contracts, making it difficult to assess their true cost and value. The NHS continues to bear the financial burden of PFI contracts, with repayments often consuming a significant portion of healthcare budgets. Streeting knows this yet is continuing to press for more private finance investment.

The NHS used to be the Labour Party’s Jewel in the Crown. Not any more. Private healthcare providers have lined the pockets of key ministers within the Labour Party, including the Prime Minister himself. These paymasters expect a return for their investment and under Starmer and Streeting they seem very likely to get it.

[somerandomg33k]

From the David Graeber Institute... In 2011, David Graeber published; Debt: The First 5000 Years. It is one of those books where you learn a lot of interesting history that is not mentioned on the BBC. Here is an extract from the book.

[melancholyghoul]

I am so fucking done with the government

Labour promised to be different and people listened but they're pulling the same shit

Wdym all tuition fees are increasing year after year for undergraduate courses ?? They've been fixed since 2017

Right now they've increased by about £285, how much do you want to bet that'll be increased in the following year ?

I'm going into my third year in September, so I'll hopefully graduate and be out of this mess

They just continue to discourage anyone from getting higher education

[fake-married-my-dead-fiance]

Jang Uk: How DARE you make me go to school without my favourite servant that I bought like six weeks ago.

Mu deok: How DARE you make my master survive without me for a couple weeks!

[rezcowgirl]

Should be sleeping night-daydreams. Wish wish wishing.

If I get The Decemberists and Depeche Mode in the same year, let’s get the whole fucking list finished:

Manifesting Underworld concert 2024. 🕯️

[gold-finch]

romanticising old university cities seems so silly to me. you're not that special for studying in an old building

[axe8472]

nothing radicalises a UK university student like reading about the history of tuition + maintenance grants/loans