Meg van Rooyen
@megvr.bsky.social
All things debt policy and politics
Reposted by Meg van Rooyen
Poverty is deepening.
🔎 Our #UKPoverty2026 report was launched this morning.
People in very deep poverty now make up the biggest group of people in poverty, at 6.8 million people.
This is unacceptable for the fifth richest country in the world, and it has consequences.
🔎 Our #UKPoverty2026 report was launched this morning.
People in very deep poverty now make up the biggest group of people in poverty, at 6.8 million people.
This is unacceptable for the fifth richest country in the world, and it has consequences.
January 27, 2026 at 7:54 AM
Poverty is deepening.
🔎 Our #UKPoverty2026 report was launched this morning.
People in very deep poverty now make up the biggest group of people in poverty, at 6.8 million people.
This is unacceptable for the fifth richest country in the world, and it has consequences.
🔎 Our #UKPoverty2026 report was launched this morning.
People in very deep poverty now make up the biggest group of people in poverty, at 6.8 million people.
This is unacceptable for the fifth richest country in the world, and it has consequences.
Reposted by Meg van Rooyen
The student loan scandal - interest on loans is more than the repayments for many on Plan 2 so debt grows trapping them with extra 9% income tax for up to 30 years bit.ly/3NcgO8o £15.2 billion interest added to student loans last year, only £5 billion repaid.
‘I’ll end up owing £200k’ — a graduate generation trapped and betrayed
All students are stuck with crippling debt, but one group is suffering more than others, reveals Mary Downer
bit.ly
January 11, 2026 at 10:16 AM
The student loan scandal - interest on loans is more than the repayments for many on Plan 2 so debt grows trapping them with extra 9% income tax for up to 30 years bit.ly/3NcgO8o £15.2 billion interest added to student loans last year, only £5 billion repaid.
Reposted by Meg van Rooyen
Anyway, if you think it's vaguely fucked up that Nigel Farage could well become Prime Minister on just 30%-or-so of the vote
Join the campaign for a fair & porportional voting system, before it's too late! 👇😱
Join the campaign for a fair & porportional voting system, before it's too late! 👇😱
🎄 It's day 2 of our 12 Days of Democracy 🎄
Every day, we open a present and reveal one reason to support a fairer voting system.
Today is @zoejardiniere.bsky.social's turn...
Every day, we open a present and reveal one reason to support a fairer voting system.
Today is @zoejardiniere.bsky.social's turn...
December 16, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Anyway, if you think it's vaguely fucked up that Nigel Farage could well become Prime Minister on just 30%-or-so of the vote
Join the campaign for a fair & porportional voting system, before it's too late! 👇😱
Join the campaign for a fair & porportional voting system, before it's too late! 👇😱
Reposted by Meg van Rooyen
Millions of households are living in cold, damp homes, and rising energy debt is a big part of the problem
Data shows household energy debt & arrears have reached £4.48bn, with most of that debt not on a repayment plan, meaning people are cutting back on heating just to keep up with bills
[1/3]
Data shows household energy debt & arrears have reached £4.48bn, with most of that debt not on a repayment plan, meaning people are cutting back on heating just to keep up with bills
[1/3]
December 15, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Millions of households are living in cold, damp homes, and rising energy debt is a big part of the problem
Data shows household energy debt & arrears have reached £4.48bn, with most of that debt not on a repayment plan, meaning people are cutting back on heating just to keep up with bills
[1/3]
Data shows household energy debt & arrears have reached £4.48bn, with most of that debt not on a repayment plan, meaning people are cutting back on heating just to keep up with bills
[1/3]
Reposted by Meg van Rooyen
People are upset by disabled people they believe to be abusing the benefits system. But they are nothing compared to these insulation contractors paid hundreds of millions (paid through our fuel bills) for botched work that now needs more millions to undo bit.ly/4rDjg7D
30,000 homes fitted with botched insulation under government schemes, ministers admit
The government has documented the number of homes blighted by sub-standard work for the first time.
bit.ly
December 7, 2025 at 12:25 PM
People are upset by disabled people they believe to be abusing the benefits system. But they are nothing compared to these insulation contractors paid hundreds of millions (paid through our fuel bills) for botched work that now needs more millions to undo bit.ly/4rDjg7D
Reposted by Meg van Rooyen
🚨NEW: In a recent interview, Reform UK’s Ian Cooper declared that he wanted to carry out his role as leader of Staffordshire County Council with “competence and professionalism” and “keep under the radar”.
Alas, that’s not what we found: hopenothate.org.uk/2025/12/03/r...
Alas, that’s not what we found: hopenothate.org.uk/2025/12/03/r...
Revealed: The Online Activity of Staffordshire Council Leader Ian Cooper – HOPE not hate
Reform UK’s Cllr Ian Cooper has posted dozens of racist and bigoted posts to YouTube and X/Twitter under his personal accounts. When it comes to...
hopenothate.org.uk
December 3, 2025 at 4:53 PM
🚨NEW: In a recent interview, Reform UK’s Ian Cooper declared that he wanted to carry out his role as leader of Staffordshire County Council with “competence and professionalism” and “keep under the radar”.
Alas, that’s not what we found: hopenothate.org.uk/2025/12/03/r...
Alas, that’s not what we found: hopenothate.org.uk/2025/12/03/r...
Reposted by Meg van Rooyen
And as we mark Fuel Poverty Awareness Day, the reality is this: we are entering a fifth winter of the energy bills crisis with no long-term plan to end it.
#EndFuelPoverty #FuelPovertyAwarenessDay #EnergyEfficiency #Budget2025 #WarmHomes @nea.org.uk
[1/4]
#EndFuelPoverty #FuelPovertyAwarenessDay #EnergyEfficiency #Budget2025 #WarmHomes @nea.org.uk
[1/4]
November 26, 2025 at 8:18 AM
And as we mark Fuel Poverty Awareness Day, the reality is this: we are entering a fifth winter of the energy bills crisis with no long-term plan to end it.
#EndFuelPoverty #FuelPovertyAwarenessDay #EnergyEfficiency #Budget2025 #WarmHomes @nea.org.uk
[1/4]
#EndFuelPoverty #FuelPovertyAwarenessDay #EnergyEfficiency #Budget2025 #WarmHomes @nea.org.uk
[1/4]
Reposted by Meg van Rooyen
🔥 Highly recommended that you all sign and share.
Link to the petition—> petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Link to the petition—> petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
November 26, 2025 at 8:55 AM
🔥 Highly recommended that you all sign and share.
Link to the petition—> petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Link to the petition—> petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Reposted by Meg van Rooyen
A policy of mismanaged decline
November 26, 2025 at 8:55 AM
A policy of mismanaged decline
Reposted by Meg van Rooyen
Austerity has a powerful impact on children’s mental health
The legacy of British austerity can’t be understood without considering the effects on mental health, especially childhood trauma | Dean Conway
The legacy of British austerity can’t be understood without considering the effects on mental health, especially childhood trauma | Dean Conway
Austerity has a powerful impact on children’s mental health
The legacy of British austerity can’t be understood without considering the effects on mental health, especially childhood trauma
centralbylines.co.uk
November 22, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Austerity has a powerful impact on children’s mental health
The legacy of British austerity can’t be understood without considering the effects on mental health, especially childhood trauma | Dean Conway
The legacy of British austerity can’t be understood without considering the effects on mental health, especially childhood trauma | Dean Conway
Reposted by Meg van Rooyen
Austerity has a powerful impact on children’s mental health
The legacy of British austerity can’t be understood without considering the effects on mental health, especially childhood trauma.
The legacy of British austerity can’t be understood without considering the effects on mental health, especially childhood trauma.
Austerity has a powerful impact on children’s mental health
The legacy of British austerity can’t be understood without considering the effects on mental health, especially childhood trauma
centralbylines.co.uk
November 21, 2025 at 7:05 AM
Austerity has a powerful impact on children’s mental health
The legacy of British austerity can’t be understood without considering the effects on mental health, especially childhood trauma.
The legacy of British austerity can’t be understood without considering the effects on mental health, especially childhood trauma.
Reposted by Meg van Rooyen
Ofgem has today announced that the new #pricecap will increase by 0.2% from January, leaving the average bill still around £700 higher than in 2020 and £190 higher than at the 2024 General Election.
➡️ £1,758 a year bill on average for a typical dual-fuel household on direct debit.
[1/5]
➡️ £1,758 a year bill on average for a typical dual-fuel household on direct debit.
[1/5]
November 21, 2025 at 7:18 AM
Ofgem has today announced that the new #pricecap will increase by 0.2% from January, leaving the average bill still around £700 higher than in 2020 and £190 higher than at the 2024 General Election.
➡️ £1,758 a year bill on average for a typical dual-fuel household on direct debit.
[1/5]
➡️ £1,758 a year bill on average for a typical dual-fuel household on direct debit.
[1/5]
Reposted by Meg van Rooyen
Lloyds, NatWest, Barclays, Nationwide and Santander will join HSBC and allow people without a fixed address to open bank accounts, in initiative with Shelter and government bit.ly/4nPm6U0
Five major banks to allow homeless people to open bank accounts under new pilot
Thousands of homeless people will be able to open a bank account and five major banks as part of a strategy to improve financial inclusion.
bit.ly
November 5, 2025 at 7:42 AM
Lloyds, NatWest, Barclays, Nationwide and Santander will join HSBC and allow people without a fixed address to open bank accounts, in initiative with Shelter and government bit.ly/4nPm6U0
Reposted by Meg van Rooyen
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation estimates that universal credit will still fall short by around £1,000 a year per person
Universal credit is set to rise – but not by enough
www.bigissue.com
November 3, 2025 at 10:57 PM
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation estimates that universal credit will still fall short by around £1,000 a year per person
Reposted by Meg van Rooyen
Today the ESNZ Committee has published it’s first report into the cost of energy, setting out a clear roadmap to address the impact of Britain’s energy cost crisis.
[1/3]
[1/3]
October 29, 2025 at 7:01 AM
Today the ESNZ Committee has published it’s first report into the cost of energy, setting out a clear roadmap to address the impact of Britain’s energy cost crisis.
[1/3]
[1/3]
Reposted by Meg van Rooyen
Portland continues to amaze me 👏
October 12, 2025 at 11:51 PM
Portland continues to amaze me 👏
Reposted by Meg van Rooyen
This is good www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Worried about rising bills and getting by? Keir Starmer has the answer: try chewing a flag! | Aditya Chakrabortty
The PM wants to talk about patriotism when the issue that is really affecting people is the cost of living. If he doesn’t wise up, that dissonance will sink him, says Guardian columnist Aditya Chakrab...
www.theguardian.com
October 9, 2025 at 7:32 AM
This is good www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Meg van Rooyen
Young lives cut short on an unimaginable scale: the 18,457 children on Gaza’s list of war dead
Young lives cut short on an unimaginable scale: the 18,457 children on Gaza’s list of war dead
The children’s names below appear on a list of victims of Israel’s offensive in Gaza, maintained by health authorities in the territory. As of the end of July it ran to 60,199 names, of whom 18,457 were under 18s. Far from comprehensive, the list does not include the thousands still buried under the rubble of destroyed buildings, as well as the war’s many indirect victims
As of the end of July there were 18,457 children named on the long official list of Palestinian victims of Israel’s war in Gaza. Over almost two years, that is equivalent to bombs, bullets and shells killing a boy or girl every hour of every day.
In reality the deaths are not spaced out so evenly. Siblings, cousins and playmates are often killed together, by an airstrike or artillery shell. Even children shot by snipers or quadcopters are sometimes brought into hospitals in groups, doctors say. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
October 8, 2025 at 7:51 AM
Young lives cut short on an unimaginable scale: the 18,457 children on Gaza’s list of war dead
Reposted by Meg van Rooyen
This does not look like “impartiality”. It looks like propaganda.
www.thelondoneconomic.com/politics/how...
www.thelondoneconomic.com/politics/how...
Reform, with 0.7% of all MPs, featured in 25% of BBC's recent 10pm news bulletins
Astonishingly, a party with 18 times as many MPs as Reform has received one-third less coverage on BBC News at 10.
www.thelondoneconomic.com
September 21, 2025 at 7:47 AM
This does not look like “impartiality”. It looks like propaganda.
www.thelondoneconomic.com/politics/how...
www.thelondoneconomic.com/politics/how...
Reposted by Meg van Rooyen
Powerful article from @trusselluk.bsky.social's Emma Revie in @newstatesman.com laying out the stark reality of hunger stalking families across the UK & why it's so vital the government scraps the 2 child limit this Autumn. www.newstatesman.com/spotlight/po...
We must scrap the two-child limit
If the government does not change course, it risks increasing hardship and forcing more families to food banks.
www.newstatesman.com
September 17, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Powerful article from @trusselluk.bsky.social's Emma Revie in @newstatesman.com laying out the stark reality of hunger stalking families across the UK & why it's so vital the government scraps the 2 child limit this Autumn. www.newstatesman.com/spotlight/po...
Reposted by Meg van Rooyen
Yesterday they marched to "send them back" & the government is deperate to show they're listening.
On Wednesday we have to take back the narrative - because a government that bows down to Trump & racists, opens the door to fascism, too.
On Wednesday we have to take back the narrative - because a government that bows down to Trump & racists, opens the door to fascism, too.
Yesterday, the largest far-right protest in UK history marched through London, led by racist Tommy Robinson.
Today, we say: They don’t speak for us — and they won’t have the last word.
This Wednesday we come together against Trump and for a better future. Do everything to be there.
Today, we say: They don’t speak for us — and they won’t have the last word.
This Wednesday we come together against Trump and for a better future. Do everything to be there.
September 14, 2025 at 9:17 AM
Yesterday they marched to "send them back" & the government is deperate to show they're listening.
On Wednesday we have to take back the narrative - because a government that bows down to Trump & racists, opens the door to fascism, too.
On Wednesday we have to take back the narrative - because a government that bows down to Trump & racists, opens the door to fascism, too.
Reposted by Meg van Rooyen
Yesterday, the largest far-right protest in UK history marched through London, led by racist Tommy Robinson.
Today, we say: They don’t speak for us — and they won’t have the last word.
This Wednesday we come together against Trump and for a better future. Do everything to be there.
Today, we say: They don’t speak for us — and they won’t have the last word.
This Wednesday we come together against Trump and for a better future. Do everything to be there.
September 14, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Yesterday, the largest far-right protest in UK history marched through London, led by racist Tommy Robinson.
Today, we say: They don’t speak for us — and they won’t have the last word.
This Wednesday we come together against Trump and for a better future. Do everything to be there.
Today, we say: They don’t speak for us — and they won’t have the last word.
This Wednesday we come together against Trump and for a better future. Do everything to be there.
Reposted by Meg van Rooyen
New @trusselluk.bsky.social research: 14 million people face hunger due to lack of money. Big rise from 2022 (11.6 million people.)
More people from working households can’t afford essentials – now 3 in 10 referred to food banks in Trussell community.
1/8
More people from working households can’t afford essentials – now 3 in 10 referred to food banks in Trussell community.
1/8
September 10, 2025 at 7:44 AM
New @trusselluk.bsky.social research: 14 million people face hunger due to lack of money. Big rise from 2022 (11.6 million people.)
More people from working households can’t afford essentials – now 3 in 10 referred to food banks in Trussell community.
1/8
More people from working households can’t afford essentials – now 3 in 10 referred to food banks in Trussell community.
1/8
Reposted by Meg van Rooyen
Dependence on food banks is the new norm in the UK.
In a rich country 14m people, including 3.8m children, food insecure. One in six households went hungry last year.
Result of low wages/benefits, unchecked profiteering, govt indifference.
1% have more wealth than 70% of the population combined.
In a rich country 14m people, including 3.8m children, food insecure. One in six households went hungry last year.
Result of low wages/benefits, unchecked profiteering, govt indifference.
1% have more wealth than 70% of the population combined.
Failure to tackle dependence on food banks in UK driving public discontent
One in six households went hungry last year, says Trussell, with Britain facing ‘new normal’ of severe hardship
www.theguardian.com
September 10, 2025 at 6:30 AM
Dependence on food banks is the new norm in the UK.
In a rich country 14m people, including 3.8m children, food insecure. One in six households went hungry last year.
Result of low wages/benefits, unchecked profiteering, govt indifference.
1% have more wealth than 70% of the population combined.
In a rich country 14m people, including 3.8m children, food insecure. One in six households went hungry last year.
Result of low wages/benefits, unchecked profiteering, govt indifference.
1% have more wealth than 70% of the population combined.