It’s time to call out these comments. When I started my career, the BBC called a programme I went on, about debt crisis “Hey Big Spender” – I objected. The biggest cause of debt crisis was change of circumstance.

Since we’ve had a pandemic, cost of living crisis, mental health… https://t.co/8cpFWZHwq9

— Martin Lewis (@MartinSLewis) June 4, 2024

In case you can’t or don’t want to click through , here is the full tweet

It’s time to call out these comments. When I started my career, the BBC called a programme I went on, about debt crisis “Hey Big Spender” – I objected. The biggest cause of debt crisis was change of circumstance.

Since we’ve had a pandemic, cost of living crisis, mental health crisis. People lose jobs, lose partners, lose legs. People get cancer, have mental health breakdowns, get disabilities that stop them working.

The idea that everyone can have enough saved to bring up a child when they have a child (ie £100,000s) is ludicrous.

The idea that we should live in a society where there is no underlying support for people who need it, is dystopian. While there will be a few who desire to be on benefits. I suspect its very much the minority.

A huge chunk of those getting Universal Credit are IN WORK. A majority of those getting child benefit are IN WORK. This was about a late payment for money many rely on. Show some bloody compassion!

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Poverty and friendship

Thanks to Sir Steve Webb for putting me on to this great tweet from Martin Lewis.

Most of us have had times in our lives when we have been poor, but we have seen a light at the end of the tunnel.

For some the light in the tunnel is the headlamp of a train coming straight at them. They can see nothing ahead of them but the terror of their end.

And yet, they find a way to carry on , buoyed by the rare compassion of a stranger’s smile or perhaps the kindness of a pharmacist or someone on the end of the phone. Even a message or a like on social media can make a difference.

I speak, as one of the many who has health, wealth and friends. It comes as no surprise to remember that Steve’s compassion is borne out in his strong religious faith. Whether Martin Lewis has a similar faith , I don’t know. But it occurs to me that Steve and Martin have as much to offer as friends as they do as gurus.