News

Rachel today joined forces with other Labour MPs to help ensure protection of the poorest consumers in Leeds West is on the agenda of the Government. Following a debate in Westminster today, the pressure from Labour MPs applied to the Government has now made them agree to widen the scope of its current credit review to include consideration of the legal loan sharking market, representing a significant victory for the campaign to end these exploitative practices.

Rachel's contribution can be found here.

Speaking after the debate today on consumer credit regulation Rachel said:

“Many of my constituents come to me burdened with the misery of debt. I want to see everyone in Leeds West being protected from unscrupulous lenders and getting help to manage their finances, and that’s why today’s debate was so important. I was pleased to speak about the excellent work that the Leeds and Bramley Credit Unions do, and how their role can be increased.

To get the Government to agree on the record to widen the scope of their credit review to include these issues is the first step to getting them to take action. Without Labour MPs pushing for this to happen they would have ignored the millions of people for whom these legal loan sharks are their only finance option.

But it is not enough just to look at these matters. Now we have got this on their agenda I will continue to put pressure on Ministers to intervene in this highly exploitative and unscrupulous market. I hope residents from across Leeds West will also make their views known by contributing to this debate and writing to the Government by December 10 2010 to show support for this campaign.”