Fair By Design

Consumer energy debt reached £4.4 billion at the end of Q2 2025, this is more than triple pre-energy crisis levels.

This debt doesn’t affect everyone equally, for more information read our call to action with Rooted Finance.

fairbydesign.com/long-term-me...

As energy debt rises at an alarming rate, we’ve partnered with Rooted Finance to better understand how the poverty premium is affecting the users of their debt advice services.

Read our joint call to action here: fairbydesign.com/long-term-me...

Reflections on Labour Party Conference 2025 We reflect on some of the key themes of Labour Party Conference this year.

"A bold Financial Inclusion Strategy would lift millions out of financial precarity and support the Government’s growth agenda."

Our blog reflecting on the Labour Party Conference 2025, where we hosted an exhibition stand for the first time.

fairbydesign.com/reflections-...

We’ve got a couple more for the list:

🚩 Charging people £136 extra on energy bills for paying on receipt of bill.

🚩 Charging people more for car insurance if they pay in monthly instalments.

Brilliant stuff from @martinlewis.moneysavingexpert.com as ever.

We’re at #LabourConference 2025 with our Give Me Some Credit photo exhibition. It's amazing to be joined by Mike and Zahida, two of the amazing contributors to the project. 

📍 Find us at Stand G4!

It was a privilege to attend the launch of the Poverty Strategy Commission’s framework for tackling poverty this morning, having been involved in the advisory group. Thinking about what we at @fairbydesign.bsky.social can do to help make the suggested social contract a reality 🤔

Affordable credit for those on low incomes?

Come join us at #LAB25 to discuss the Fair Banking Act.

Based on the Community Reinvestment Act in the US, it would ensure banks serve all sectors of the community so credit reaches those who need it most, at an affordable rate.

We’ll be at Labour Party Conference this year hosting our 'Give Me Some Credit' exhibition, joined by participants who shared their stories as part of the project.

Swing by to check out the exhibition and hear about our latest work.

We respond to Scottish Labour consultation on financial inclusion We call for a bold Financial Inclusion Strategy to tackle poverty premiums & systemic exclusion.

Last week we responded to Scottish Labour’s consultation on financial inclusion.

With 22.4% of households in Scotland facing a poverty premium, we’re calling for an ambitious UK-wide Financial Inclusion Strategy to address this.

fairbydesign.com/scottish-lab...

Great to see @green-alliance.org.uk's report adding momentum to the call for an energy social tariff.

Alongside our research with Public First last week, it adds to the consensus from charities, industry and parliament that a social tariff is urgently needed to cut energy bills.

Our Head of Policy @mariacbooker.bsky.social on today’s new report into targeted energy bill support ⬇️

Closing the fuel poverty gap: A plan for targeted energy support - Public First Britain is still living with the aftermath of the energy crisis. While wholesale prices have eased, household energy bills remain more than £700 higher than [...]

The report shows that tackling fuel poverty requires both immediate support and long-term structural solutions.

Full report
www.publicfirst.co.uk/closing-the-...

In the short term, the Government should deepen the Warm Home Discount:

⚫️ Raise payments to £400.
⚫️ Add a £100 boost for standard credit customers and disabled households with higher energy costs.

Delivering income-linked support at scale is possible but needs Government action. The report sets out a timetable for legislation and data-sharing arrangements.

The report explores different ways to support households in fuel poverty.

Its calls for an automatic payment of up to £700 per year linked to household income, helping lift families out of fuel poverty.

The analysis highlights that low income is the strongest predictor of fuel poverty.

This is why any future energy bill support must be income-based, so it reaches those who need it most.

Devastating 'fuel poverty gap' doubles in five years with energy prices still ri 'The government must act with urgency to close the devastating gap in support and tackle this crisis.'

🚨 New report out today: Closing the Fuel Poverty Gap by Public First, commissioned by Fair By Design & partners 🚨

It shows how long-term, targeted energy bill support could be delivered to households on low incomes.

As featured in The Metro this morning👇

metro.co.uk/2025/08/27/d...

We're hiring a Public Affairs Manager to lead our engagement with politicians, regulators and industry to embed fairness in our financial system, and ensure that lived experience is at the heart of our work.

Find out more and apply here: fairbydesign.com/were-recruit...

Our Director Rebecca Deegan will be speaking at the Festival of Politics on Friday.

She’ll join peer researchers from our Give Me Some Credit project to discuss how we can tackle financial exclusion and the credit poverty premium.

Sign up and tickets ⬇️

No Interest Loan Schemes (NILS) give people on low incomes access to small, interest-free loans - helping them to avoid loan sharks.

If you're interested in how credit unions, housing associations and councils can work together on local NILS schemes then read our case study with NEFirst.

Having a car is important for many people, but car insurance is often more expensive for people on low incomes.

We've set out several ways the Government and regulators can reduce car insurance and tackle the poverty premium.

Full paper 🔗 fairbydesign.com/wp-content/u...

We’re recruiting a new Public Affairs Manager Join the Fair By Design team.

Come join our team. We're hiring a Public Affairs Manager to lead our engagement with political stakeholders, regulators, and industry bodies to influence policy and regulatory change.

Deadline for applications is Friday 5th September.

More details ⬇️

fairbydesign.com/were-recruit...

Full report 📌 wpieconomics.com/wp-content/u...

A new report from @fair4allfinance.bsky.social has shown removing the poverty premium from car insurance would generate an extra £369 million per year for the UK economy.

Action on the car insurance poverty premium is good for the economy and good for individuals, a no brainer.

Our paper offers a range of interventions that could eliminate or significantly reduce the poverty premium including action on premium finance, introducing the Socio-Economic Duty for Regulators and targeted discounts.

The car insurance poverty premium remains a significant issue. The FCA’s analysis shows that customers are paying more for their car insurance due to risks outside of their control and if they pay in monthly instalments (via premium finance).

As part of our response to the Financial Conduct Authority's new analysis on motor insurance we are launching a new position paper 'Driving Change: Policy Ideas to Tackle the Car Insurance Poverty Premium’.

Full report 🔗 fairbydesign.com/wp-content/u...

Premium hikes driven by claims costs, but insurers told to improve claims handling The FCA has today revealed that while rising motor insurance premiums are largely driven by external cost pressures, shortcomings persist in how some insurers handle claims.

For the full FCA press release- www.fca.org.uk/news/press-r...

Today The FCA has published new analysis on the motor insurance market which shows many of the factors that have increased the cost of car insurance are outside of consumers’ control.

Here is the response of our Director, Rebecca Deegan.

We urgently need coordinated action from government, regulators, and financial institutions to ensure everyone can access essential insurance at a fair price.