Matthew Patrick MPSpeaking in a debate in the House of Commons (6 January 2025), Matthew outlined the need for economic abuse to be a central part of the Government’s strategy to halve violence against women and girls (VAWG) in a decade.
He highlighted the work of Citizens Advice Wirral in supporting victim-survivors of domestic abuse on the Wirral, and the charity Surviving Economic Abuse for their pioneering support and research on economic abuse.
Matthew Patrick MP has today (Wednesday 6 November) used a Prime Ministers Question to advocate for survivors of economic abuse.
Matthew asked the Prime Minister and the Government to work with him to get the credit files of victim-survivors of economic abuse restored.
Currently, victim-survivors can suffer lasting consequences of economic abuse perpetrated by a current or former partner long after they’ve fled due to their credit rating being harmed by coerced debts.
Matthew shared the story of Emily*, a survivor of domestic abuse who was left with a ruined credit file when her abusive ex-partner stopped contributing to their joint mortgage after she fled to safe accommodation for her safety.
Despite informing her lender of the economic abuse she was experiencing, Emily* has seen lasting damage from the years spent trying to separate herself financially from her perpetrator, having faced issues trying to rent a property, finance a car and take out a mobile phone contract in her own name.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Matthew said: “Emily left her ex, but the abuse did not stop.
“He stayed in their home, cancelled his mortgage contributions and destroyed her credit score.
“Now, she cannot even take out a mobile phone contract.
“Surviving Economic Abuse and UK Finance have made progress tackling this problem, but there is more to be done.
“Would the Prime Minister and his Government work with me to bring in new provisions to restore the credit files of survivors of economic abuse like Emily?”
Responding, Prime Minister Keir Starmer committed to ending the “national emergency” of economic and domestic abuse. He also assured that Matthew would meet with relevant Ministers to progress his work.
He said: “I thank my Honourable Friend for raising this important issue because economic abuse has a devastating impact on victims leaving them vulnerable and isolated.
“We are committed to ending this national emergency and keeping women safe from domestic abuse, harassment and stalking.
“That includes £200,000 this year to the charity Surviving Economic Abuse and HMRC have launched an online tool to help charities and business identify and respond to economic abuse.”
Notes
Matthew Patrick MP