Charity calls for action over debt

More than one in 10 disabled people have contemplated committing suicide because of debt problems, research reveals.

Nine out of 10 are often out of money, according to the report from disability charity Leonard Cheshire.

Most respondents said their creditors were inflexible when discussing debt repayment and showed little understanding of their disability.

The charity has called on the government to amend the Consumer Credit Bill to place a statutory duty on all lenders to lend responsibly.

John Knight, the charity’s head of policy, said much of the debt came from essential items such as food.