Financial education for all, British democracy depends on it

Financial education for all, British democracy depends on it

How you do anything is how you do everything

Zen Buddhism

The COVID-19 pandemic has had far-reaching economical consequences on all levels of society. The effects of which has thrown a spotlight onto the importance of having a solid financial footing to keep your head above water during difficult times. As the famed American investor Warren Buffet said, “only when the tide goes out do you discover who’s been swimming naked.”

Historically the status of the poor and lower classes of society has been considered a result of low intellect or education which often resulted in a precarious financial situation. It is clear that poor financial literacy is not exclusive to any class or level of education as demonstrated by Daniel Kawczynski, Member of Parliament (MP) for Shrewsbury and Atcham, who was recently reported to have been lobbying for paid consultancy work in Saudi Arabia.

Mr Kawczynski, an elected MP for a rural market area where the economy is mainly based on agriculture, has become well known for his engagement in a variety of remarkable activities such as speaking at conferences alongside established far-right figures, lobbying foreign governments to interfere with the affairs of the British nation and lobbying efforts at Westminster that coincide with paid trips to Saudi Arabia.

The public records state that as of 2021 an MP’s basic annual salary is £81,932 (MP’s also have additional living, office and travel allowances on top of this), compared with the average British salary of £31,487.

Messages from Mr Kawczynski, as reported in the national media, show him to be desperately seeking employment as a lobbyist or consultant via a fixer in Saudi Arabia to provide him with additional funds, in his case, supposedly to cover school fees. This is despite the UK having an excellent network of free state-run schools, including throughout Shrewsbury and the surrounding Shropshire county.

Unfortunately for British democracy, Mr Kawczynski’s poor financial management combined with undoubtedly poor judgement has lead to a sitting MP actively lobbying for work in such corners of society. Perhaps, instead of lining his own pockets, Mr Kawczynski would do well to support, through enabling legislation, the very members of society he looks down on, and who represent the poorest and needy; those in real need of financial support, such as the disabled beggar Mark McGuigan, to whom Mr Kawczynski dismissively told to get a job in 2013.

The importance of providing financial education starting with children to adults of all ages remains continually overlooked by central government not only in the United Kingdom but elsewhere throughout the world. As a result, widespread financial ignorance leads to the perpetual cycle of poor financial choices made by huge numbers of society, who unfortunately, fall victim to predatory and immoral sales practices.

Mr Kawczynski is not unique in taking part in the relentless pursuit of money that for some, knows no moral or ethical boundary. His decisions however expose the significance that proper financial education (or lack of) has on all levels of society and the threat that it can have on the integrity of our democracy. As a sitting MP, society should hold elected individuals to a higher standard. The people of Shrewsbury and Atcham at least deserve this and I hope they reflect it at the next ballot box.

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