{"id":12880,"date":"2025-11-22T11:10:25","date_gmt":"2025-11-22T11:10:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.leedsjp.org.uk\/?p=12880"},"modified":"2026-10-06T09:46:01","modified_gmt":"2026-10-06T08:46:01","slug":"22-nov-g20-global-debt-crisis-exposed-by-actor-alex-macqueen-in-spoof-pay-day-loan-ad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/c4652100.myzen.co.uk\/jp2026\/2025\/11\/22\/22-nov-g20-global-debt-crisis-exposed-by-actor-alex-macqueen-in-spoof-pay-day-loan-ad\/","title":{"rendered":"22 Nov &#8211; G20: Global Debt Crisis Exposed by actor Alex Macqueen in Spoof Pay-Day Loan Ad"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Meet The World\u2019s Loan Sharks\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OmHMznzIzbY?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\nWith the global debt crisis high on the agenda at this week\u2019s G20 summit, actor\u00a0<b>Alex Macqueen<\/b>\u00a0is starring in a spoof television advert released in the UK today (19 November 2025).\u00a0 Created by Richard Curtis\u2019 Project Everyone initiative in partnership with Catholic aid agency CAFOD, the satirical commercial\u00a0<i>Meet the World\u2019s Loan Sharks<\/i>\u00a0 exposes the global debt crisis as tantamount to pay-day loans.<br><br>Best known for his roles in\u00a0<i>The Thick of It, Hijack, Rivals<\/i>\u00a0and\u00a0<i>Inbetweeners<\/i>, Alex attended a special screening of the <a id=\"anchor-34cdfbdd-e552-57f1-a230-0b31583baa6b\" title=\"https:\/\/eu-west-1.protection.sophos.com?d=google.com&amp;u=aHR0cHM6Ly9kcml2ZS5nb29nbGUuY29tL2ZpbGUvZC8xZE9PbDUwMjVxVUx6YlZMLVhNaHZKbjMxeU15anBjeEcvdmlldz91c3A9c2hhcmluZw==&amp;i=NWNmNjM5Zjk2M2EzYmMxNDI0YzEyMGRi&amp;t=c0xHZ0dMZWw0SkpJUlRtR09vclZ1eHJuei90MjlSQkdTRWsrNkRzMk1vQT0=&amp;h=2faee6c92beb43d7881cc0718869e7ed&amp;s=AVNPUEhUT0NFTkNSWVBUSVY3RV0z3hoayC5xJnh6S1qRS-8O1fzqPxvBkyWZ5aO_jg\" href=\"https:\/\/globalgoals.org\/unfair-loans\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\" data-linkindex=\"6\">90 second spoof<\/a> on 19 November, for MPs at the Houses of Parliament, and it is also being released across the social media channels of NGOs and influencers.\u00a0\u00a0<br><br>Aid agency CAFOD is calling for the UK government to step in at this weekend\u2019s\u00a0<b>G20 Summit on 22-23 November<\/b> in South Africa, to encourage members to support a new system for managing unsustainable debt for lower income countries.\u00a0 The most important aspect of a new system, is that all debt repayments for low-income countries be put on pause as soon as they apply for debt relief.\u00a0 Without this, private lenders have zero incentive to cooperate, as they continue to receive payments.<br><br>CAFOD is also calling on the UK government to pass a new\u00a0<a title=\"https:\/\/eu-west-1.protection.sophos.com?d=cafod.org.uk&amp;u=aHR0cHM6Ly9hY3Rpb24uY2Fmb2Qub3JnLnVrL3BhZ2UvMTYxMzU3L3BldGl0aW9uLzE=&amp;i=NWNmNjM5Zjk2M2EzYmMxNDI0YzEyMGRi&amp;t=VEZvR2lOYzZKSnQ1U1ozUGgwNHA4eDAzSHozUXc3M3BMNzZmU0Z3R2w4Zz0=&amp;h=2faee6c92beb43d7881cc0718869e7ed&amp;s=AVNPUEhUT0NFTkNSWVBUSVY3RV0z3hoayC5xJnh6S1qRS-8O1fzqPxvBkyWZ5aO_jg\" href=\"https:\/\/action.cafod.org.uk\/page\/161357\/petition\/1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\" data-linkindex=\"7\">Debt Justice Law<\/a>\u00a0to force private lenders to take part in debt cancellation.\u00a0<b>UK law governs 90% of countries covered by the G20 debt relief scheme and 50% of all international debt.\u00a0<\/b><br><br>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/c4652100.myzen.co.uk\/jp2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot-2025-11-20-110143.png\" title=\"Screenshot 2025-11-20 110143\" alt=\"Screenshot 2025-11-20 110143\" srcset=\"https:\/\/c4652100.myzen.co.uk\/jp2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot-2025-11-20-110143.png 1833w, https:\/\/c4652100.myzen.co.uk\/jp2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot-2025-11-20-110143.png 300w, https:\/\/c4652100.myzen.co.uk\/jp2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot-2025-11-20-110143.png 1024w, https:\/\/c4652100.myzen.co.uk\/jp2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot-2025-11-20-110143.png 768w, https:\/\/c4652100.myzen.co.uk\/jp2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot-2025-11-20-110143.png 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1833px) 100vw, 1833px\" \/>\nIn the film CAFOD Ambassador, Alex Macqueen, plays the part of a fictional and predatory \u2018dodgy lender\u2019 &#8211; representing the private banks and hedge funds that are allowed to target vulnerable low-income countries with loans, at exorbitant interest rates. Styled as a daytime television advert for a pay-day loan company, he\u2019s wearing an ill-fitting suit and offers outrageous deals, all with dodgy graphics and sinister undertones.\u00a0<br><br>His character in the film says:\u00a0<br><br><blockquote><i>\u201cAre you a small country struggling with money? Finances been hit hard, through no fault of your own, by climate change, natural disaster, war?\u00a0 Can\u2019t find the cash to pay for the basics? Like roads, electricity and water? Have no other access to credit?<\/i><br><br><\/blockquote><i>\u00a0<\/i><br><br><blockquote><i>\u201cWe&#8217;re here to help. We give cash to countries just like you, every day. We\u2019ve lent to dozens of nations. All at incredible interest rates. Worried you won\u2019t be able to pay it back? That even though you\u2019re careful with money you\u2019ll be stuck in a cycle of poverty? A never ending spiral of debt? Not a problem &#8211; simply cut back your spending on other areas like hospitals and schools.<\/i><br><br><\/blockquote><i>\u00a0<\/i><br><br><blockquote><i>\u201cAnd if you can\u2019t pay it back, don\u2019t worry, we\u2019re happy to lend you more.\u201d<\/i><br><br><\/blockquote>The spoof finishes with a voiceover, stating:\u00a0<br><br><blockquote><i>\u201cFind out more at\u00a0<\/i><a title=\"https:\/\/eu-west-1.protection.sophos.com?d=unfairloans.com&amp;u=aHR0cDovL3VuZmFpcmxvYW5zLmNvbQ==&amp;i=NWNmNjM5Zjk2M2EzYmMxNDI0YzEyMGRi&amp;t=SXYvZnFUTTNVN24xcEx1TFR6OEpjaWdvMHJmdE1ySVl0U01zbEFBZFVMTT0=&amp;h=2faee6c92beb43d7881cc0718869e7ed&amp;s=AVNPUEhUT0NFTkNSWVBUSVY3RV0z3hoayC5xJnh6S1qRS-8O1fzqPxvBkyWZ5aO_jg\" href=\"https:\/\/globalgoals.org\/unfair-loans\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\" data-linkindex=\"8\"><i>unfairloans.com<\/i><\/a><i>\u00a0&#8211; terms and conditions apply &#8211; unless of course you&#8217;re from a high income country, obviously that\u2019s totally different. Oh and we\u2019re barely regulated &#8211; governments allow us to operate this way &#8211; so there\u2019s no comeback. And in fact if you don&#8217;t repay, we&#8217;ll sue you.\u201d<\/i><br><br><\/blockquote><b>Alex Macqueen<\/b>\u00a0says:<br><br><blockquote>\u201cThe comparison to pay-day loan sharks perfectly captures the shockingly unethical and exploitative nature of the debt crisis. Those at the sharp end of poverty are forced into debt with scandalous interest rates just to survive, but the more comfortable can access reasonable loan arrangements. Clearly something has gone very wrong.<br><br>\u201cWith nearly half the world\u2019s population living in countries that spend more on interest repayments than they do on essential services like schools and hospitals, it\u2019s ordinary people who are most deeply impacted by this terrible unfairness. With the G20 imminent, now is the time to bring attention to a too long ignored outrage.\u201d<br><br><\/blockquote>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/c4652100.myzen.co.uk\/jp2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot-2025-11-20-110454.png\" title=\"Screenshot 2025-11-20 110454\" alt=\"Screenshot 2025-11-20 110454\" srcset=\"https:\/\/c4652100.myzen.co.uk\/jp2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot-2025-11-20-110454.png 1852w, https:\/\/c4652100.myzen.co.uk\/jp2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot-2025-11-20-110454.png 300w, https:\/\/c4652100.myzen.co.uk\/jp2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot-2025-11-20-110454.png 1024w, https:\/\/c4652100.myzen.co.uk\/jp2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot-2025-11-20-110454.png 768w, https:\/\/c4652100.myzen.co.uk\/jp2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot-2025-11-20-110454.png 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1852px) 100vw, 1852px\" \/>\n<b>Maria Finnerty<\/b>, Lead Economist at CAFOD says:<br><br><blockquote>\u201cThe UK outlawed exploitative loan sharks years ago, in a hugely popular move with support across the political spectrum. If predatory lending is illegal in the UK we must not allow it to continue globally. It\u2019s time to apply the same logic and compassion to countries where millions suffer the consequences of unethical lending, decimating spending on health and education and condemning hundreds of millions of people to poverty.\u00a0<br><br><\/blockquote><blockquote>\u201cThe UK is a global debt superpower, with 90% of private loans to low-income countries governed by English law. The government could change the law tomorrow at zero cost to UK taxpayers, solving 90% of the problem and benefiting millions of people overnight. All that&#8217;s missing is the political will.\u201d<br><br><\/blockquote>In the last 10 years the number of low-income countries facing unsustainable debt levels has more than doubled, from 22 in 2015 to 54. Across Africa debt has skyrocketed from $17 billion in 2010 to $74 billion in 2024, a 335% increase in just over a decade, with 34 African countries now spending more on external debt payments than on health or education.\u00a0<br><br>Private lenders charge low-income countries interest rates of 6-10%, but wealthy nations 0-1% meaning that low-income countries are often required to repay their original debts several times over. For instance, average borrowing costs for countries in Africa are 9.8%, compared to 0.8% for developed countries like Germany.<br><br>The impact on ordinary people is devastating. This is money that should be feeding children, training nurses, building schools and preparing for floods. Families feel this every day \u2014 when clinics run out of medicine, when classrooms are overcrowded, and when governments can\u2019t hire the teachers and doctors that people need.<br><br>\n<b>Hannah Cameron<\/b>, Campaign Director at Project Everyone, says:<br><br><blockquote>\u201cWe wanted to find a simple way to tell the story of the global debt crisis and its human impact. With the help of Alex Macqueen\u2019s dodgy loan shark character we did just that. I hope it leads to increased understanding and public support for new solutions.\u201d\u00a0<br><br><\/blockquote>This year\u2019s G20 in Johannesburg offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity to fix a broken system. For the first time in years, sovereign debt is on the G20 agenda and with 2025 marking a Jubilee Year, global movements are renewing their call for large-scale debt relief.<br><br>Anyone wanting to learn and do more can visit\u00a0<a id=\"anchor-d0e51620-f3aa-edda-3a3f-ca626e11b64f\" title=\"https:\/\/eu-west-1.protection.sophos.com?d=unfairloans.com&amp;u=aHR0cDovL3VuZmFpcmxvYW5zLmNvbQ==&amp;i=NWNmNjM5Zjk2M2EzYmMxNDI0YzEyMGRi&amp;t=SXYvZnFUTTNVN24xcEx1TFR6OEpjaWdvMHJmdE1ySVl0U01zbEFBZFVMTT0=&amp;h=2faee6c92beb43d7881cc0718869e7ed&amp;s=AVNPUEhUT0NFTkNSWVBUSVY3RV0z3hoayC5xJnh6S1qRS-8O1fzqPxvBkyWZ5aO_jg\" href=\"https:\/\/globalgoals.org\/unfair-loans\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\" data-linkindex=\"9\">unfairloans.com<\/a>.\u00a0<br><br>\nMore information<br><br><a title=\"https:\/\/eu-west-1.protection.sophos.com?d=acetforafrica.org&amp;u=aHR0cHM6Ly9hY2V0Zm9yYWZyaWNhLm9yZy9yZWZvcm1pbmctdGhlLWdsb2JhbC1maW5hbmNpYWwtYXJjaGl0ZWN0dXJlLw==&amp;i=NWNmNjM5Zjk2M2EzYmMxNDI0YzEyMGRi&amp;t=L1FzSGY4RVg1VjJlNzJpZHFwVDVTK2NCMjVDR0x3Rk05aGp5ekpEajlpMD0=&amp;h=2faee6c92beb43d7881cc0718869e7ed&amp;s=AVNPUEhUT0NFTkNSWVBUSVY3RV0z3hoayC5xJnh6S1qRS-8O1fzqPxvBkyWZ5aO_jg\" href=\"https:\/\/acetforafrica.org\/reforming-the-global-financial-architecture\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\" data-linkindex=\"10\" data-olk-copy-source=\"MessageBody\">African Center for Economic Transformation<\/a><br><br><a title=\"https:\/\/eu-west-1.protection.sophos.com?d=debtjustice.org.uk&amp;u=aHR0cHM6Ly9kZWJ0anVzdGljZS5vcmcudWsvcHJlc3MtcmVsZWFzZS9nMjAtZGVidC1zdXNwZW5zaW9uLXJlcXVlc3QtOTAtb2YtYm9uZHMtZ292ZXJuZWQtYnktZW5nbGlzaC1sYXc=&amp;i=NWNmNjM5Zjk2M2EzYmMxNDI0YzEyMGRi&amp;t=cjlHeloxMUkvSHpuRDJmRHAxRzVPUktCdnkrMC9mRHdPTnBkWCt1VHBYQT0=&amp;h=2faee6c92beb43d7881cc0718869e7ed&amp;s=AVNPUEhUT0NFTkNSWVBUSVY3RV0z3hoayC5xJnh6S1qRS-8O1fzqPxvBkyWZ5aO_jg\" href=\"https:\/\/debtjustice.org.uk\/press-release\/g20-debt-suspension-request-90-of-bonds-governed-by-english-law\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\" data-linkindex=\"11\">Jubilee Debt Campaign May 2020<\/a><br><br><a title=\"https:\/\/eu-west-1.protection.sophos.com?d=debtjustice.org.uk&amp;u=aHR0cHM6Ly9kYXRhLmRlYnRqdXN0aWNlLm9yZy51ay8=&amp;i=NWNmNjM5Zjk2M2EzYmMxNDI0YzEyMGRi&amp;t=elllaGxtUnNjbFI0aDNCVzlRR29tNlFnOW5wODNqb2pkTmNjMXFydUMyST0=&amp;h=2faee6c92beb43d7881cc0718869e7ed&amp;s=AVNPUEhUT0NFTkNSWVBUSVY3RV0z3hoayC5xJnh6S1qRS-8O1fzqPxvBkyWZ5aO_jg\" href=\"https:\/\/data.debtjustice.org.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\" data-linkindex=\"12\">Debt Justice<\/a><br><br><a title=\"https:\/\/eu-west-1.protection.sophos.com?d=afdb.org&amp;u=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYWZkYi5vcmcvZW4vbmV3cy1hbmQtZXZlbnRzL3ByZXNzLXJlbGVhc2VzL2FmcmljYXMtODI0LWJpbGxpb24tZGVidC1idXJkZW4tYW5kLW9wYXF1ZS1yZXNvdXJjZS1iYWNrZWQtbG9hbnMtaGluZGVyLWl0cy1wb3RlbnRpYWwtYWZyaWNhbi1kZXZlbG9wbWVudC1iYW5rLXByZXNpZGVudC13YXJucy03MDE4Mw==&amp;i=NWNmNjM5Zjk2M2EzYmMxNDI0YzEyMGRi&amp;t=OVFLbkdCRE9VQkl3ZSt5ZTRqYXY1emR3czFoR3hvMFlzSHdISEMyK0tGUT0=&amp;h=2faee6c92beb43d7881cc0718869e7ed&amp;s=AVNPUEhUT0NFTkNSWVBUSVY3RV0z3hoayC5xJnh6S1qRS-8O1fzqPxvBkyWZ5aO_jg\" href=\"https:\/\/www.afdb.org\/en\/news-and-events\/press-releases\/africas-824-billion-debt-burden-and-opaque-resource-backed-loans-hinder-its-potential-african-development-bank-president-warns-70183\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\" data-linkindex=\"13\">African Development Bank Group<\/a><br><br><a title=\"https:\/\/eu-west-1.protection.sophos.com?d=actionaid.org&amp;u=aHR0cHM6Ly9hY3Rpb25haWQub3JnL25ld3MvMjAyNS9hZnJpY2Etb3dlZC11czM2LXRyaWxsaW9uLWNsaW1hdGUtZGVidC1yaWNoLXBvbGx1dGluZy1jb3VudHJpZXMtbmV3LXJlcG9ydC1hY3Rpb25haWQ=&amp;i=NWNmNjM5Zjk2M2EzYmMxNDI0YzEyMGRi&amp;t=RTJ0blFWeS9JSmViRFJuVHNkbTlLOU9aRlQraHNRUUMwU1N2VmRJK25rTT0=&amp;h=2faee6c92beb43d7881cc0718869e7ed&amp;s=AVNPUEhUT0NFTkNSWVBUSVY3RV0z3hoayC5xJnh6S1qRS-8O1fzqPxvBkyWZ5aO_jg\" href=\"https:\/\/actionaid.org\/news\/2025\/africa-owed-us36-trillion-climate-debt-rich-polluting-countries-new-report-actionaid\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\" data-linkindex=\"14\">Action Aid, \u2018Who Owes Who? External debts, climate debts and reparations in the Jubilee year\u2019, February 2025<\/a><br><br><a title=\"https:\/\/eu-west-1.protection.sophos.com?d=ctfassets.net&amp;u=aHR0cHM6Ly9hc3NldHMuY3RmYXNzZXRzLm5ldC92eTNheG51ZWN1d2ovM09VRk1JdHpGU3V3SVlGU3g2T2lRZS9mMDMxYWIxMmEzOWNlZDg0YWM2YWZhNDUzODU1ZGVjYS9KdWJpbGVlXzIwMjVfVGhlX25ld19nbG9iYWxfZGVidF9jcmlzaXNfYW5kX2l0c19zb2x1dGlvbnMucGRm&amp;i=NWNmNjM5Zjk2M2EzYmMxNDI0YzEyMGRi&amp;t=akJjTHNlbzhMSW40dktDTXJ6QlY0azBGUE9ZTnZnUHEwNFBOZ0hsQm9oYz0=&amp;h=2faee6c92beb43d7881cc0718869e7ed&amp;s=AVNPUEhUT0NFTkNSWVBUSVY3RV0z3hoayC5xJnh6S1qRS-8O1fzqPxvBkyWZ5aO_jg\" href=\"https:\/\/assets.ctfassets.net\/vy3axnuecuwj\/3OUFMItzFSuwIYFSx6OiQe\/f031ab12a39ced84ac6afa453855deca\/Jubilee_2025_The_new_global_debt_crisis_and_its_solutions.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\" data-linkindex=\"15\">JUBILEE 2025: The new global debt crisis and its solutions<\/a>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13709,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[28,104],"tags":[492,20,414,493,375,415,494],"class_list":["post-12880","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-catholic-social-thought","category-international-development","tag-alex-mcqueen","tag-cafod","tag-debt","tag-global-debt-crisis","tag-jubilee2025","tag-jubileedebtcampaign","tag-loan-shark"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c4652100.myzen.co.uk\/jp2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12880","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c4652100.myzen.co.uk\/jp2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c4652100.myzen.co.uk\/jp2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c4652100.myzen.co.uk\/jp2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c4652100.myzen.co.uk\/jp2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12880"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/c4652100.myzen.co.uk\/jp2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12880\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19933,"href":"https:\/\/c4652100.myzen.co.uk\/jp2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12880\/revisions\/19933"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c4652100.myzen.co.uk\/jp2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13709"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c4652100.myzen.co.uk\/jp2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12880"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c4652100.myzen.co.uk\/jp2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12880"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c4652100.myzen.co.uk\/jp2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12880"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}