Martin Lewis has hit out at what he described as ‘very weird’ responses to a poll he put out on Twitter about how often people use cash. The Money Saving Expert founder asked ‘When did you last pay for something in cash?’ and the responses showed 48 per cent had in the last 48 hours.
However he provoked some stinging responses with conspiracy theorists saying that he was helping a supposed government plot to get rid of cash. Broadcaster GB News launched a campaign to stop what it called the UK’s transformation into a “cashless society”, urging people to sign a petition and ask the government to introduce legislation to protect the status of cash as legal tender until at least 2050.
The campaign, argues that “strong vested interests” are pushing for cash to be replaced by electronic payments that “enable third parties to track you and your spending” is being investigated by media regulator Ofcom. Mr Lewis posted the poll - and didn’t reckon on the response.
In a blast on Twitter, the financial guru said: “Some v weird responses to this from a few accusing me of ‘doing govt’s work’ to get rid of cash. Sheesh. So for those people a few facts...
“1. I’ve been loudly involved in the campaign to protect access to cash for years and think it v important. I was only talking about it a few weeks ago... Link here
“2. This is just my daily twitter poll, it doesn’t mean anything and I don’t use it for anything. It’s just a bit of non-representative view getter (and before you say it, I’m not just saying that for this poll, I say it all-the-time)
“3. You can’t judge my agenda by me asking a question - it's to elicit opinions not to give them. I don’t hide my agenda when I have one in fact why not try this useful tool called ‘Google’ to see before making assumptions :)”
His testy post provoked reaction and debate. Brenda said she thought the end of cash might be a good thing: “One benefit of less cash being used is the criminal element will find it harder to spend their ill gotten gains.
As more people pay for goods with cards, someone with large amounts of cash can then look suspicious. Also less cash being used, means less payments that avoid VAT.”
Tom Plant said: “I think it’s time to go digital with money, here’s my reasons for this. It will help to bring crime down with everything we earn and spend being traceable. Businesses will have to start paying the correct amount of tax as everything will now be through the books.”
However Kim Shepherd Ph.D. put the other side: “I always use cash. The worst of a cashless society probably won’t unfold for 20 yrs so won’t affect me overly. But it will most certainly impact my grandchildren. Trusting government and banks to see you as anything other than a product to fleece for profits is a fools errand.”
