The Exhibition
People vs PFI has available for hire, free of charge, a photographic exhibition aimed at raising awareness and understanding of PFIs in the UK.
The exhibition illustrates the range of PFI deals across different sectors and throughout the UK, including schools, health, roads, prisons, housing and refuse into power schemes. It provides an overview of the extent to which PFI contracts have swallowed up public funds and channelled money into corporate coffers. The exhibition has been displayed in numerous locations.
The Booklet
A booklet accompanies the exhibition. This is also a reference work in its own right and essential reading to understand the range of PFI deals, the way PFI deals are established and how profits are gouged out of our public services, with detailed information on specific private companies and on the use of tax havens.
The booklet is A5 landscape, fully illustrated in colour with photos from the exhibition. It is about 14,000 words, fully referenced, with detailed and up to date information on the case studies and other topics outlined in the exhibition. It carries recommendations on the back cover by the General Secretaries of: Unite, PCS (Public and Commercial Services Union) and the NUT (National Union of Teachers / National Education Union) See below for information on how to order.
The photographs are mainly the work of Marion Macalpine and the booklet by Helen Mercer.
The current interest in PFI, following John McDonnell’s speech at the Labour Party conference, makes this a must-see exhibition. Please see below for information on how to hire the exhibition and order the booklet.
You can click on Gallery below to see the pictures:
The exhibition has been on display at the TUC headquarters in London, in Newcastle, Brighton, Waltham Forest, Brockley (south London) and at Portcullis House, Westminster. It has proved very popular.
Feedback on the exhibition
Here are some of the comments we have received from visitors to the exhibition:
“Really brings home the shocking numbers in terms of overall cost to the public purse. Shows Government making decisions that would be obviously irrational if not driven by political agenda of privatisation!”
“Brilliant, eye-opener exhibition!”
“Superb gallery show. Very clear and hard hitting.”
“Super exhibition on PFI and what it represents for the vast majority of peoples in Britain and elsewhere in the world. It’s Robin Hood in reverse – steal from the public to give to the super-rich.”
“As people that knew nothing about PFI before we have been thoroughly shocked and educated by this exhibition. We are now heading home to do further research into our local council and to spread the word far and wide.”
“This is mind-blowing, absolutely brilliant. I had no idea how far and wide this pernicious initiative had spread. Well done!”
“Brilliant exhibition. It deserves a much wider audience. What a pity that couldn’t have been available for the Labour Party conference.”
“Beautiful photographs and the whole exhibition clarifies this scandal: revealing, persuasive.”
Interest in the exhibition in Newcastle
The exhibition at Portcullis House 20th March 2018
Please book our exhibition!
The exhibition is available for use by local campaign groups and unions to mount in libraries, community centres, union headquarters and branches etc. across the UK. There are 17 panels with an image and short text, as well as two text panels with an introduction and action points to conclude. Why not hold a meeting on PFI to accompany your showing and start a local campaign? Here is further information and a how-to guide,
Copies of the printed booklet are available to order. We suggest a donation of £3 for single copies to cover P&P. To order or to arrange an exhibition in your locality or in your Union headquarters, please contact Helen Mercer via [email protected].
Make a donation
We very much appreciate donations towards the costs of printing the materials for the exhibition and the booklets. You can donate to People vs PFI c/o Medact via Paypal using the button below.