Big Issue founder John Bird is pushing for millions of renters to get fairer access to credit.

Mr Bird, a crossbench peer since 2015, said yesterday that some of the poorest pay the most when borrowing.

This is because rental payments are not recognised or recorded in the same way as mortgage payments.

He has introduced a private member’s Bill which would mean creditors would have to consider rent and council tax payments.

This would help Britain’s 11 million renters when entering into contracts for white goods, utilities and mobile phones.

“If we can help more people get better credit files and scores, we can help more people move further away from poverty,” he said.

Big Issue Invest — the social investment arm of The Big Issue Group — has tested it out in the social housing sector and found that 80 per cent of tenants’ credit scores rose.

There is cross-party support for the Bill, which Lord Bird hopes will become law within 18 months.