Vimes Boots Index

The Vimes Boots Index (or Vimes Boots Poverty Index) is an initiative created in January 2022 by UK equality and anti-poverty campaigner Jack Monroe. It is named after the Captain Samuel Vimes 'Boots' theory of socioeconomic unfairness, as featured in Men at Arms.

The Index is a record of prices of the lowest-cost staple foods over time, to demonstrate the disproportionate impact of inflation (and supermarket pricing practices) on the poor. The Pratchett Estate – and Rhianna Pratchett particularly – have wholeheartedly endorsed this use of Vimes’ name.

The Index has so far been mostly spread via Twitter, where you can find Jack as @BootstrapCook, and uses the hashtag #VimesBootsIndex. As of 11/01/2023, there appears to be no evidence of The Index actually existing.

External links

• Terry Pratchett estate backs Jack Monroe’s idea for ‘Vimes Boots’ poverty index – The Guardian
• Your best ally against injustice? Terry Pratchett by Marc Burrows - New Statesman
• Bonus Episode: The Vimes Boots Index from The Truth Shall Make Ye Fret (see Podcasts)