Greek crisis: Crowdfunder started bailout campaign because he was 'sick of dithering politicians'

Thom Feeney believes the way to help the Greek economy is through 'less talk, more direct action'

Thom Feeney, who started a crowd funding campaign for the Greek bailout fund (Niklas Halle'n/AFP/Getty Images)

The man behind a crowdfunding campaign to fund the Greek bailout has said he launched it because he was sick of “dithering politicians”.

Thom Feeney, 29, set up the campaign on crowdfunding site IndieGoGo, which has now attracted over a million euros in donations, and insisted it was "not a joke" in an article for the Guardian.

He said: “Every time a solution to bail out Greece is delayed, it’s a chance for politicians to posture and display their power, but during this time the real effect is on the people of Greece.

"I wondered, could the people of Europe just have a crack at fixing this? Less talk, more direct action. If we want to sort it, let’s JFDI (just effing do it)!”

The fund to help the Greeks has raised over €1m in five days

The shop worker, who lives in Bethnal Green in east London, believes the way to help an economy is “by investment and stimulus” – not by cuts.

He said the crowdfunding was “a reaction to the bullying of the Greek people by European politicians”, but it could “easily be about British politicians bullying the people of the north of England, Scotland and Wales.”

Feeney, who has no connection to Greece, also offered “perks” for contributing to the fund, which include a postcard of Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and a feta and olive salad – which he said would stimulate the Greek economy and "help keep Greeks in employment".

He said he did some basic calculations and found that if every person in Europe donated just €3.19 (£2.26), they could afford the bailout fund.

But one commentator on the blog pointed out that in order to put the target within the 10 day funding period, the crowdfund would need to raise £200,000 a minute.

Meanwhile, a leaked letter from Tsipras to the European Commision, the International Monetary Fund and the European Central Bank seen by the Financial Times on Wednesday showed that the Greek government was willing to accept all bailout conditions proposed by creditors with only a few minor changes.

This is despite a referendum due to be held on Sunday, where current polls suggest the voters are most likely to vote yes.

Greece failed to meet the deadline for the €1.6 billion loan repayment to the IMF due on Monday, making it the first developed country in history to default.