What does it take to force an investigation into benefit-related suicides?

[Image: www.disabledgo.com]

This excellent Canary article goes on to say that Valerie Grant’s stepson reportedly shouted: “It is just being swept under the carpet. One agency blames another agency and they can get away with it,” after Coroner Andrew Haigh commented: “There were a number of agencies involved, but nobody took a lead. I do have concerns about the lack of support, but I don’t think there’s any one agency that I can write to, to try to remedy this.”

It seems the stepson had it exactly right.

Mr Haigh has previously said the issue of whether there was an increase in suicides due to benefit cuts was worth exploring – but the DWP has steadfastly refused to consider any kind of investigation. It simply parrots the same line about there being many and complex reasons for people to take their own life.

This Site’s response has always been to ask what the triggering factor was.

In this case it seems obvious. Don’t you think?

A mother took her own life after the government took away nearly all her disabled son’s benefits and support, a coroner has ruled.

BBC News reported that 73-year-old Valerie Grant of Great Bridgeford, Staffordshire, “walked in front of a train” and died in April 2017.

Prior to this, her severely autistic son had lost a job placement as a bin man, was not entitled to support via a day care centre, had been turned down for accommodation, had lost his Disability Living Allowance (DLA) payments, and was refused a Personal Independence Payment (PIP) by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

Grant had reportedly told mental health workers: “What have I got to do? Top myself to get help for my son?”

Read more: A mother took her own life after the DWP cut her disabled son’s benefits


Here are four ways to be sure you’re among the first to know what’s going on.

1) Register with us by clicking on ‘Subscribe’ (in the left margin). You can then receive notifications of every new article that is posted here.

2) Follow VP on Twitter @VoxPolitical

3) Like the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/VoxPolitical/

Join the Vox Political Facebook page.

4) You could even make Vox Political your homepage at http://voxpoliticalonline.com

And do share with your family and friends – so they don’t miss out!

If you have appreciated this article, don’t forget to share it using the buttons at the bottom of this page. Politics is about everybody – so let’s try to get everybody involved!

Vox Political needs your help!
If you want to support this site
(
but don’t want to give your money to advertisers)
you can make a one-off donation here:

Donate Button with Credit Cards

Buy Vox Political books so we can continue
fighting for the facts.


The Livingstone Presumption is now available
in either print or eBook format here:

HWG PrintHWG eBook

Health Warning: Government! is now available
in either print or eBook format here:

HWG PrintHWG eBook

The first collection, Strong Words and Hard Times,
is still available in either print or eBook format here:

SWAHTprint SWAHTeBook

latest video

news via inbox

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

7 Comments

  1. Jeffrey Davies September 2, 2017 at 4:52 am - Reply

    I could say why rtu ids went to look at those famous gates works makes you better but really am I perhaps a few others now that they culling the stock through benefits denial their aktion t4 program yet look to the hospital were people like me could very well find yourself put to sleep costing to much in care oh yes it’s all part of aktion t4

  2. marcusdemowbray September 2, 2017 at 7:33 am - Reply

    And so The Brutality continues…

  3. Ann Ford September 2, 2017 at 2:08 pm - Reply

    What does it take – a change of government and criminal charges against the tories.

  4. It's Me September 2, 2017 at 2:50 pm - Reply

    I were asking about solicitors, to take the government to court about human rights laws and discriminatory behavior, about welfare support. They keep saying to me that no solicitors specialize in that area at the moment. It’s all a lie of course, what they really mean that they can’t make money in those kind of cases anymore. Which leaves disabled people with no legal rights anymore. But I see Murderer’s treated with more right and better respect than disabled, sick,old people, unemployed people and even little children. I knew the Tories would ruin this country, but I did think they may have some limits to their disgusting behavior,

    • Mike Sivier September 2, 2017 at 2:52 pm - Reply

      Public Interest Lawyers?

  5. Lee Teale September 2, 2017 at 8:26 pm - Reply

    IDS said he was proud of his reforms to benefits so he is responsible for the death of the people ended it all how can this twerp be proud of what he did heartless out touch ignorant Tory pig f***ing rot in hell

  6. toocomplex4justice September 5, 2017 at 7:55 pm - Reply

    The staff who implement these policies in a punitive approach often have alternative rules they could use if they wanted to but instead of assessing a situation of an individual fairly. They find the rule likely to cause the most harmful outcome. If a decision maker cancels the benefits of a diabetic so that rhey cant eat or refridgerate their medication they will die and so through committing abuse of office (criminal offence) they have committed murder
    “My manager made me do it” is no excuse. If you are a DM you are responsible for your crimes and must pay for them. Uncortunately prison is the only option and some of those bastards should be locked in a fridge with no food until almost dead then revived, fed and thrown back in so they can experience the misery of all of their victims. So where are the police? Mass murder arrests must be worthwhile but if the government is blocking them somehow i hope a god saves us all.

Leave A Comment