Vox Political in the national press over DWP deaths petition – part one
The Daily Mirror has published an article after Maggie Zolobajluk’s petition topped 60,000 signatures.
It states:
The request to release the figures was made under the Freedom of Information Act by journalist Mike Sivier.
He asked how many people who died between November 2011 and May 2014 had recently been found fit to work, or told they could move towards getting work.
The DWP refused his request because chiefs said they were already preparing to publish the information in their own time, and it’d be unfair to rush them.
I was not contacted for comment – make of that what you will – so I added a few words in the article’s comment column as follows:
“I made the Freedom of Information request, after following the discussion about benefit-related deaths and reporting it on my blog, voxpoliticalonline.com – and I can tell you that the DWP is playing a dirty game.
“The Department wants a ‘paper’ hearing, which means all evidence will be documentary and there will be no opportunity to cross-examine DWP witnesses. This is against the interests of justice.
“The DWP has employed a barrister from the Treasury to build its case for it. This is a person who commands a salary of around £49,000 a year. When you consider the fact that FoI requests are refused if the cost of supplying the information is more than £600, this seems disproportionate and adds weight to the question: What does this government have to hide?
“Oh, and I’ve seen the DWP’s case – it is no different from the reasons for refusal that were overturned by the Information Commissioner. It seems to me that there is a strong case to be made for overturning the appeal as an abuse of process – there must be at least a 50 per cent chance of the appeal succeeding, you see, and this seems unlikely when you understand that the reasons I raised for granting my request correspond with the Information Commissioner’s own guidelines on FoI requests.
“Put it all together and the DWP doesn’t have a leg to stand on.
“This is a delaying tactic, nothing more.”
Idiot Duncan Smith should be brought to account over this and charged with genocide.
in fact anyone that voted for these cuts that have resulted in death should be charged with murder.
Keep at it Mike! I signed and shared the petition, let’s hope something starts happening soon.
Well done Mike! Keep the pressure on!
Its NOT IDS, <>
Well done Mike, expect fudged figures..if its ever published.
Well done, Mike for all you have done with sticking with this. Things are moving very fast and people waking up. They are going to be very angry about all the deaths and hiding the figures.
Did you see IDS was hauled over the coals by a judge in the vaccine case?
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/boy-12-wins-120000-in-damages-after-swineflu-jab-left-him-severely-disabled-by-narcolepsy-10312491.html
The truth must come out.. If it were not for me I am sure my son would not be here now, he was told he was fit for work, had his money stopped for 16 weeks, I told them he was not well , they ignored everything I said. He had a brain tumour growing whilst he was assessed. It was humiliating , worrying and he was at his wits end., they are shameful. Words to describe them fail me as I am so incensed. Keep up the pressure on these idiots.
Delighted Mike it’s getting the attention it deserves, was this front page coverage?.
I wonder if the Guardian and Independent will also pick up on this one, can only hope. At least it’s coming to a head and smith can’t be in denial forever.
Clearly he scared s****less the truth is getting closer, then the rest of people will realize what is being done to helpless fellow citizens.
Congratulations we are all behind you, regards to Mrs.Mike and the cat.