If you’ll publish an Information Commission decision on fracking, Torygraph, why not one on disability deaths?

Double standards from the press. Shocking? Well, not really. Just annoying.

The Daily Telegraph reports that the Information Commissioner has ordered the government to publish, in full, a government report into the impact of fracking on house prices.

The decision came after campaigners complained that the word “redacted” appeared 63 times in the 13-page document.

That’s all very well, and good on the Torygraph for publishing it.

But the same paper had an opportunity to report on the Information Commissioner’s decision to order the Department for Work and Pensions to publish the number of people who have died while claiming Employment and Support Allowance, after he granted my appeal on April 30 – and didn’t.

We know for a fact that the paper had the opportunity to do so, because I sent a press release to all of the national dailies. Only the Mirror picked up on it.

It seems the Torygraph is happy for evidence to be hidden when it is convenient – and house prices (it is clear) are more important to its editors than the deaths of a few thousand sick and disabled people.

A secret Government report into the impact of fracking on house prices and rural communities must be published in the public interest, the Information Commissioner has ruled.

Ministers last year published a heavily redacted version of the report, commissioned by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), in response to a request from campaigners.

The word ‘redacted’ appeared 63 times in the 13-page document, which was entitled “shale gas: rural economy impacts”.

Among the deleted parts of the report were several sections on the “impact on housing demand and property prices”, fuelling fears that ministers who are in favour of fracking were hiding evidence about its drawbacks.

Following an appeal by campaigners the Information Commissioner on Thursday ordered the Government to publish the report in full, saying there was “a strong public interest” in the Government’s policy on fracking and research on it.

Source: Fracking: ministers ordered to publish secret report into impact on house prices – Telegraph

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6 Comments

  1. Nick June 18, 2015 at 11:31 pm - Reply

    It seems the Torygraph is happy for evidence to be hidden when it is convenient – and house prices (it is clear) are more important to its editors than the deaths of a few thousand sick and disabled people.

    truly shocking state of affairs mike but keep up the good work as i think your the only journalist in the country that understands the full picture

    • Mike Sivier June 18, 2015 at 11:36 pm - Reply

      Then it is far more likely that none of us does!
      I can’t, in all honesty, try to suggest to VP readers that I understand the full picture.

      • Nick June 19, 2015 at 7:30 am - Reply

        the full picture mike is IDS demonetization of the sick and disabled and the Charleston church shooting:through race and that equals along with all other outrages across the world one of hate for another group of people wanting them dead that’s the full picture and has been the case for many years

  2. Rupert Mitchell (@rupert_rrl) June 19, 2015 at 5:38 am - Reply

    Does anyone know if there is a large deposit of gas or oil in the vicinity of Cameron’s and Osborne’s country estates?

    If anyone gets near to understanding the full picture Mike that person is you. I honestly feel that if it were not for you keeping us well informed and up-to-date many, like me, would live in ignorance of much of the deceit and greed of this government; except, of course, those who feel the deprivation being rushed out by the DWP.

  3. wildswimmerpete June 19, 2015 at 2:45 pm - Reply

    @Rupert Mitchell
    “Does anyone know if there is a large deposit of gas or oil in the vicinity of Cameron’s and Osborne’s country estates?”
    Well Farndon (Chester) is quite close to Tatton, and the well-healed burghers of Farndon aren’t well pleased:
    http://frack-off.org.uk/farndon-community-fracking-blockade/

    and also in the Chester area, Mickle Trafford,
    http://frack-off.org.uk/dart-frack-attack-multi-well-program-in-midlands/

    And of course the notorious Barton Moss site in Trafford, S.Manchester:
    http://frack-off.org.uk/fracking-manchester-igas-threatens-barton-moss/

    where Greater Manchester Police have been assaulting and arresting protestors on trumped-up charges (including charging an observer with drunken driving despite not having a vehicle), basically acting as a private police force enforcing the interests of iGas.

  4. Jim Round June 19, 2015 at 3:39 pm - Reply

    A letter to The Torygraph maybe?

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