Conduct complaint over Iain Duncan Smith’s lie to Parliament
Lie: Some might believe Iain Duncan Smith told a bigger whopper than his gesture indicates.
Parliament is to investigate a complaint against Iain Duncan Smith, after he was recorded presenting inaccurate information to fellow MPs in the House of Commons.
Vox Political reader Helen Groves stated in her complaint that she found it “deeply troubling” to hear that a government minister responsible for the welfare of millions of vulnerable people “continually misrepresents” information to other MPs.
She was referring to the Gentleman Ranker’s reply to Debbie Abrahams’ question on June 22. Ms Abrahams had asked: “Why does he refuse to publish the details of the number of people who have died within six weeks of their claims for incapacity benefit and employment and support allowance, including those who have been found fit for work?”
The Secretary-in-a-State replied: ” She knows very well that the Department does not collate numbers on people in that circumstance. It deals with individual cases where things have gone right or gone wrong and reviews them.”
Everybody reading Vox Political knows this to be untrue, as an email from the DWP, dated October 21, 2013, now-famously states: “The Department does hold, and could provide within the cost limit, some of the information requested.”
In her complaint, Ms Groves states: “I feel this calls both his position and the government into disrepute, domestically and internationally, due to his high profile. I can only assume that… Mr Duncan Smith deliberately provided false information.
She continued: “Mr Duncan Smith must be aware that his department [has] already provided such information to the data commissioner and that his department [has] been fighting a legal battle to prevent publication of this information. As such it is not plausible that Mr Duncan Smith provided this information without knowledge that it was false.
“This subject has been widely reported by [the] media and as simply a member of the public I am conversant with the issues. How can it be credible that the minister is not?
“Only days later, Mr Cameron has acknowledged in PMQs that this information does indeed exist though like Mr Duncan Smith he does not seem to be willing to release it in full, but rather in a form which would prevent the general public from being able to make a clear assessment of the data.
“I would therefore wish my complaint to be addressed as a formal complaint against the Minister Iain Duncan Smith on the basis that his conduct calls his position, The UK Government and the House itself into disrepute.”
In a comment to Vox Political, she added: “they have to investigate and I have no intention of letting them skip over it. Conduct is one of the easiest ways to go after a minister or MP. I think IDS has earned a bit of being held to account.”
Bravo!
Vox Political will publish updates on the progress of this matter as they become available.
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Awesome..Can I start preparing the timber and rope? lol
No need for all that expense Stephen, there are plenty of trees that are only too willing to perform that task, and I have some old rope from my “roping and sheeting” days that are more than adequate to do the whole damned lot of them! They do things on the cheap so why lash out on their executions?
Perhaps they could also get the Police Fraud Squad to investigate properly this man’s embezzlement of public money in 2003, when he invented a fictitious job for his millionaire wife.
… allegedly.
I have to put that in there for legal reasons.
How the hell can you review a death in which a error has been made ? there dead you’ve killed them all you can do at that point in time is to track down the person who was negligent and sack them
Or in the case of IDS and the DWP, give them a promotion and a bonus.
IDS earns good money he’s a millionaire don’t forget earns over £100-000 per year
They ALL need to be held accountable for the decisions they make that affects the lives of the people of this country.
IDS should be forced to resign with the rest of his backers.
It is good to read that there are people like Helen Groves around to fight for justice and openness on our behalf and I thank her most sincerely for her valiant work.
We need more people like her to combat so many of the injustices and greed of this Tory government.
Agreed.
Once one person stands up, others will follow.
Hear Hear!!
Onwards and upwards we go!
Brilliant!! We need to follow this up with complaints to our own MP’s over IDS’s statements. Every single now and we do not have to limit ourselves to what was said in Parliament. We can trawl back through every pronouncement ever made as SS for DWP. This is where a group of 5 working together and dividing it up would be a huge asset. Also linking in with other groups and sharing information as you do.
Excellent news!
My MP is one of his pals, she’s never swayed from voting the party line, she’s pro fox hunting and killing our bees, she’s happy that cows are in “Milk Factories”, she’s pro Fracking, yes Fracking, she hates the sick the elderly and the disabled so there is no point in me writing to her ever again as her replies are like receiving the latest handout from the Tory lying, sorry Media people. So I’m up the proverbial creek without a paddle as writing to her to censure Bunkum Smiff is like asking a Turkey to vote for Christmas and there are 300 odd just like her, lumps of lard!
Mike please relay my gratitude to Ms Helen Groves she seems to know what she is doing please keep us all informed if it gets a reaction as she is so totally right in what she has said and the “House” needs to act now not later.
I and others eagerly await a response from this bunch of corrupt liars.
Many thanks for this blog.
Thank you Helen.
At a second ATOS assessment recently (after sadly arriving 10 minutes late due to roadworks and ensuing traffic snarl ups); both behind the receptionists desk had a real go at me for being ‘unacceptably late’, how I should have phoned the number on the appointment letter – even pointing to it so I could see! They couldn’t see a problem with using a phone while driving apparently!
Was then told I had to see the same person as on my previous assessment or face at least an hours wait to see someone else.
Didn’t see a problem myself as I figured already aware of their remit (slash numbers),
Did think having the security guard stood just inside the inner door a bit excessive.
The examiner told me herself I had the right to choose another person if I so wished, after the normal 20 minutes of quick fire question and answers, I was told she wanted to do a physical (range of movements) exam, but I had the right to decline if I so wished!
Which I did! I had several reasons, one being last assessment I passed several ‘tests’I had no memory of; but major points are:
I am unsure how much knowledge a State Registered Nurse has on muscular skeletal decease (I have osteo-arthritis).
She said she was a SRN but I have no knowledge of that, her ID tag was curled up with the lanyard upside down on the desk – unreadable.
A total lack of any qualifications on the walls. Nothing to indicate any medical skill or experience anywhere!
At my last Gestapo Interrogation both women were Polish immigrants with no medical qualifications between them David. My “defence lawyer”, a lady from Age UK I took with me told them I would not perform any “circus tricks” for them as they were medically unqualified to do so. They threw out my claim which we won on appeal.
Can we all join in on this, would that not make a greater statement? I’d really enjoy that!
Why not? Send your complaint to [email protected] and say you would like to attach your name to the complaint by Helen Groves, after hearing about it on the social media.
Steady on there, Mike – remember the circumstances of your previously alleged “vexatious” incitement of your readers?
You know… when you told us the govt had reported people were dying after being declared ‘fit for work’ – but I don’t know how many are now and they won’t tell me – so perhaps you should ask how many, too! ? ;-)
Not sure what you’re trying to say here.
This isn’t a Freedom of Information request – it’s a complaint about the conduct of a Member of Parliament.
If someone hears about a complaint made by somebody else and wants to become a co-complainant, they can.
No offence Mike – just trying to be ironic…
This self serving misfit is beyond a Joke, I have friends in Germany who are astonished that such an Arrogant out of touch uneducated individual has risen to the post of Government Minister, they tell me he would struggle to hold down the role of a parish councillor in their Country, it just shows you how low and debased our politics has become here to allow this deeply unpleasant man to hold the office he does. David Penson Bracknell Berkshire
He was once leader of the Tories during the Blair years but stood down before they forced him out for being totally useless.
telling lies = bringing parliament into disrepute = gross misconduct = THE SACK!!!!
In the real world “thelovelywibblywobblyoldlady”, in the real world we would be, not in their world though more’s the pity, in their world for doing a lousy job means a bonus and golden handshake, whilst in our world it’s a P45 and six weeks before you can claim benefits. Is that still the case?
“Officials in my Department gave me misleading information.” he’ll say offering no apology because he’s an arrogant excuse of human being!
There all a bunch of crooks, bring the lot down, this is just one lie amongst a daily barrage of them in Britain’s “democracy” how they have the audacity to address each other as my honourable friend is enough to make my blood boil. As for smith persecuting the weak and infirm, he’s spent 15.8bn to save 12bn so far, I wouldn’t trust him as far as I could kick him.
What a good idea, a new Olympic Sport perhaps, kicking Bunkum Smiff until he tells the truth!
murderer George smith
… in your opinion.
I have added my name to Helen Groves like you suggested thank you for the link
Keep up the great work Mike!
As you know, on ilegal.org.uk I’ve kept a comprehensive record of ESA related statistics, some of the work involved working closely with Sheila Gilmore on the DWP select committee over getting IDS and the DWP to release the true WCA outcome statistics and more recently those relating to Mandatory Reconsideration. Getting the figures was like opening a tin can using your teeth!
I had a look back at the last Incapacity Benefit death related release (July 2012) and noted the following rider:
“Please note that the data supplied, for those with a date of death recorded, are
derived from previously unpublished information which has not been quality assured
to Official Statistics publication standard. They should therefore be treated with
caution”
[Source: DWP Information, Governance and Security Directorate: Work and Pensions
Longitudinal Study 100%.]
The non official status hasn’t stopped the DWP supplying endless ad-hoc releases and i really do not see it as a problem.
Given that the DWP started the data series and was well aware of the public interest shown in the need for more information, I simply cannot believe they would have stopped amassing the data.
When it eventually comes to light, it will be very interesting to compare any death rate %’s with rise and falls in the numbers of assessments conducted; all of which I have followed very carefully.
Am watching this with a great deal of interest.
Regards
Nick
Yes; I’ve been meaning to have a word with you about those records… ;-)
Sheila Gilmore , was always asking IDS at Work and Pensions Questions and as a member of the Work and Pensions Committee about the black hole in the statistics people are disappearing into.
She got fobbed off every time.
tony
Sheila Gilmore and Anne begg were useless in their role on the welfare committee and i would think that is why there constituents never voted for them at the election
why would you wish to pay £100’000 as a tax payer for someone whose performance is so poor over many years you wouldn’t
No, their constituents went with the flow of the SNP victory north of the border. The performances of those to MPs had nothing to do with it; they just weren’t members of the SNP.