Another mention in Parliament for Vox Political’s campaign on benefit-related deaths

Debbie Abrahams in the House of Commons.

Debbie Abrahams in the House of Commons.

Following on from the launch of an Early Day Motion, earlier this week, to force the Conservative Government into publishing the number of incapacity benefit and employment and support allowance claimants who have died since November 2011, it seems it will be mentioned again in the House of Commons today (Wednesday).

Debbie Abrahams, who raised a point of order about the fact that Iain Duncan Smith misled MPs over the existence of the information (he said the DWP doesn’t collect it, which is not true), has contacted me to say that she is hoping to raise the delay in publishing this data during Prime Minister’s Questions.

If not, she will raise a point of order.

Note: Those of you who have criticised This Writer for reacting harshly to Mhairi Black’s maiden speech yesterday, in which it seems she stole certain ideas from an article on This Blog earlier in the week, are encouraged to take note of this.

Ms Abrahams has contacted me, out of courtesy, to let me know what she is doing.

If you are among those who think I should be flattered to have my ideas mentioned in Parliament, isn’t it a shame Ms Black couldn’t do the same?

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26 Comments

  1. NMac July 15, 2015 at 11:00 am - Reply

    Well done. I was about to say you’ll eventually shame them into publishing the figures, but of course the dishonest Duncan-Smith has no shame.

  2. Francis July 15, 2015 at 11:05 am - Reply

    This is great!

    Not so great that you’re digging into Mhairi again… As I pointed out on facebook, she got there first, way back in May.

    • Mike Sivier July 15, 2015 at 11:54 am - Reply

      No, she didn’t. The issue isn’t the use of a Tony Benn quote but the way it has been used, as part of an idea originated by me. Read my response to Vic Curtis.

      • Francis July 15, 2015 at 12:23 pm - Reply

        But she *can’t* have made the argument specifically apply Harman and child tax credits in the past because it was in the future… As much as people praise her, she’s got no way to see the future…

        What she did do was apply a quote and idea she had shown she was already familiar with to a new situation.

        I’m not sure why you’re so keen to see yourself get credit, when already Mhairi Black has credited Benn anyway, so she’s not trying to claim some sort of mantle of original thought or anything.

        • Mike Sivier July 15, 2015 at 12:34 pm - Reply

          No – *I* applied the quote and the idea to a new situation. She came after.
          Credit where it’s due, please. It’s not about the Benn quote; it’s about the whole way she handled that particular issue – exactly the same way I did.
          Read also my previous comments about harming my livelihood.

  3. Tony Dean July 15, 2015 at 11:11 am - Reply

    Mike I think you are flattering yourself if you think you were first to make the comments before Ms Black.

    • Mike Sivier July 15, 2015 at 11:43 am - Reply

      Find someone else who said what I said, in the way I said it, and maybe I’ll agree with you. It’ll have to be regarding Harriet Harman’s position on child tax credits, and made before midday on Monday.

      • Tony Dean July 15, 2015 at 12:05 pm - Reply

        Just do a google on signposts and weather cocks, it is a much requoted quote since Tony Benn first used it.

        • Mike Sivier July 15, 2015 at 12:31 pm - Reply

          Not the point, as I have made abundantly clear by now.

  4. l8in July 15, 2015 at 11:55 am - Reply

    maybe you are the millionth monkey, mike.
    keep up the good work.

  5. Mhari Black July 15, 2015 at 12:04 pm - Reply

    Mike Sivier? Who?

    • Mike Sivier July 15, 2015 at 12:32 pm - Reply

      Mhairi Black? Who?
      You don’t know because you’re not her.

    • hstorm July 15, 2015 at 2:14 pm - Reply

      Being an imposter works better when you can spell the name of the person you’re impersonating correctly.

      • crazytrucker1951 July 15, 2015 at 2:56 pm - Reply

        Well spotted Bruce! Usually a pretty good indication that it’s a Troll posting.

      • Mhari Black July 15, 2015 at 4:04 pm - Reply

        “hstorm” and “crazytrucker 1951” – fools, I deliberately mis-spelled the name to avoid charges of plagiarism!

      • ian725 July 16, 2015 at 12:36 am - Reply

        LMAO great!!

  6. amnesiaclinic July 15, 2015 at 12:12 pm - Reply

    Excellent, Mike.
    However, it will have been noted and you will possibly be targeted.
    Divide and rule is the way they will distract you and keep people fighting. Saps your energy too.
    I think you are dealing well with it but watch your back!
    As David Icke says, they get back at you like this or through your family.
    This is where the circle of 5 come in to give you support and watch each others’ backs.
    Well done!

  7. Di ane July 15, 2015 at 12:20 pm - Reply

    With respect: don’t hold your breath waiting.

  8. Nick Fourbanks July 15, 2015 at 1:18 pm - Reply

    I speak to Debbie’s office on a monthly basis and she is in the loop about these welfare deaths and the likes of myself who have to monitor these deaths independently for the UN

    These deaths will never be going away and justice for those that have died will at some point be rammed home in the EU courts as such is the extremity of some of these deaths of those with mental health having to starve themselves to death and for those that have taken their own life because of the constant persecution making any type of life unbearable

  9. Roast chicken July 15, 2015 at 4:28 pm - Reply

    Keep it up sivvy get that b*****d ids locked up in Denbigh Mental

    • Mike Sivier July 15, 2015 at 6:47 pm - Reply

      sivvy?
      You’re reminding me of my schooldays. Ah well…
      I’m not familiar with Denbigh Mental. As it’s in Wales, I imagine it provides a high standard of care. Can’t we send him somewhere over the border in England, where the health service has been ravaged by his colleague, Mr H… unt?

      • KeepupthegoodworkMike July 16, 2015 at 2:35 pm - Reply

        Lol It was an imposing Victorian Lunatic Asylum In Denbighshire been closed many many years but still Stands..Most Haunted have filmed there etc. We should put IDS in one of it’s padded cells

        • Mike Sivier July 16, 2015 at 3:21 pm - Reply

          The idea of putting him in a place that is haunted by the souls of his victims appeals very strongly to the part of me that loves gothic horror – and social justice.

  10. thelovelywibblywobblyoldlady July 15, 2015 at 4:36 pm - Reply

    Response off my MP, Jo Stevens, regarding the benefit deaths (to be fair to her she responded within 24 hours)

    Dear Ms. Millward,
    Thank you for email regarding the publication of suicide statistics linked to benefit sanctions.
    As you may know, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions was requested by the Information Commissioner to release the statistics but refused to do so.
    However, on the 24th of June, my Labour colleague, Marie Rimmer MP asked David Cameron about whether he would be prepared to intervene in order to ensure the statistics are released. The Prime Minister stated that the documents are being “prepared for publication”. To date, there has been no publication of the statistics, therefore I will continue to follow the issue closely and put pressure on the Prime Minister to carry out his promises.
    The suicides related to benefit sanctions are yet another example of this government’s corrosive attitude to the most vulnerable in society. I can assure you that I will continue to fight for all members of our society.
    Yours sincerely,
    Jo Stevens MP
    Labour Member of Parliament for Cardiff Central

  11. thelovelywibblywobblyoldlady July 15, 2015 at 7:45 pm - Reply

    Update from Jo Stevens

    Dear Mrs Millward,

    I have signed the Early Day Motion.

    Jo Stevens MP

    Labour Member of Parliament for Cardiff Central

    Yaaay! :-D

    • Mike Sivier July 15, 2015 at 7:51 pm - Reply

      :-D

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