View Full Version : Minister 'tried to censor' video aimed at helping claimants to appeal
I knew things were bad, but this is just disgraceful.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/jul/31/minister-accused-video-disability-claimants?newsfeed=true
Minister 'tried to censor' video aimed at helping disability claimants to appeal
Emails complain of 'tone' and 'negative comments' in official advice to people appealing against having benefit taken away
The employment minister Chris Grayling (http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/chrisgrayling) has been accused of trying to censor a Ministry of Justice courts service information video that helps people appealing against decisions to remove their disability and sickness benefit (http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxcreditsAndOthersupport/IllorInjured/DG_171894).
Emails and letters between Grayling and MoJ civil servants, seen by the Guardian, appear to show Grayling wanted to remove parts of the educational video, produced by Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service, giving advice on how to be more successful in the appeals process. Emails from the minister's account complain about the video's "tone" and "negative comments" towards the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) even though the sections in dispute were agreed to be factually true.Channel 4's Dispatches and the BBC's Panorama programmes have also investigated this and found there to be questionable practices going on. With Legal Aid being withdrawn, this is yet another blow to vulnerable people whose only crime is to be disabled.
I guess none of the 347 views of this thread came from people who rely on the welfare system (or have close relatives/friends that do).
So his stance is the portrayal of his particular block of red tape? But not the facts of it. Sounds typical political bull**** to me.
I guess none of the 347 views of this thread came from people who rely on the welfare system (or have close relatives/friends that do).That's a bit petulant isn't it?
I guess none of the 347 views of this thread came from people who rely on the welfare system (or have close relatives/friends that do).
its appalling but not shocking. that's the party that was voted in and we all know what they stand for.
That's a bit petulant isn't it?
Axe to grind against the Tories obviously :D
xXhayleyroxXx
03-08-12, 17:33
That's completely awful :/ What on earth ever happened to empathy?
That's a bit petulant isn't it?
:rolleyes:
its appalling but not shocking. that's the party that was voted in and we all know what they stand for.
We do, but I didn't vote for them.
:rolleyes:What, don't you think your little outburst was petulant then? Just because there were 350 odd views doesn't mean none of those views were from people who rely on the welfare system or know of those that do. Perhaps people agreed with your opening statement and had nothing to add? Perhaps they just didn't have the time to reply? You just don't know. Don't forget a lot of people view D&D as just a place for ultra serious discussion and thus don't even venture in here.
It really isn't fair to lash out like that just because nobody had responded to your thread after a day.
Ward Dragon
03-08-12, 20:43
I guess none of the 347 views of this thread came from people who rely on the welfare system (or have close relatives/friends that do).
I was one of those views and I wasn't sure what to reply. I'm not too familiar with how the British system works, and at first I thought "minister" was referring to a religious leader so I was even more confused about what was going on XD
I haven't seen the video so I don't know if the guy has a point about the tone being unfairly negative towards his office. I could easily cherry-pick bad things that have happened to put someone/something in a negative light, and even if everything was true it still might not be fair if it completely skips over good things or disproportionately emphasizes the bad things.
Maybe the video is unfair, but for all I know his office could be like the DMV and HMO's combined so maybe there really isn't anything good to balance out the video with XD I'm just going to hope that whoever reviews this situation will make a fair decision about whether the video should be changed or stay as-is.
@ Ward Dragon: yeah, with all the craziness around, I wouldn't be shocked to read about a religious minister speaking out against this topic :vlol: :rolleyes:
It's worth watching the video (all < 3 minutes of it), because it really does make you think if a politician can openly accuse this of being untrue and unfair, then it's only a matter of time before one starts disputing that the sky trends towards a bluish colour. Even when I - like you - 'know' what the system is like, I was baffled by his attitude.
What, don't you think your little outburst was petulant then? Just because there were 350 odd views doesn't mean none of those views were from people who rely on the welfare system or know of those that do. Perhaps people agreed with your opening statement and had nothing to add? Perhaps they just didn't have the time to reply? You just don't know. Don't forget a lot of people view D&D as just a place for ultra serious discussion and thus don't even venture in here.
It really isn't fair to lash out like that just because nobody had responded to your thread after a day.
My apologies. This is a very emotive topic for me.
Ward Dragon
04-08-12, 19:40
It's worth watching the video (all < 3 minutes of it), because it really does make you think if a politician can openly accuse this of being untrue and unfair, then it's only a matter of time before one starts disputing that the sky trends towards a bluish colour. Even when I - like you - 'know' what the system is like, I was baffled by his attitude.
I'm not sure where to find it. The article said that it was taken down while it gets reviewed so I assumed it wasn't available online :o
I'm not sure where to find it. The article said that it was taken down while it gets reviewed so I assumed it wasn't available online :o
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/video/2012/jul/31/disability-benefits-advice-video-ministry-justice
:D
Can't say I'm surprised by this or the fact that there are questionable practices going on. A friend of mine trapped a nerve in her back and now she gets headaches that come and go at any time and incapacitate her. She has been declared legally unfit to work three times and she is still being shunted backwards and forwards between normal benefits and sick pay! She didn't know what help was available to her and when she we to an appointment to sort it out they basically denied everything the citizen's advice bureau said to her!
Ward Dragon
05-08-12, 20:42
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/video/2012/jul/31/disability-benefits-advice-video-ministry-justice
:D
That's it? That's what all the fuss is about? :confused: Is that the whole video? I really didn't see anything in there negative and I don't understand the complaints against it :confused:
That's it? That's what all the fuss is about? :confused: Is that the whole video? I really didn't see anything in there negative and I don't understand the complaints against it :confused:
Precisely. His complaints that it contains factually untrue statements is utter bull****. In Greyling's (email) words:
"A couple of times it's noted that a claimant is twice as likely to win their appeal if they turn up in person – again this is broadly true, but doesn't help to reduce the opinion that it isn't the facts of the case that are important, but the turning up in front of a tribunal and pleading their case."
His opinion is ignoring the reality. At an appeal tribunal, you (and a representative) can state your case and answer questions - thus making it far easier for the tribunal to understand how and why your condition (for example) prevents you from seeking work. If the tribunal only has a couple of pieces of paper with tick boxes filled out, then it is much harder for them to gain an accurate picture of the individual making the claim. So yes, face-to-face tribunals will almost always result in successful appeals - not because the facts are different, but because the tribunal can interact with the claimant and solve any misunderstandings as they happen. Greyling's 'opinion' is nothing more than bigoted hogwash.
Of course turning up in person is better, that goes for everything. Silly dude.
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