'Cover-up': DWP destroyed reports into people who killed themselves after benefits were stopped

[sl8]

From https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/dwp-benefit-death-suicide-reports-cover-ups-government-conservatives-a9359606.html
(audio at link)

'Cover-up': DWP destroyed reports into people who killed themselves after benefits were stopped

Up to 50 reviews into deaths following harsh social security cuts and sanctions have been shredded, officials admit

Rob Merrick
Deputy Political Editor
12 hours ago

The Department for Work and Pensions has been accused of “a cover-up” after destroying reports into suicides linked to benefits being stopped.

Around 50 reviews into deaths following the loss of social security payments before 2015 have been shredded, officials have admitted – blaming data protection laws.

However, the data watchdog has said there was no requirement to destroy the reports by any particular date and that a “public interest” exemption could have been used.

[Mike 03]

1. Under Iain Duncan Smith.

He was the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions under David Cameron.

More than 100 have taken place over the last decade, amid growing concern over deaths linked to harsh benefit cuts and sanctions introduced by Iain Duncan Smith.

When Ms Cooksey found her brother’s body, there was no food in the house, no money in his bank account and a letter from his housing association threatening him with eviction.

Mr Salter had been left partially sighted by a previous suicide attempt and had mental health conditions – but was found fit for work and had his benefits cut back drastically nine months before his death.

I remember the horror stories being circulated during the #CameronMustResign social media campaign. Some of them were beyond description, even hard to believe, like stories about terminal cancer patients being told that if they were healthy enough to board a bus to come to an interview, they were healthy enough to find work. Their benefits were denied.

[Matilda]

3. Similar stories circulate in Australia.

Under all LNP governments, but even worse under Scummo.

And what's the common denominator between our two countries? The power of Rupert Murdoch. They are too weak and scared to resist when he tugs on their strings.

[Soph0571]

2. Of course they did

I remember being in a conference in 2010 when the then secretary of state for the DWP made it very clear that it was not about the individual it was about the process.. this is the intended result. Fuckers