• Disrupting Power Since 2015
  • Donate
  • Login
Thursday, May 15, 2025
  • Login
  • Register
Canary
MEDIA THAT DISRUPTS
  • News
    • UK
    • Global
    • Analysis
    • Trending
  • Editorial
  • Features
    • Features
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Money
    • Science
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Sport & Gaming
  • Media
    • Video
    • Cartoons
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
MANAGE SUBSCRIPTION
SUPPORT
  • News
    • UK
    • Global
    • Analysis
    • Trending
  • Editorial
  • Features
    • Features
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Money
    • Science
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Sport & Gaming
  • Media
    • Video
    • Cartoons
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
Canary
No Result
View All Result

The latest promotion at the DWP spells disaster for disabled people

Fréa Lockley by Fréa Lockley
5 April 2019
in Analysis, UK
Reading Time: 4 mins read
167 5
A A
2
Home UK Analysis
319
SHARES
2.5k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Justin Tomlinson is now the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) minister of state for disabled people, health and work. It took Theresa May three weeks to appoint anyone to this position after Sarah Newton resigned. But his appointment spells disaster for millions of disabled people in the UK.

Not fit for purpose

Tomlinson was the parliamentary undersecretary of state for disabled people from May 2015 to July 2016. He replaces Newton who resigned on 13 March after voting against the government over a no-deal Brexit vote. On 3 April, Labour’s Marsha de Cordova said it was “shameful” May left this position vacant for three weeks amid the ongoing Brexit chaos.

But appointing Tomlinson offers little hope for the disabled people in the UK. For a start, he doesn’t appear to know what he’s talking about.

“Factual blunders”

On 2 April, Tomlinson apologised for making four “factual blunders” during a Commons debate about the freeze on benefits for working people. He said these errors were “inadvertent”.

From 8 April, the government will freeze benefits for working-age people for the fourth year running. It’s a freeze that’s estimated to cost some families £1,800 a year. During the debate, Labour warned that the freeze is “pushing families and children into poverty”. Yet Tomlinson showed ignorance about the facts surrounding this crisis.

According to the Mirror, he claimed that the “severe disability premium would increase from £77.65 to £79.50”. But the severe disability premium is £64.30, set to rise to £65.85. For millions of disabled people struggling to survive on benefits, this is a vast difference.

As the Mirror reported, Tomlinson also made further errors about increases in the state pension. In a written statement he said:

I would like to clarify the points… and apologise to the House for these inadvertent errors.

But in the same week, Tomlinson also showed little compassion for the consequences of the Conservative’s ‘welfare’ policies.

Benefit deaths

On 2 April, Tomlinson gave written responses to questions from Labour MP Madeleine Moon. Moon asked:

how many claimants who applied for (a) attendance allowance, (b) employment support allowance and (c) universal credit have died within six months of having those applications rejected.

Tomlinson didn’t give an answer, stating:

The Department holds data across a number of data sets which would require analysis and quality assurance and would be a substantial piece of work to bring together to answer these questions; therefore the information requested could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Moon also sought clarity about people who reapplied for benefits under “special rules for terminal illness” following rejection. These “special rules” mean that for people diagnosed with terminal illness, “certain benefits might be fast-tracked and paid at the highest rate”. Again, Tomlinson claimed that there was a “disproportionate cost” to provide answers.

Saying it ‘costs too much’ to provide answers shows no compassion or understanding. These aren’t ‘just’ statistics, they relate to real people and actual deaths.

More than just a number

But the DWP and Tomlinson’s ineptitude doesn’t end there. As disability activist Alex Tiffin explained, in the three weeks there was no one in role as disabilities minister, he answered another of Moon’s questions.

According to Tomlinson, an additional 2,390 people died after their having Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claims rejected. Because Newton gave one answer to a question about the issue in February, Tomlinson a different one in March.

As Tiffin said it’s “staggering that they can get such important figures so wrong”. This highlights the ongoing failures of PIP assessments.

Arguably, there’s no one fit for purpose to enforce the DWP’s cruel policies. But disabled people certainly deserve better than Tomlinson.

Featured image via UK government – Wikimedia 

Share128Tweet80
Previous Post

Mark Francois changes name to ‘Brark Brancois’ to protest the Brexit delay or something

Next Post

Sensational: A teacher rips into Sajid Javid for ‘blaming’ her profession for knife crime

Next Post
Teacher and Sajid Javid

Sensational: A teacher rips into Sajid Javid for 'blaming' her profession for knife crime

Julian Assange

Julian Assange faces 'imminent eviction' by Ecuadorian president implicated in corruption scandal

Piers Morgan

An epic Twitter thread destroys Piers Morgan's claim that 17 million people voted for 'no deal'

Jim Matthews

An ex-soldier cleared of terrorism charges for fighting Daesh is detained by police returning from holiday

Aaron Bastani

Aaron Bastani flips the 'Marxist' attack-line on its head, reducing the Tories to an uneducated mess

Please login to join discussion
The British Museum just held an event with the Israeli embassy - and the Met police responded by repressing Palestine protesters
News

British Museum holds event with the Israeli embassy – so Met Police respond by repressing Palestine protesters

by The Canary
14 May 2025
EXPOSED: the public is paying for Keir Starmer's in-laws to live virtually rent-free in London
Analysis

EXPOSED: the public is paying for Keir Starmer’s in-laws to live virtually rent-free in London

by Ed Sykes
14 May 2025
People are coming together on 7 June to oppose Labour's DWP benefit cuts
News

People are coming together on 7 June to oppose Labour’s DWP benefit cuts

by The Canary
14 May 2025
Keir Starmer's 'Island of Strangers' speech: channeling the racist rhetoric of Enoch Powell
Opinion

Is Keir Starmer capable of killing?

by Jamie Driscoll
14 May 2025
As an ACTUAL GENOCIDE continues, its apologists come for Gary Lineker over an emoji
Opinion

As an ACTUAL GENOCIDE continues, its apologists come for Gary Lineker over an emoji

by Ed Sykes
14 May 2025
  • Contact
  • About & FAQ
  • Get our Daily News Email
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy

The Canary
PO Box 71199
LONDON
SE20 9EX

Canary Media Ltd – registered in England. Company registration number 09788095.

For guest posting, contact [email protected]

For other enquiries, contact: [email protected]

The Canary is owned and run by independent journalists and volunteers, NOT offshore billionaires.

You can write for us, or support us by making a regular or one-off donation.

© Canary Media Ltd 2024, all rights reserved | Website by Monster | Hosted by Krystal | Privacy Settings

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • UK
    • Global
    • Analysis
    • Trending
  • Editorial
  • Features
    • Features
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Money
    • Science
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Sport & Gaming
  • Media
    • Video
    • Cartoons
  • Opinion

© 2023 Canary - Worker's co-op.

Before you go, have you seen...?

The British Museum just held an event with the Israeli embassy - and the Met police responded by repressing Palestine protesters
News
The Canary

British Museum holds event with the Israeli embassy – so Met Police respond by repressing Palestine protesters

EXPOSED: the public is paying for Keir Starmer's in-laws to live virtually rent-free in London
Analysis
Ed Sykes

EXPOSED: the public is paying for Keir Starmer’s in-laws to live virtually rent-free in London

People are coming together on 7 June to oppose Labour's DWP benefit cuts
News
The Canary

People are coming together on 7 June to oppose Labour’s DWP benefit cuts

Keir Starmer's 'Island of Strangers' speech: channeling the racist rhetoric of Enoch Powell
Opinion
Jamie Driscoll

Is Keir Starmer capable of killing?

ADVERTISEMENT
Business
Nathan Spears

When digital isn’t enough: why paper still matters in modern business

Tech
Nathan Spears

How Digital Addictions Are Formed in the Shadow of Large Platforms

Lifestyle
Nathan Spears

Recovery in the Sun: How the Canary Islands are Becoming a Wellness Tourism Hub