Labour's John Mcdonnell Joins Calls for Criminal Investigation Into Iain Duncan Smith, Chris Grayling And Senior DWP Civil Servants

POLITICS - Labour’s shadow chancellor John McDonnell has joined disabled campaigners in backing calls for a criminal probe into the actions of former Tory ministers and senior civil servants, following the publication of a five-year investigation into the deaths of disabled benefit claimants. The 12,000-word article, published on Monday by Disability News Service (DNS), was based on evidence linking the deaths of six disabled people between 2010 and 2015 with the work capability assessment (WCA).

The article argues that all six of those deaths – as well as many others – were linked to flaws in the Work Capability Assessment.  

Image: Iain Duncan Smith, former DWP minister.

Conservative ministers including Iain Duncan Smith and Chris Grayling and senior civil servants within the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) ignored concerns that had been raised by a coroner and were sent to DWP in the spring of 2010.

As a result of the failure to act on that letter, and further damning evidence about the assessment process that emerged later, and particularly its impact on people with mental health problems, claimants of out-of-work disability benefits continued to lose their lives.

Image: Chris Grayling, and Iain Duncan Smith - accusations of misconduct in public office. 

The article ends by laying out a clear argument for a criminal investigation for the crime of misconduct in public office, according to principles described by the Crown Prosecution Service.

Labour’s shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, this morning (Thursday) backed calls for a criminal investigation.

Jonathan Bartley, co-leader of the Green party, also backed the call for an investigation.

He said the DNS article provided “strong and clear evidence” that Duncan Smith, Grayling and senior civil servants should be investigated over the WCA scandal.

ABC Note: We support completly this intiative. Scottish based Black Triangle made a complaint to the police about this matter and an investigation is needed. 

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