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Unaccountable Civil Servants

Unaccountable Civil Servants

WHERE DOES ONE START? THERE IS SO MUCH TO CHOOSE FROM, Civil Servants in Jobcentres, The Inland Revenue, The Department of Work and Pensions, The Council and Councillors, Members of Parliament, National Health Service and a Mayor…… we will show you all of these, name them and reveal how they are fleecing the taxpayer and covering their tracks with lies, deceit and corruption.

CIVIL SERVANTS are supposed to be ordinary people just making a living, but don’t be fooled, they are nothing of the sort.  They agree to sign up to the Official Secrets Act and have Crown Protection, they are bought and paid for in their salaries, and they will treat other members of public with contempt and complete disregard if they choose to do so.  They cannot be challenged with total success and proving anything against them is a waste of time, you will lack evidence and they will subvert all and any enquiries.

The Complaints system in the DWP and Jobcentre is designed to take six months.

The  Complaints/Appeal system in the Tax and Inland Revenue will take four months

The Complaints system in the Council can last over twelve months or more.

Most Court Actions rely on the claimant going through one of the systems mentioned and if you chose not to (because you cannot trust them) the Judge will probably strike out your claim  —-  your freedom of choice has been eroded completely.

Just lately, in the Spring of 2009 The Daily Telegraph exposed the Fraud and Corruption in the House of Parliament, and it went very deep.  The public were shocked at how many pigs were in the trough helping themselves in the grand name of expenses – The Expenses Scandal – the attempted cover-ups and denials.  But one group has been missed in this expose by The Telegraph — The Civil Servants.

So let us get down to business and expose some of them here:

‘ Where Government Corruption Started ‘

IT MORE OR LESS STARTED IN THE 16TH CENTURY, as with the Police, corruption in government isn’t a new thing, no, it began around 1700 with ‘ THE SOUTH SEA BUBBLE ‘ a bubble that burst exposing the government and those who dealt with shares and a company that had no assets.  It led to a financial scandal of huge proportions.  Investment and shares was the game (not unlike the recent banking scandal), and the government were in the thick of it.  The South Sea Company was in trouble, it showed a deficit in the accounts and owed the Chancellor £14million (in that time!), which was half the size of the National Debt.  Thomas Brodrick for the Government was looking into these affairs as they had become very serious for the country.  He told MP’s he had uncovered the largest scene of villainy and fraud that was ever perpetrated.  ‘ The Committee of Secrecy’ – yes, one can hardly believe that eh?  a government department said the company ledgers had false and fictitious entries.  Before they could complete their findings, some of the Company books went missing and others were destroyed.  Brodrick dropped a ‘bombshell’ in the House of Commons, as he declared that he had evidence of corruption at the heart of government — exposing that Sunderland had taken bribes, and that Robert Knight had concealed Sunderland’s role at the request of John Blunt.  Deputy Governor Charles Joye said Knight insisted that £100,000 worth of stock shares should be reserved for ‘ the friends’ of Sunderland.  The Commons listened to news of corruption on a staggering scale — and share dealings carried out by the Treasury Secretary Charles Stanhope that were amazing.  The Committee could not find any evidence of Stanhope paying for 10,000 shares he claimed, then worth £25,000.  As the calamity unfolded more names in the house were exposed all going up to the King, professional investors and the Church.  Yet when it came down to charging them with crimes,  (the government lawyers were hurriedly changing the law and its interpretation) – they were all protected from the full force of justice?  The Public were outraged, but there was little they could do, they didn’t have power over soldiers, legislators, all favourable to the government and Crown, and it just faded into history.

DOESN’T THAT ALL SOUND FAMILIAR TODAY?

HMRC – the untouchables — or corruption on a new level?

ONE GROUP OF CIVIL SERVANTS HAVE MORE PROTECTION AND POWER THAN THE OTHERS and that branch is known as HER MAJESTY’S CUSTOMS AND EXCISE and THE INLAND REVENUE — HMRC –who can practice it in the utmost secrecy without fear of prosecution or investigation — No Minister has authority over them — There is no known investigation that has ever been successfully lodged against this branch of civil servants because of the immunity they have been granted. The power they have was never granted by the people of Britain it came from the politicians and the judiciary.

610 hmrc staff disciplined, dismissed and other – this recently found report comes from when the merger of the Customs and Inland Revenue became one.  It was claimed at the time that this was the total for 3 years and only represented one percent from 2005 to 2008.  We did one of their type taxman assessments and arrived at a possible figure of now 2,440 and a rate of just around 5 per cent ‘bent’ staff existing nowadays.

The full article can be seen further down the list, much further down I may add.

We list the following cases, reports and articles in support of another Web Owner who contacted us for information to put on his site which entirely focuses on the Inland Revenue and Excise Officers.

‘ Customs and Excise Elite Squad investigated for Corruption ‘Police claimed that officers of the Customs National Investigation Service were being investigated for corruption.  They said some officers in Customs Excise were allowing informers to sell on heroin.  It is stated that Customs officers have skimmed off a proportion of seized drugs to resell on the black market.  The inquiry will look at a number of officers who have perverted the course of justice.  Doubts over covert Customs operations have seen four separate major court cases collapse during a three year period.  The Police would not say how many Customs officers were under investigation claiming they did not have the power or authority to act as they normally do in other cases.

‘ TOO MUCH POWER GIVEN TO CUSTOMS ‘GRAHAM ZELLICK a former Principal of Queen Mary and Westfield College was alarmed that a customs officer should have the power to override a decision in the criminal courts.  Such power should rest with the Home Secretary.  A review of their status should be checked as they are not above the law even though they think it.’ he said in a statement.

‘TWO CROOKED HMRC CUSTOMS OFFICERS JAILED’  — The report says that two customs officers were part of a smuggling gang operating in Ramsgate.  It revealed the role of two HMRC employees, PAUL WEAVER and colleague STEVEN PHILLIPS of Folkestone.  It was stated at Southwark Crown Court that the officers waved through lorry loads of contraband destined for Manchester.  The Tax Scam was fairly massive as five shipments of bootlegged vodka and cigarettes valued at millions of pounds were taken through to their destination by the two officers who were notified by the gang when the lorries would be arriving at the port.  Being in receipt of a good payout the two customs men made sure other officers were not around when these shipments arrived.  We were not told how they could effect this.  They both admitted to one count of conspiracy to contravene customs duties and tax evasion.  Weaver received 4 years and Phillips, four and a half years by Southwark Crown Court.  (Aug 2006)

‘HMRC CUSTOMS MAN IN DRUGS PLOT’  —  RICHARD RILEY was thought to be an upstanding officer according to many others in the fight against tax evasion and smuggling.  But in reality he was making huge sums of cash from drug smuggling deals he struck with some Caribbean Drug Lords.  It was said in court that he simply used his position for self gain and used anyone in his scam, including his wife, kids, social worker and friends, and he was living in a grand house in Dulwich, London.  The Judge at Southwark Crown Court said ‘Instead of protecting public money, and helping to stamp out crime, he was actively engaging in it.  He was sentenced to 15 years in jail.

‘HMRC CUSTOMS OFFICER DENIES HELPING GANGSTERS FOR SHARE OF LOOT’  — PAUL COOK, a HM Customs and Excise ‘handler’ for two gangsters, appeared at Kingston Crown Court on a charge of helping the men scam their way to a Royal Pardon, which enabled them to get out of prison early.  Both prisoners had turned ‘Grasses’ – ‘giving Queens Evidence’ at the time when they were arrested for heroin trafficking in 1993.  They told Cook where a cache of guns and drugs could be located in Merseyside.  Cook is charged with helping the two men pervert the course of justice and misconduct in public office.

‘ Customs Officer arrested for groping women in trains ‘

A SENIOR OFFICER NICHOLAS SHAW appeared in court accused of groping women in busy and crowded trains.  Manchester Crown Court heard that there were a number of incidents involving women who claimed they had been touch up by Mr. Shaw during their journeys. A fifth woman said she felt uncomfortable when Shaw stood so close to her on the train.

HIGH RANKING CUSTOMS OFFICER’S NAME KEPT SECRET BY OFFICIALS – We have been prevented from naming a senior customs man by the Ministry. Our Private Detective Richard was following a lead based on a tip-off that a senior customs man was corrupt and in the habit of taking bribes in order to make things okay for his contacts.  Richard found this to be the case and made enquiries about the man and his personal life that in turn showed us the cause and reason he was engaged in certain activities that would eventually jail the ordinary man in the street. However, when we checked with the customs and excise we were forbidden to name the man, and there has been no case in the papers relating to it, so it appears to be secret and one of those things that this government are good at, and that goes for the police who we mentioned at the beginning who were investigating several customs men in our first article

NO CUSTOMS OFFICERS HAVE BEEN NAMED OR CHARGED — THE INVESTIGATION AND DETAILS HAVE JUST VANISHED?

‘HMRC CUSTOMS OFFICER IS CONVICTED OF RAPE’ – Customs Officer KELVIN BENNETT of Birmingham appeared before a jury at Maidstone Crown Court, accused of raping and kidnap.  The woman who was not named for legal reasons said she was 21 when Bennett forced her into his car and drove to a quiet remote location to commit the crime.  She gave testimony to further attacks by Bennett who almost seemed to get away with it due to his position in the Inland Revenue!  The Judge said Bennett had totally betrayed his position of trust.  At the time of this report his sentencing was deferred to another date.  (6/8/2008)

‘ Customs VAT man in spanking tax dodge ‘CUSTOMS TAX INSPECTOR PHIL McHUGH only spanked female bottoms, shapely ones, and gave the girls £30 to £100 for photos while he spanked them.  He said ‘ you won’t have to pay any tax — it’s all cash in hand ‘.  He worked in the Customs and Excise Investigations Department in Blackburn, Lancashire.  The Department later said they were looking into his activities.

TAX INSPECTOR JAILED OVER BLACKMAIL — PHILIP McHUGH was found guilty at St Albans Crown Court of Blackmail. It was said that he made a demand for £1million from TESCO and threatened to bomb the store if the ransom was not paid.  The 52 year-old also threatened to contaminate products at the store in Lancashire.  It was stated that he was addicted to gambling online and had debts of £37,000.

NB: The HMRC refused to say whether the ‘two’ McHugh’s were the same….and pretended not to know!

Yes you’re not seeing double, we know it is the same taxman involved in the two cases. Having now linked these cases together it certainly needs questions asked at the HMRC in Blackburn, and answers?   – What activities did they look into regarding the spanking situation and how is it they missed the gambling debts and his eventual prison sentence for blackmail.

HMRC Customs officer grabbed in Corruption Raid by Cops’

The following reports may be linked by the mere connection of it being a ’50 year old HMRC Officer, totally unnamed of course!  So we go first to — A/  This is OPERATION ELVEDEN Scotland Yard’s investigation into allegations of corrupt payments to police and public officials.  The Report says at the time they had made the 29th arrest, they claim to have arrested a 50 year old HMRC employee, who was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office contrary to common law and suspicion of corruption under the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906.  The report hints at ‘Phone Hacking’ in conjunction with another police operation called ‘Operation Weeting’   16th of August ?  London. 

B/ We now go to ‘Customs Officer Arrested’ 30th June 2009 — The Kent Police stated that among seven people arrested on the suspicion of drug trafficking, a Customs Officer aged 50, was involved.  The name of the man was withheld for apparently no reason one could ascertain, and it says he was subsequently granted bail?

So, is this one officer, or is it two separate cases?  we couldn’t find anything else on this, so we’ll leave it with you.

FORMER CUSTOMS MAN TELLS OUR PRIVATE DETECTIVE THAT THEY GET TIP-OFFS WHEN TROUBLE SURROUNDS THEIR DEPARTMENT OR AN INVESTIGATION IS ABOUT TO BE MADE –‘ PAPERS GO MISSING AND OTHERS ARE SHREDDED – WE ARE GOOD AT THAT – He said.

 HMRC Investigator in fraud ‘

JONATHAN MIDDUP an Investigator with the Inland Revenue was found guilty of fraudulently obtaining £16,000 in benefits for his wife — he aided and abetted her scam to swindle for income support, housing benefit and council tax in Hucknell.  The deception was calculated and the plan to let his wife sign on as a single parent was carried through.  Nottingham Magistrates Court found Middup guilty of dishonesty, the Judge said ‘ It is appalling that this man was a criminal investigator for the HMRC ‘  He was given an 8 weeks suspended prison sentence suspended for 12 months.

‘ Those H & M Revenue & Customs blunders ‘

HER MAJESTY’S REVENUE AND CUSTOMS, yes, not so squeaky clean either as we show you here.

Retired David Betson had regular problems with tax codes etc, and what was annoying was that this kind of thing continued over and over again despite contacting them he said. He made a formal complaint, but guess what? he hasn’t had a reply or anything from them.Elizabeth Booker had a tax demand for £858 going back over a two-year period. She was now retired and the mix up again was tax codes, but still the matter had not been sorted. Even after contacting them she still was sent the wrong codes.

George Stewart tried to get two tax rebates owing to him after tax was taken incorrectly from his saving accounts. This matter went on for 18 months, yet he was promised by someone at the centre that he would receive a response by September 2010, it never happened?Mary Stephen got a shock when the tax people said she owed £3,207 in underpaid tax. After approaching the tax office on several occasions and getting more stressed she was dumbfounded to find out that they thought she had a second job at a place she has never worked?

Stan Bradburn was sent a bill by the tax people for £3,200 which stated he had been underpaying for two years. After much effort and running around for faceless tax collectors, he discovered it was all based on incorrect tax codes. The Tax people had confused information due to three sources of income, but couldn’t get the matter right with all the expensive expertise they claim they have. A spokesperson said they were looking into it as a matter of urgency?  — not a lot of hope there eh?

‘ THE CASE OF THE INLAND REVENUE OFFICER WHO LIED ‘

AN Unidentified civil servant at the Inland revenue seemed unconcerned that a lie interfered with a claimant’s valid request.  He actually said the info was on the pc regarding a claim for Income Support, whereas the claimant had never claimed income support at any time.  His bungle and false statement quashed the claim and it was only after trouble and delay to the claimant that it was finally put right.

They were requested to reveal the civil servant, but denied this and said there was a clerical error??

HMRC GO AFTER INNOCENT PEOPLE AND THREATEN THEM — Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs staff are continually getting away with the crime of threats and harassment and they get away with it without any fear of prosecution, and why is that?  they have immunity provided by the police and Crown, they cannot be touched. They are above the law. The new report says they threaten to take possessions over tax demands to those who already agreed to pay off bills, and they do it to people who owe nothing. Any errors they make are not errors? simply just something that happened — just like one un-named civil servant who wrongly assessed some claimant even though he had other information to the contrary, had their claim denied and was not held accountable when the mistake showed up. The HMRC would not investigate him, suspend him or hold an inquiry into his behaviour because he was protected.  The report highlighted the fact that these threats flouted the Office of fair trading rules — guidance to debt collectors — yet amazingly the HMRC is not bound by the rules because it is a government department?  This situation revealed itself when Mrs Perry was hounded by the HMRC debt office in Glasgow and then by another debt office in Croydon.  The Office of Fair Trading was contacted and that’s when it was revealed that they were above the law and could not be investigated by the Ombudsman or Office of Fair Trade, even the police are tied when attempting to investigate, they are immune from prosecution.

TAXMAN FAILS TO WIN CASE AGAINST MAN WHO WINS APPEAL — Tax Inspector Hayden Hart thought he would nab his man easily, and said he was attacked by him whilst doing his duty. Initially in a lower court the taxman got his way, but Paul Clarke took his case to the Appeal court and the judge overturned the decision saying the facts were exaggerated, and it could not be proved by just a few marks that Clarke did it. Lawyers for the taxman tried to change the charge, but the judge would not let them.

IN RELATION TO HMRC THREATS one MP said ‘ The tone of these demands were deeply offensive and threatening ‘ ‘ In some cases they are sent to the wrong people saying they will seize possessions and take property if the bill isn’t paid’  The MP said this was disgraceful. especially as it was a public body paid for by taxpayers.

‘ HMRC Tax Officer is Jailed ‘

SENIOR TAX OFFICER MARGARET SCARGILL was found guilty at Leeds Crown Court of taking more than £10,000 in false tax payments.  It was discovered that she had perpetrated the crime over five years under the noses of colleagues at the Dewsbury HMRC Office.  She opened two accounts in order to place the stolen money. It was amazing to learn that she had acquired a senior position during those years, and all the while fiddled and falsified documents.  She was jailed for six months.

‘ The Taxman in blunder refuse to accept the facts ‘

THE INLAND REVENUE in Preston do make mistakes, do enter false information, deny it and carry onto the next occasion — Miss Tonie Francis was dead according to their records, another gaff, but when she actually phoned to correct this, the operator said she could not enter into any dialogue because she was dead?  The mother of two from Northamptonshire had her benefits frozen because of it as they had classified her as ‘ deceased ‘ even an officer from a department said he could not enter into any conversation?  Amazingly, the civil servant on the phone actually asked the deceased!! for a copy of her will and details of next of kin. She has since consulted with a solicitor and intends to sue the tax authorities who claimed this was a ‘computer error ‘

THE INLAND REVENUE THREATEN WIDOW — Indeed, A case has come to light that clearly shows the HMRC   have shown their true colours again. A 95 year old widow was threatened with bailiffs over a bill that was actually wrong and their mistake. This comes at a time when a Commons Committee hauled them in over the chaos and complaints by the public.  Widow Beryl Frew was told in a letter she would have her possessions seized for non payment. It was only after outside forces went over their bills that it was found that she had actually paid £380 more, and that was what they owed her. This example clearly shows how insensitive these people are and that they are quite unconcerned about using their power to crush anyone, even when they get it wrong.

‘ VAT Taxman Jailed ‘

RICHARD THORNTON, a VAT Inspector with the HMRC was sent to prison for two and a half years for swindling taxpayers out of £32,000 at Mold Crown Court.  It was heard that the tax Inspector set up a fake company with fictional directors to help him make a bogus sale and claim back on VAT.  He was convicted of fraudulent evasion.

IT HAS BEEN REVEALED THAT MISTAKES ARE NOT ALWAYS MISTAKES as claimed by the tax departments of the UK Government.  An internal document showed that Officers often deliberately try to trap and cheat claimants in order to reduce any tax benefits or rebate. It showed the staff had a system geared up to performance targets within offices.  Often they knew that a wrong demand had gone out, but ignored this in case ‘the fishing trip’ netted results.  One trick was to get people to rewrite claims and compare them word for word, and if it didn’t do that, they then had another worker lean on that taxpayer with more requests for information in the full knowledge that they were running a subtle intimidation that the claimant could do nothing about.

‘ Dishonest Tax fraud Officer on the fiddle ‘

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER AT THE REVENUE AND CUSTOMS PROSECUTION OFFICE DAVID PARTRIDGE, found himself being prosecuted instead. He was found guilty of gross misconduct and dismissed for awarding his wife a lucrative contract said to be around £100,000 of taxpayers money.  He was found guilty acting dishonestly over a period of eighteen months.

TAX OFFICE COVER-UP OVER BOTCHED ASSESSMENT FORM — Why the tax office lie, cheat and deceive is a mystery, but they do; even over the little things.  The North Country Inland Revenue Tax Dept made what they call an ‘error’ yet kept the identity of the civil servant a secret and would not have him identified when requested by the taxpayer/claimant.  The claimant had given in forms that showed the exact circumstances, yet, the civil servant wrongly filled in another knowing that he’d received other paperwork that could not be right and its status wrongly listed.  But this officer continued with the incorrect assessment which affected the claimant badly and delayed him, thus causing stress and further trouble. 

HMRC TAX DEPARTMENT THREATENS LEGAL ACTION in letter to 69yr old Widow in regard to bill that was incorrectly assigned to her when they knew it was the responsibility of a former employer. Yet they demanded that she paid £217 a month to clear the £2,607 bill of which she was first told to pay within one month.  The pensioner already lived on a strict budget and found coping very difficult.  A watchdog contacted the office, and in seconds the mistake was seen; but only because someone in the newspapers intervened. It is quite clear that they would have hounded her and taken the money — and never looked to see if it was correct, accusations levelled at the tax staff of bullying and threats is well founded, and someone likened them to back street money-lenders who put the frighteners on debtors — this describes the Inland Revenue exactly.

FORMER HMRC EMPLOYEE DODGED TAX — Well versed in the ways of the tax system, JONATHAN HILTON decided not to declare a second job even while working as an official in the Inland Revenue during 2002.  In court it was said that he evaded tax over a 14 year period.  This all came to light during an internal investigation at the HMRC.  He appeared at Manchester Crown Court and was sentenced to fourteen months suspended for twelve months.

CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST HMRC PERSONNEL ARE FLAWED — Investigations are carried out by the Police Complaints, and as we already know they are notoriously a whitewash in the case of suspected police wrongdoing, so it doesn’t carry much weight when one considers they handle criminal charges against tax staff at the Inland Revenue Departments. Our Investigator Richard asked them for details of how many tax people they were currently investigating, how many had been to court and how many had been jailed as a consequence of criminal acts, but they refused to give any information.

TAX INSPECTOR AND TWO STAFF RESIGN over harassment charges by pensioner. A leaked internal memo from one department to another says that ‘there is no reason to take the matter of harassment claims against the dept any further as resignations have been accepted and the pensioner has received a full apology for the distress.’  We have learnt since that the tax premises in Bristol have closed and staff moved to other areas??

HMRC face angry Treasury Select Committee over only 40 telephone calls in every 100 are answered by the tax office staff, whereas their published target said only four calls in every hundred can be allowed, which shows what this department is up to. HMRC Chief Executive Dame Leslie Strathie did not seem all that bothered about the horrendous record and glibly said ‘ Let me accept that as a challenge? ‘  A thirty minute call held at their office can cost a staggering £12.30 to the worried caller, one pensioner spent £54.12 as he waited two hours on the line. HMRC Managers are to be hauled in over the chaos the dept is causing to the taxpayers.

PAUL FOOT REVEALS LOCAL TAX OFFICE DILEMMA — Back in the 80’s the Investigative Journalist revealed that tax blunders were rife due to the hire of students in many offices, hired to fill the gaps needed of staff away or just not able to cope with workloads. But this led to wrongly assessed people and more outrageously the purge on innocents that became like a game to many of the civil servants that had a free hand to choose what they liked. No proper checks were being made of their work when in fact, they were not properly trained and many could not understand what the system was about anyway. One senior tax officer admitted it was going on, but he did not have the time or resources to put all of it right, ‘ some things just had to be pushed through right or wrong, and you just hoped the outcome would not seriously get anyone into trouble.’ he said.

‘ Tax Office Cover-Up over Vodafone Interest Mystery ‘

The more this department try to bury the issue of the unpaid interest involving Vodafone, the more the questions are asked — without any satisfactory answers?     It became such an issue that the Commons Treasury Select Committee called in top civil servant, Dave Hartnett  who by some strange moves — became a top official at H.M. Revenue and Customs.   Time and time again Tory backbencher Jesse Norman, pressed him about the ‘ smelly ‘ deal that had allowed Vodafone to settle its tax debt which had been overdue and incurring interest, but Hartnett become more unconvincing as he threw in ‘ Government errors’ as a cover-up, and we’ve heard about these ‘errors’ that civil servants cling to as a way out to get the public off their backs?    As to the matter of the unpaid interest? well according to law it is a criminal offence not to pay interest on tax owing….but the HMRC is above the law and makes its own rules as we have shown….they have Crown Immunity!!

‘ Rogue Tax Inspector becomes Whistleblower on HMRC ‘

PETER CLARE, a former Tax Fraud Investigator with the HMRC for 22 years has appeared on the web offering two CD’s of interviews in which he claims to expose the secret and nasty tricks that the civil service staff use on the public in their game of cat and mouse — which they perversely enjoy!  He cites disgruntled employees who could and did fit up people and fabricate evidence against them.

‘ USELESS INCOMPETENT HMRC ‘  — Mr K. Bland of Isleworth reminds us yet again of the overall incompetence of the Tax civil servants throughout the UK.  He tells us of a demand sent to a client of his telling him to pay a penalty of £100 for non-completion of a tax return.  It wouldn’t be so bad if this could be considered a fair mistake? but it wasn’t, the man had died two and a half years earlier!!  and what makes matters worse, some idiot member of staff addressed it to ‘ Mr. P. Warbrick Deceased ‘  Mr Bland and many others wonder what kind of civil servants are they recruiting and the obvious answer is — not up to the job and clearly incompetent.

‘ Tax Inspector is suspended and Arrested ‘

PRIDE OF THE HMRC MICHAEL ALLCOCK found himself suspended and then arrested when bosses turned against him. Amid rumours of bribery, that never went away, the seemingly successful tax investigator was being accused of ‘improper collusion with the Serious Fraud Office ‘  He was told there was a possibility of charges being brought against him under the 1906 Corruption Act. — Unfortunately we cannot report any more of this peculiar case because it suddenly went underground and silence followed???

TAX INSPECTOR MICHAEL ALLCOCK FACED THIRTEEN CHARGES OF CORRUPTION.

Research has revealed that Michael Allcock used bullying in his techniques, and was not a pleasant man?  so I guess many ordinary citizens hope that he was prosecuted or even jailed. ( he was jailed see later article)

‘Tax Officer in Theft and Burglary ‘

TAX OFFICER STEVEN SMITH of the Kingswinford area was found guilty at Wolverhampton Crown Court of theft and burglary  — he stole a key to the property of a woman and took £25 from her purse  — he was given a community order and court costs of £750, plus an oreder to pay back the money he stole.

CALLOUS ACTS BY HMRC — Mrs. Brenda Williams tells us a woeful tale of civil servant aggressive behaviour, when she wrote to query a demand sent to her which turned out to be completely wrong and based on the wrong tax assessment and numbers.  She was told by a member of staff ‘ We don’t really care what you think of us, if we say you must pay this then you will or we shall take your house and anything else, we have the power to do so ‘  After several other attempts and on receiving a notice that a debt agency was now handling the claim she approached a watchdog in her local area for help.  It was just a matter of days and they found that the tax office had made error after error. The ombudsman was sent copies of letters and the HMRC backed off and claimed that somehow she had been given the wrong data.  They never apologised for this harassment and got away with it — no civil servant was brought up on charges nor identified.

‘ Tax Officer Accused of Theft ‘

HMRC’s JOHN MEAKIN faced theft charges brought by a member of the public and claimant.  It is said that The Tax Credit Claimant Compliance Officer abused his position and withheld documents in order to disable a valid claim and cause maximum distress.  Of these charges of wilful misconduct, the HMRC said they were looking into the matter and needed time to respond?  Beyond that, they wouldn’t comment!  See ‘Tax Inspector and two staff resign), as with Meakin, this again was the Bristol HMRC.

HMRC TAX BLUNDERS TO BE WRITTEN OFF — A report has shown that billions of pounds are to be written off involving unpaid bills that go back several years.  They claim it is a result of the PAYE system going back to 2004. The HMRC are to send out letters to those who overpaid in 2003 to 2004, those who owe will be required to pay £600 each on an average. It says the HMRC has been in a shocking mess for a number of years, but they deny this and do not accept the criticism?    Yes, that is them and business as usual.

‘ Tax Boss denies Lying ‘

In the GOLDMAN incident, HMRC boss, Dave Hartnett denied telling lies at a Parliamentary Committee when he was repeatedly accused of lying over a settlement with the U.S. bank Goldman Sachs, which cost the taxpayer almost £8 million. He claimed he had not overseen HMRC’s dealings with Goldman. But a leaked confidential document shows that Hartnett had been involved in settling a dispute over taxes with Goldman Sachs. He later admitted to assisting colleagues to deal with the difficult issue??

THE TAX BOSS HAS BEEN OPENLY ACCUSED OF COSYING UP TO CORPORATE TAX AVOIDERS WHILE PENALISING ORDINARY TAXPAYERS.

‘ Swindling Tax Officer in elaborate fraud ‘

HMRC TAX OFFICER ELIZABETH GIBSON deceived colleagues and others making claims totalling £58,042 using dead people’s identities and non-existent relatives.  To support the fraud she acted as agent in respect of the claims and deposited cash into her own bank account.  It is claimed by the HMRC that they were unaware of this? — but seven years is hard to swallow despite this feeble claim by the tax authorities.

‘ H M R C hide errors to stop taxpayer appeals ‘

Evidence has been revealed that indicates that HMRC is suppressing and concealing mistakes and information from the taxpayers. An internal memo leaked events surrounding secret decision making when dealing with appeals, and shows they are denying leniency in matters of unpaid income tax. It shows that the tax officers chose to conceal the details and went on to demand thousands of pounds despite being able to approach claims fairly.  The discovery of HMRC refusing to accept official employers’ forms in appeals cases is widespread in different districts. It showed that many claimants would not get a fair hearing at their appeals.  The memo shows the true arrogance and incompetence at the HMRC.  Experts say the revelations cast grave doubt on the decisions made against more than 100,000 taxpayer’s appeals which have been rejected this year alone.

‘ Tax Officer’s Fraud and Double-Dealing ‘

Assistant Tax Commissioner NICK PETROLOUS was accused of dishonestly benefiting from rulings he gave as ‘gamekeeper and Poacher ‘ in his intentions to deceive and play both sides.  He is said to have received profits from a company to which he ‘ looked after favourably ‘.  In court it was heard that he used his position as Senior Tax Officer to obtain information on tax schemes that exploited ‘ loopholes’  — he then passed on that information to former associate Richard Morgan who turned it to both their advantages financially.

‘ Mastermind Taxman behind £4million Scam ‘

SENIOR REVENUES OFFICER BRENDAN MURPHY of the HMRC appeared before a special sitting of the Circuit Court at Ennis.  The Criminal Assets Bureau’s Detective Inspector told the court that he did not believe the story Mr.Murphy gave in evidence and that he masterminded the £4million VAT fraud.  Mr. Murphy pleaded guilty to conspiracy with others to defraud the Revenue Commissioners.

THREATS BY HMRC ARE OUTRAGEOUS SAY TREASURY COMMITTEE –Deputy Chairman of The Treasury Committee, Labour MP George Mudie said ‘ I think it’s disgraceful to treat elderly people and taxpayers in this manner and it offers no respect or concern for the people who pay their wages.’   The Treasury Committee have urged Ministers to make ‘Menacing Letters’ sent out by the Tax Office illegal in the light of new threatening demands being sent out by the HMRC. Ministers have been asked to urgently consider drafting new regulations to curb the abuse of power the Inland Revenue have at the present time.

TAX OFFICER IN COMPLICITY TO WITHHOLD BENEFITS is now known, PAUL GERRARD has been named in a case as we  cover the issue of penalties the HMRC can inflict at their own discretion on people who ‘they believe have cheated the system let alone made a mistake’ — yet by the same token if they make the mistake on the taxpayer they pay nothing, no compensation and nor can they be penalised.  But we are here to remedy that by naming them and we have our first — Paul Gerrard a taxman in Preston, who is using bullying tactics and more. The case concerns a struggling bookseller in Hampshire whose receipts don’t buy the bacon and a little support from tax credits keeps the wolf from the door.  In collusion with John Meakin who arbitrarily axed the credits, he too on the 17th of October acted immediately to close the claim, yet the pair were from two different offices, Meakin at Bristol and Gerrard at Preston, yet they both acted swiftly to end the credits, but Gerrard was prepared to do more. The claimant never received any notice, and Meakin stole his documents. On the 3rd Nov he discovered when ringing Bristol on the letter from Meakin asking for documents, that they’d upped and went leaving a recorded message saying contact Birmingham. The claimant contacted Birmingham and was told his claim had been terminated. Mr Somal told him to appeal and send the appeal immediately. On the 9th Nov, the claimant had to attend an interrogation at Cosham over ID caused by Preston!!  He was successful. On the 10th his appeal had succeeded and was confirmed by Mr.Somal in Birmingham. However, still by the 15th things were not right and Mr.Somal could not understand the delay, Preston were ignoring the decision.  On the 17th Nov two days later and 7 days since the appeal decision, he wrote and said the claim was being shut down,  and on the 21st he confirms that it is his final decision despite being overturned at the appeal. In revenge or an act of vendetta he tells Glasgow to turn the screw and go after the claimant and they issue an overpayment demand. The claimant sent a complaint to Preston on the 13th mentioning the appeal, but they do not reply until the 21st – the same day as Gerrard acts against the claimant, which is more than a coincidence.  The Complaints write to say they will sit out things until the 9th of December, taking nearly a month? yet when Gerrard and Meakin acted together it was done within a day…what does that tell you?   Corruption, nothing less and collusion.

DATA BREACH BY HMRC is down to PAUL GERRARD we can reveal. It appears in a report that 50,000 people suffered as a result of his incompetence and staff at Preston.  Gerrard is the Director of Tax Credits in Preston and Deputy Head of Enforcement no less, and we can also say that it is Gerrard who pushed for compliance investigations in all departments of tax at a meeting with bosses.   It appears after waiting several days to see if things would conveniently blow over, that he had to apologise for the Data Breach which resulted in thousands of people being compromised in having their personal details read by others. Getting details on his personal life is well guarded as we tried to unearth some background on him only just to get as far as his relatives (Denise, Anthony and Winifred). The strange thing here is that he was not called on to resign, yet another officer did, Paul Gray, who caused the data breach allowing details of 25million Child Benefit claimants to go missing on two unsecured disks.  Legal wise — The law says it is an offence to breach the data protection act — The Information Commissioner’s Office was recently granted powers to fine firms and bodies £500,000 for serious or negligent breaches of the Data Protection Act, but no action was taken against Gerrard, so we can take it that he has pals in the Government prepared to get rid of any occurrences and have him remain immune from prosecution??

We are staying on Paul Gerrard as there is something else not right about this tax officer, and we are following up a lead that has some nasty background to it. At the very least this man is guilty of misconduct and should be dismissed by a Disciplinary Tribunal.

A Report to Parliament revealed that 116 HMRC staff have been sacked for ‘undisclosed reasons? ‘ among a total of 369 who have been disciplined.  However it goes onto reveal a more true picture when it says 294 members of staff were sacked in relation to performance issues?  Tory MP Priti Patel asked how many staff were sacked for errors?   The Department replied — ‘It does not record ‘error’ as a reason for dismissal? As one can see by this report, it doesn’t actually reveal anything other than the tax office maintain their secrecy and will not be transparent about anything. It’s interesting to note that they led with a claim of 100 instead of the true figure 369.

‘ Inland Revenue telling ‘Official’ lies over figures ‘

We can now say categorically that the HMRC lie when publishing or divulging figures on sackings like the above. A former employee who left because they didn’t like the way some senior staff dealt with people told us that these official figures were massaged to look less than what they are. He said some people are urged to leave very strongly and when they do, they are not in the official figures.  ‘ You are taken to one side if you disagree with the aims or work ethics of the Department and you are in no way allowed to comment or say anything against a fellow employee. They are very tight knit and it gets around if you have said the wrong thing or are outspoken. Head of operations or a manager will suggest this is not the job for you and before you know it they are putting pressure on you to leave before they push you out or take a ‘sanction’ — this literally means doing a report on you that is not favourable and adding opinions and making references to your unsuitability, and if that doesn’t work they make something up that makes working there nearly impossible.  One chap I knew worked to the letter of the department protocol but strayed when he offended a senior member of the Investigative Branch by likening him to Hitler as a joke. But in a matter of weeks he was out, the guy in question with colleagues had embarked on making his life a misery, and after a while he just said he’d had enough and left. the others claimed that he would have been sacked, but I doubt that because he was a pleasant sort; not like many others, who actually cared about the public.

‘ Former taxman is jailed for fraud ‘

HMRC Employee Errol Mark was jailed for four years after defrauding his bosses the Inland Revenue out of £185,000. The former tax officer arranged false tax repayments over a period of four years before being caught out.  he created fictitious records to generate repayments on tax actually never paid, and covered his tracks by using false passwords and created identities.  it was said in court that his scheme was hard to detect and his skill to deceive had been remarkable in that it lasted four years.

TAXMAN DELIBERATELY DELAYS CLAIM — We have come across a case where the Preston Office of the HMRC have deliberately gone out of their way to delay a process on a claim. We can confirm that they knew about an order to reinstate a claim issued from Birmingham after a successful appeal by the claimant. An officer told us that he was amazed to find that the claim had not been rectified by Preston as he’d already issued a notice on the computer, which they would have seen, but did nothing about it. We have learned that the order had been put out the same day of the appeal and the staff in Preston would have had it several days. no other conclusion can be arrived at other than a deliberate attempt to interfere with the claim. We also have confirmation that the Birmingham Tax Office deliberately do not answer back on telephone calls, and one case in particular said they left a message every day for more than a week and no one bothered to get back to them?

‘ HMRC break Data Protection Laws ‘

THOUSANDS OF TAX CREDIT DETAILS WERE SENT OUT TO THE WRONG PEOPLE — The HMRC said they were sent out ‘ Accidentally’ but we can tell you they do not ‘accidentally’ do anything, quite the contrary in fact.  A Spokesperson used that tired phrase — ‘error’ to describe the appalling Data Protection Breach, which is for mere mortals against the law, but not for the HMRC of course as they are above it.  A Greater Manchester recipient got her neighbour’s details of earnings, bank account records and more — which could have been used in ID theft, a charge they level at many taxpayers!!  Several thousand people received other taxpayers personal and private details because of the HMRC — and we are told that all of this originated in the Preston Tax Offices.

SEE THE PAUL GERRARD ARTICLE ABOVE and why he was not ordered to resign?

TAX AUTHORITIES CONCEAL MISTAKES —  Workers at several tax districts throughout the UK, London, Newcastle, Preston, Bristol and Birmingham have had their lies exposed in a ‘leaked Memo’ sent to the Mail Newspaper.  It showed that 1241,000 people had applied for the A19 concession, and as many as 5.7million people had paid the wrong tax.  It showed that when the taxmen realised they’d made mistakes they levied these on the taxpayer.  It also revealed that they fail to act on information requested and sent by claimants, or simply ignore it, thus causing stress and great problems for the individual.  The HMRC make the hollow claim of ‘sorting things out quickly ‘, but we have evidence that this is a complete fabrication of the truth.

On one rejected appeal — it said Mr. Williams had queried his bill as he knew it was incorrect. However, the HMRC mistakenly in posting a reply – enclosed an internal memo not meant for him nor to be seen by him — from a technical advisor to a tax officer telling him a very different story. revealing the deceit by HMRC managers.

‘ Insider Dealing Taxman is jailed ‘

BIRMINGHAM TAX INSPECTOR LAWRENCE CHAMPION of Harborne Park Road, Harborne was discovered to have abused and used his position as assistant technical administrator in the Capital Gains and Clearance Section at the Inland Revenue Office to make a profit of £15,000 with insider dealing. The money was said to have supported his children’s school fees. He worked at the Solihull Tax Office. He was sent to Prison for six months.

HMRC SUSPECTED OF CORRUPTION OVER CORPORATE DEALS — The National Audit Office is to go up against the might of the Inland Revenue to investigate the ‘cosy deals’ with Vodafone and Goldman Sachs. It says outsiders will be brought in to scrutinize goings on at the HMRC, as they revealed they need tax experts to uncover impropriety and underhand deals struck behind closed doors.

‘ Former Tax Inspector ‘Untruthful ‘ about assets ‘

A HIGH COURT JUDGE WARNED TAXMAN MR SHAY DALY that he could face jail if he did not disclose the full extent of his assets to the court within two weeks.  The Judge said that his answers and disclosure presented was ‘untruthful’ in the case of ACC Bank and Inland Revenue seeking to get back £4.5million.

UK REVENUE AND CUSTOMS ASSIST FRAUD OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUPER RICH — Martin Deighton in a letter explained how the HMRC were making it easy for the yacht owning rich to grab half of their tax money back in ‘  reclaimed expenses called business amenities set up as tax losses.  The Tax collected is around £160 billion, but £80billion is paid back. He mentions ‘ Carousel Fraud’ which enables ‘criminal elements’ to illegitimately reclaim around £200 billion in VAT, all negotiated and done with ease and expertise. he says the cost of administering the reclaimed tax and paying it back is staggering and not something they are willing to discuss.

£75,000 FRAUD BY HMRC OFFICER — LEIGH HAY is to stand trial for fiddling the Inland Revenue out of £75,000.  The Tax Credits Team Leader who worked at the Dundee HMRC is accused of committing fraud.  It is said she engaged in forgery on two claims.  Her trial at the time of this notice was still ongoing, she is to appear at The Sheriff’s Court in Dundee.  (2017)

THE HMRC COMPLAINTS THAT ISN’T — The farcical nature of the HMRC is to put up a Government website that tells you how to complain, but not exactly where? it can and does tell you to leave the matter in the hands of the department you wish to complain about? which is like letting the enemy decide your fate. Anyone can see at first glance that this is not suitable at all and is a scandal. It mentions getting small payments if the the tax office caused you worry, handled your complaint badly, or took too long — but try and get this? and in more cases than not you will be told they don’t pay costs or compensation by many staff. They and this goes for most of them, do not even know what the rules are or the pages on the HMRC.Gov site. They also have contact us, but not by e-mail, one click on that meets a dead end, and a flimsy explanation saying how much they’d like to be able to deal with e-mails!! —Government Joke — and in pretty bad taste.  All in all, the complaints procedures are not worth a bean and anyone going on the site are wasting their time.

HMRC WORKER IN FALSE CLAIMS CASE —  HMRC Helpline Officer SUZANNE WILSON admitted to a fraud involving around £30,000.  It was said in court that she involved her 60yr old mother, encouraging her to fabricate letters and produce false accounting documents in claims for childcare.  The Newcastle Crown Court Judge gave Wilson a 12 month suspended sentence, and ordered her to carry out 240 hours of Community Service.  (2012)

£100 MILLION POUNDS SPENT ON STAFF TRAINING IS A WASTE SAY WATCHDOG ON HMRC SPENDING — The latest report condemns the huge spending bill of £100million on one year training courses for staff. The National Audit Office said these courses for the 2010/2011 period had revealed a poor benefit in terms of money spent. It was hard to conjure up 38percent of staff who claimed they’d learnt something. One in five said they didn’t really like working at HMRC and wanted to leave?  The Audit Office said the scheme lacked strategy hence the poor figures and waste.  The tax organisation had taken on 730,000 courses and spent on average £1,419 on each member of staff in order to improve the system. It would be fair to say this was a failure as staff we have featured here do not possess any skills in handling taxpayers properly and with decency Mr.Gerrard!!

‘HMRC Tax Officer is Jailed for 18 months’

TRACEY OAKLEY worked at the HMRC Office in St Austell, Cornwall.  It was said in court she swindled the Inland Revenue out of £93,000 in tax credits, despite knowing she had falsified her own claim entering her status as single when she was not.  She entered a plea of guilty at the Truro Crown Court.  (2013)

INLAND REVENUE AND MONEY-LAUNDERING CONNECTION — Concerns are growing over how the HMRC are actively helping crime bosses and syndicates, prostitution rings and other illegal operations to launder millions of pounds every year.  Andrew Alderson in his article of 7th Dec 2011 points out criminals are using the HMRC to set up and take over illegal companies, bogus claims and predictions of company profits so that they can offload ‘ dirty money’ from crime and then wait for a rebate – refund from overpaid tax — which turns crime cash into clean currency!!

DIRTY LITTLE ‘FISHING TRIPS’ BY HMRC — Devious, underhand, corrupt, yes, possibly all three — yes, it’s the HMRC Business Records Check — When Inspectors randomly and otherwise pick out names for their ‘ inquisition practices’ — they merely just mail a businessman, company or individual and tell them they wish to call on them.  One accountant says – ‘ These checks are not for the client’s benefit at all, it’s just an excuse for a fishing trip expedition in the hope they get a reason to claim extra tax — and as a warning he said — ‘every answer can be twisted and perverted (just like the inspectors themselves) so say very little and reply cautiously ‘

‘ Suspended sentence for Former Tax Inspector ‘

TAX INSPECTOR RICHARD GRIFFITHS from Bridgend was sentenced to a 10 month suspended prison sentence after he pleaded guilty in court. He was convicted of running an illegal money-lending operation that had 54 customers. It is said that he set up the loan company so that he could spy on women.  It was stated that he chose single women and women who were in a dire financial position, some of whom were on benefit.  It was revealed that he had no licence as a money-lender or loan company.  And they discovered after raiding his home that he had benefitted to the tune of £12,370 in the unlawful enterprise.  The report said that he refused to co-operate with police over identifying his victims — he also was said to have targeted the most vulnerable people in society.  (23/2/2010) Cardiff Crown Court.

TAX OFFICE AT PRESTON SUPPRESSES INFO ON REDUCTION OF PUBLIC SERVICES — Preston Tax Office came in for criticism by the Union PCS over its high handed tactics in reducing opening hours to the public, which would seriously hinder the tax payer. The union said that the HMRC did not consider anyone else in its move to force people to go online whether they liked it or not.  They did liaise with the union on the matter, and that this was typical ‘running roughshod’ over anyone else.

HMRC WRITE OFF £27BILLION BUT ONLY FOR THE CORPORATIONS — The Inland Revenue could not prevent a report showing them having to write off 27.4 billion pounds in five years to corporations and those who could afford to challenge them. Ordinary taxpayers were treated entirely differently and of course ended up footing most of the revenue the tax man wanted.  Letting off the big firms is not new in tax circles, the denials from them have always been seen as lies and mistruths.  Getting any information about the Inland Revenue is difficult and often blocked by the powers that be.

IN 2008 THE TAXMAN IDENTIFIED 57 BARRISTERS AS FAILING TO NOTIFY THE INLAND REVENUE in regard to unpaid tax — As yet, this has not led to any prosecutions?

‘HMRC Officer in £1.2 million PAYE Fraud’

Working as an ‘Insider’ for 14 other people, Tax Administration Officer MICHAEL KITCHEN made 158 transactions for defrauding the tax system while he was on allocating PAYE accounts it was said in court.  It was said in court that he diverted £1.2 million in the enterprise using a very sophisticated fraud system.  He was jailed with his fellow conspirators when he was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court.

FORMER TAXMAN WARNS HMRC AGAINST THE SUSPICION OF CORRUPTION — Claude Currey of Portishead, Somerset, a taxman for 42 years both at the Customs and Excise and re-developed Revenue and Customs HMRC, warns the staff and Inspectors about perks and hospitality new taxmen take up raising the suspicion of corruption. He tells how it was thought risky accepting a cup of tea or coffee at most and that management stressed they were never to accept hospitality in case it was seen as accepting bribes. He says today’s standards have slipped in the HMRC which is very sad by those in the organisation ready to accept big bonuses and hospitality packages so readily.

LIES AND MORE DAMN LIES AT HMRC – It appears they tell all investigators to say the same thing in parrot fashion, — ‘We want the money to go to the right people who need the help’ — so this validates their extreme campaigns to pick on anyone, because who is going to check to see if that’s what they are doing? good question, but you will not get an answer that satisfies.  Recent news tells us that two out of three big firms win over VAT payments, and the taxman has been accused of serving up fines in order to confuse while penalties relating to tax disputes have been overturned on mass.  The report says that thousands of taxpayers have been unjustly penalised and where not equipped to challenge the HMRC decisions while big business had a field day getting cash back.  25,633 tax decisions were found to be incorrect. Their arrogance even stretches to them saying that even if a decision ‘appears’ wrong it doesn’t mean that the figure was wrongly levied?

‘ HMRC Taxman fiddles on benefits ‘

TAXMAN DANIEL BELL of West Lothian, an HMRC Tax officer was found guilty of a £6,000 fraud.  In court he pleaded guilty to falsely claiming £3,413 in benefits during 2007 to 2010, and falsely claiming travel expenses amounting to £2,907 in 2009.

THE HMRC IN 2008 ADMIT TO HAVING DISMISSED 610 MEMBERS OF STAFF from various tax departments over a three year period and 192 members of staff disciplined in 2007 to 2008. This report was followed by insider claims that the figures were massaged in order to lessen the impact.

HMRC TOLD TO PAY COMPENSATION OF £100,000 — Judy Clements of the Adjudicator’s Office stated that complaints have risen sharply in just one year over the way the HMRC sought repayments even though they’d already been paid.  She accused them of targeting pensioners and vulnerable groups of people having to pay unexpected tax bills, which they didn’t understand. She said most of the complaints came over the way they are dealing with tax credits and as a result of failures by tax staff who fail to act on information it had been supplied.

THE HMRC AND THE CARELESS MISTAKES LEAD TO SUSPENSION OF A PENALTY — Phil Benwick a Director of Tax investigation admitted in a case that the tone of the correspondence sent by the HMRC was not appropriate for an unrepresented taxpayer according to the guidelines because there was no dialogue about the error and what category it fell in. he accepted it was a mistake on behalf of the department.

‘Former HMRC Taxman in £190,000 Fraud ‘

TAXMAN CRAIG GORDON went on trial in Edinburgh for defrauding his bosses of £190,000.  It was stated that he committed the offence while being employed at the HMRC Lothian 2 Area in Broomfield Drive, and formed a fraudulent scheme to obtain money.  It was said he set up a business called Capital Tax Services, opened a bank account under a false name and created false income tax repayment claims, and then as a tax officer, processed them for repayment. Interestingly, he has claimed that other people did it in his defence!

HMRC INVOLVED IN MAKING NUISANCE CALLS — Nuisance telephone calls are an offence according to the Telecommunications Watchdog, yet the HMRC have been making around 300,000 of these, and getting away with it due to their immunity.  The menacing silent phone calls were instigated by their automated dialling systems which chase late payments it is said, However, Lib Dem MP John Hemming said the practice must end and warned the HMRC it risked fines of up to £50,000 each one. The Ofcom Regulator said ‘ It is quite clear that the taxman is responsible for persistent nuisance calls’  One other MP remarked that the HMRC should be fined £15billion — the culmination of 300,000 calls, and that they should appear in a public court charged and found guilty.

TAX OFFICER IN HMRC COMMITS FRAUD — EMMA CHANTLER of Atherton appeared at Manchester Crown Court, where it was said she claimed around £40,000 to which she was not entitled.  Her position with HMRC was a Contact Centre Manager.  She was sentenced to 36 weeks in jail suspended for a year, and given a 160 hour Community Order.  (2014)

SUCCESSFUL CHALLENGES ON HMRC HAVE QUADRUPLED — Due to major errors by the HM Revenue and Customs, challenges that overturned their judgements have soared by four times.  446 complaints handled by the Adjudicator were upheld in 2009, and in 2008 out of 229 cases — 108 claims were successful.

THE HMRC AND THE PHONE LINE SCAM — The Money Mail reports of the HMRC phone line that intentionally keeps people on hold for up to 30 minutes, and then redirects the person to their Internet site before cutting them off.  The Mail also claims that they have revealed cover-ups, evidence of tax errors and ineptitude such as: Failure to respond to letters and phone calls — Giving out incorrect and misleading advice to pensioners  — Sending out aggressive and threatening demands — Showing a lack of consistency in dealing with appeals. It also points out that accountability is zero, as we said at the beginning of this list — there is no Cabinet Minister specifically dealing with the HMRC, and this comes as a stark fact and worry when you find out that all other departments are responsible to a Minister in The House Of Commons.

‘Two and a half years jail for thieving tax man ‘

HMRC TAX OFFICER GEOFFREY ELEY of Redditch was in charge of collecting overdue tax payments from the taxpayer. He was authorised to collect payments from businesses and individuals; collecting payments from as little as £1,000 right up to £28,904 from fifteen taxpayers, which he later pocketed. It was estimated that he had stolen around £84,950 according to the Inland Revenue. He pleaded guilty at his trial and was sent to jail.

‘ The HMRC Bribes Scandal ‘

THE JAILING OF MICHAEL ALLCOCK who worked at the Inland Revenue Special Office No 2 for accepting cash bribes to support a lavish lifestyle has initiated calls for another corruption investigation into the HMRC; especially in the light that Allcock was one of their top investigators. Members of the Commons Public Accounts Committee are being pushed by another former taxman John Gwyer, to look into matters more closely when they question Inland Revenue Chairman Montagu about Allcock and the freedom he had to move around in that allowed bribery to take place.

Note: Allcock is being sued by the HMRC for the return of £150,000 he took in bribes.

‘H.M.R.C. Lose tax evasion case against Rednapp ‘

THE TAX OFFICE PURSUED HARRY REDNAPP FOR 6 YEARS ACCUSING HIM OF CORRUPTION AND TAX EVASION, the case cost the taxpayer £8million and was backed by the CPS. In court barristers for the HMRC accused him of criminal activities and secretly hiding money in off-shore accounts. Mr.Rednapp told of the sheer pressures inflicted on him by the tax people, making his life a hell. The spokesman for the Inland Revenue acted unconcerned and just said they did what was necessary to stem tax offenders. It is time, and we hope that Mr.Rednapp sues the Inland Revenue for multi thousands for bringing criminal charges against him. £5.5 million would be a fair price for the HMRC to pay in this case.

ANOTHER CASE OF VICTIMISATION BY HMRC — The VAT Inspectors swooped on Richard Williams of Leeds who has a scaled replica of a U-Boat. They arrested him as part of a fraud probe. His German type U-Boat was modelled and converted from a narrow boat to be a floating museum. A Spokesman — Mike O’Grady of the HMRC was vague as usual as he pattered out the ‘party line’ saying the 64 year old was on their list and investigation into VAT fraud called Operation Cloudcastle looking into the laundering of criminal profits?? no doubt they think Mr.Williams the ‘Mr.Big’. Maybe their probe into his U-Boat my unearth some nasty German Troops with treasures hidden from the war!!

TAX BOSS DAVID HARTNETT IS REPLACED BY  CIVIL SERVANT OF CHAOTIC BORDER AGENCY FARCE — The press are quick to point out the reward for failure is another top job for LIN HOMER who took around a £1million in salary for the border agency position.  Despite scandals surrounding her last post she has now been made chief executive of the Inland Revenue. 

‘ Whistleblower’s Tribunal claim reveals deceit and malpractice in HMRC ‘

TAX INSPECTOR ALAN CURTIS appeared as a whistleblower when he stood before a tribunal explaining why he was unfairly ruled out over pay. He stated that he had been examining other officers work and taking details of how they fiddled tax details.  He said they unfairly charged traders too much tax to make it look as if they had successfully solved cases and in turn, deserved performance related pay bonuses. He said hundreds of thousands of pounds had been illicitly obtained from unsuspecting businessmen. He named Mr IAN LOBLEY an Area Manager for local compliance at the Reading Office and IAN RAWLINSON as being involved in a conspiracy to cover-up in a case file. He condemned the practice as a ‘criminal offence’.  He also added that since 2008 and 2009 he had been on the receiving end of persecution for raising the matter. He said certain colleagues at the office deliberately over-taxed businessmen so that they could boost their pay packets. Of course, the Tribunal went against him saying that he brought the allegations forward because of a grudge…..but the grudge element was not proved only suggested, and although they dismissed what he said, there is no reason to believe it was not true….because as we have seen before, when employees get annoyed, they often have the courage to tell all….and what he has told has a ring of truth about it.

Further details in the Curtis v Commissioners for the HMRC says he was accused of making ‘protected disclosures’ available to the taxpayer, sending one man a letter in which he said ‘he believed the HMRC was involved in corrupt practices concerning the assessment of individual taxpayer’s tax liabilities.  ‘corruption in the HMRC’ was how he put it.  Amazingly, the Commissioners decided his letter to the taxpayer was ‘very clearly capable of bringing HMRC into disrepute’….which we very much doubt, obviously they don’t read how much the public distrust them.  To our way of thinking, this was an exercise in gagging, apractise employed by HMRC on numerous occasions.

TAX OFFICER CREATES FALSE ACCOUNTS IN FRAUD — JONATHAN DAVIES, a Revenue Executive Officer at the Wrexham Tax Office, was jailed for eighteen months after admitting to three counts of conspiracy to defraud. He created bogus National Insurance Numbers and a network of false accounts, nominating several friends who would receive the payments. He falsified all the tax returns and managed the whole fraud methodically it was said at Mold Crown Court. He was incidentally, promoted just days before his arrest and said the reason for his crime was that he earned low wages.  (he was a £15,000 a year executive in June 2004)

£2.3MILLION WAS STOLEN BY HMRC STAFF IN 2008 — An internal memo of findings of fraud inside the Inland Revenue revealed that a clerk stole £220,000 from taxpayers and a senior member of staff fabricated her expenses claim to obtain £100,000 by deception. Nine people were convicted of serious criminal offences and others disciplined were allowed to resign. A total of over two million pounds were lost to those inside the tax office during a twelve month period. A report in the following year said that fiddling in the HMRC had actually increased and the figure of £3.6million was put forward.

‘HMRC Employee in Tax Credits Fraud’

TAX EMPLOYEE BOLANTE SHOTE appeared before Basildon Crown Court, charged with falsely obtaining tax credits to the value of £86,000 according to HMRC paperwork (and assessments?)….often greatly exaggerated.  Shote pleaded guilty to ten offences of dishonesty, and resigned from the HMRC in November 2013…she was jailed for 8 months.  (Jan 2015)

TAX INSPECTORS SNOOPED ON 25 MILLION –Branded as Intrusive –They logged in details of anything and everything that could be either misconstrued or vaguely taxable that added value to properties including sideline activities, even charity work, in order to get more tax revenue.  This intrusive information was gathered secretly and ordered by HMRC bosses. Minister Eric Pickles said he was appalled by the extent of the intrusion into privacy by tax inspectors. He promised to reign in their right to enter and access properties on a mere whim or suspicion.

TAX INSPECTOR FOUND GUILTY OF EXPENSES — Tax Inspector JOHN EVANS appeared before a tribunal after his own employers the HMRC looked through six years of records when Evans left the tax office.  They discovered that during the six years, he had been overclaiming on employment expenses. The tribunal charged him tax penalties for negligence?  (7th March 2010)

PETTY CASH COMPENSATION PAYOUT BY HMRC FOR CAUSING DISTRESS  — If you qualify? Yes folks they come up with a piggybank sum of £25 for any injustice, distress and alarm etc, so don’t spend it all at once — but if it’s the other way around you could well face a penalty of hundreds or thousands of pounds? fair justice eh?

HMRC INJUSTICE — The taxation of Savings Income, a tax on interest, according to annoyed David Cardale of Tetbury in Gloucester. He says that this tax on interest — already negative after inflation — is pure confiscation and a blatant injustice perpetrated by the Inland Revenue.

‘ Tax Inspector goes to jail for fraud ‘

TAX INSPECTOR MARK RICHARD BAKER created 44 false identities in order to make tax repayments to himself — Swindon Crown Court heard that Baker who worked at the Swindon HMRC defrauded the taxpayer out of £300,000. The Judge said he had misused his position!  Baker was jailed for three and a half years.

Update.  Baker was brought back to court where the Judge ordered him to pay back £63,909 of his ill-gotten gains or face a further two years in jail.  Apparently, Baker was a ‘Repayment Security Officer’ with HMRC whose job it was to detect under-payers of income tax?

THE DENIED HMRC FINANCIAL INCENTIVES — Every time they were asked about the incentive question, the HMRC denied all knowledge — but a Freedom of Information request revealed it did exist. A Grade 7 member such as an Inspector gets a bonus of £1,549 on top of around £51,000 a year. All employees who deliver a high level of performance and behaviour which exceeds the required standard level set, can receive bonuses or promotion known as ‘ A Performance Award’

TAX OFFICER IN £3 MILLION FRAUD IS JAILED — A Tax Administrator, IMRAN AJAIB worked at the Yorkshire, Shipley branch of the HMRC for just six months, in which time he passed on confidential data to use in a multi-million pound scam with others.  The info about company’s details were passed to the members in order to claim £3 million in rebate payments.  Bradford Crown Court heard how bogus addresses and false bank accounts were drawn up, and false applications submitted for tax repayments. Ajaib from Bristol, was jailed for 2yrs-9months.

‘HMRC ‘Secret Tax Policy’ revealed in ruined fraud case’

The Judge at Leeds Crown Court hit out at the HMRC over a ‘secret policy’ they had NOT TO PROSECUTE fraudsters who may have cheated the taxpayers out of millions in a car scam. This revelation happened when a case against nine defendants collapsed. The Judge discovered that not only he, but the Police and CPS were unaware of the HMRC Policy, when they were informed by a tax official that two of the men accused were given immunity from prosecution. The Judge told the Inland revenue that huge amounts of time had been wasted and a police investigation to get the case to court. The wasted costs were said to be approximately £500,000?

FIFTEEN MILLION CALLS UNANSWERED AND IGNORED BY HMRC — One in four taxpayers are unable to discuss their tax problems or get a polite reply, that should be protocol.  Only 74 per cent of callers were actually able to speak to someone.  A consumer group said ‘it is like a lottery where most of us lose’ and that can have dire effects for many callers who are caught up in a claim. They actually say they have improved and admitted to only 48 per cent getting through to an advisor in 2010. (And in that year they claimed improvement, familiar?)

In 2010 there were 73,455 complaints lodged against the HMRC — During the period of eighteen months April 2010 to September 2011 it only revealed that 212 behaviour related complaints had been investigated categorising them as ‘compliance stream work’ so as to avoid comment on the majority of the other complaints received??

HMRC CONCEALS ERRORS TO CURB REFUNDS — Money Mail informed the public that they had been able to get a look at a secret confidential internal memo that revealed the HMRC was actively hiding mistakes by staff and inspectors, concealing vital information and did so in order to lessen claims for refunds that would have been due.  One notable comment they singled out was the following — ‘ Although we made errors, the taxpayer should have picked up on them and pointed them out, which I know seems unjust’  — which more or less says – if they don’t call us (catch us) — we don’t call them’

HMRC INSPECTOR and his Lesbian Fetish — One of Cynthia Payne’s clients at the later described ‘ house of personal services, sex, spanking and ill-repute’ by the court, was a Tax Inspector (un-named) who wanted to pretend to be a lesbian. This was mentioned in the autobiography book – ‘An English Madam’ by Paul Bailey.

HMRC DIRECTOR FEATURED IN PROGRAMME OF TAX AVOIDANCE – The Director Phil Hodkinson ducked and dived turning black into white as the programme made suggestions of him being involved with an ‘off-shore- Guernsey Company who were implementing measures to avoid paying tax in the UK….this link went onto involve the HMRC debt collecting Agency APEX which was connected in the equation. It was evidently clear that some sort of ‘slight of hand’ manoeuvres were being made by the group he was involved in! 

TAX INSPECTOR OVERCLAIMED EXPENSES FOR SIX YEARS — Chief Taxman Mr Evans got the post of Clerk to the Commissioners, a job that involved attending and overseeing tax tribunal hearings. He had just left the HMRC….who kindly looked at his tax situation and discovered that he had been over-claiming on his expenses for six years!  The HMRC charged him tax penalties for negligence?

HMRC BEHAVIOUR REPORTED TO ADJUDICATOR — Tax Man threatens yet again, not surprising having seen all these items about the Inland Revenue — all a fact, and every item true.  Taxpayer Brian Costigan was suddenly presented with a tax bill of £2,500 in 2010…… he was a victim of the HMRC Chaos……he’d retired at the age of 60, so he decided to help in the local charity shop Age Concern.  It was a part-time job and he did everything by the book — sent in a P46 form, and thought no more about it.  Then in 2010 he received the bill for unpaid tax 2008/9 and 2009/10… he found that the HMRC had awarded him two personal allowances — one for his pension, and one for the small salary at Age Concern….which had triggered this bill because of their negligence and in-house accounting….they have told him they want £57 a month…..for a clerical error and negligence on their part.

‘Customer Advisor at HMRC given Suspended Sentence’

In 2016 REBECCA GRAY who worked at the HMRC advising on Tax Credits, admitted to fraudulently obtaining and claiming tax benefits when she appeared at Walsall Magistrates Court.  The court expressed shock at the fact she advised others on benefits and tax while carrying out a plan to help herself to taxpayers money by fraudulent means.  They gave her a 2 year suspended prison sentence, and she was dismissed from her position at the tax office.  (2016)

HMRC WHISTLEBLOWER GROUP – ‘DISSENT’ have said they will expose abuse of expenses and benefits by Senior Management.  The disgruntled workers in the HMRC say they have members with similar aims are in every tax office in the UK. They claim that they have taken the blame for far too long while Senior Management have stood by enjoying fiddling the system without being brought to book.

THE SHAMEFUL PENALTY CHARGES LEVIED BY THE HMRC — A report says that 850,000 people are about to face the dreadful £100 penalty, that is neither fair or justifiable in a ‘natural justice’ belief held by the public but rarely called for.  They say the £100 is demanded if even if you don’t owe any tax just because it is late, and it covers tax already paid…its just about their ‘jobs worth form’……its strange how this can be regarded as legal, yet if you sent them a bill for their lateness or negligence, you’re not entitled to a penny….in fact it did say on a form where you complain…that you ‘may’ get £25 or a payment?     so as you see it doesn’t work fairly at all, your demand for recompense is examined by them before they pay, and it’s not even an independent investigation into your complaint…the aggressor gets to decide…..and your only course is the Ombudsman, but he has no power with the Inland Revenue to make them pay anything…….and after that you are left unable to sue them.

‘Suspended Sentence for former HMRC Employee’

INLAND REVENUE’S KAY MAXWELL decided to steal around £40,000 in tax credits, and falsify her own claim.  It states that she was a tax employee at the Newcastle Contact Centre as an Advisor.  She was arrested in 2016, she had been a HMRC employee for 13 years.  She claimed tax credits from 2011 to 2016.  She was given a suspended jail sentence at South Tyneside Magistrates Court in October.

HMRC MAKE ANOTHER BLUNDER –  Anna suddenly received a notice out of the blue informing her that they had changed her tax code.  Anna could not find out why or how this should be as nothing in her circumstances had changed.  Even when she approached them they led her in a merry dance of circles.  Eventually after making a complaint they said there had been an error, but it would take a year to amend the mistake…..and told her the problem was really hers!  Not satisfied Anna hit back, and sometime later they apologised and put her code right.

TAXMAN JAILED FOR STEALING — William Franklin, Tax Advisor, handled the accounts of a Surrey Solicitors — was found guilty of stealing £1.8 million.  He admitted to 217 counts of deception at Woking Magistrates Court, and was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison.

BUNGLING TAXMAN HELD TO ACCOUNT? — Service, Particularly Customer Service and The HMRC have lurched downwards for years according to James Coney of The Mail.  He cites a NAO report that the targets the Tax Organisation sets itself are way below similar public bodies.  One of those targets was to answer fifty-eight per cent of telephone calls made by the public…..

THE IPCC SAY INTERNAL INVESTIGATIONS AT HMRC ARE WOEFULLY INADEQUATE — The Police Investigation Authority have said that Internal Investigation Processes at HMRC are ‘Woefully Inadequate’ and that things are not getting better despite targets being issued and later being missed.

HMRC RESIGNATIONS ON THE INCREASE — A Report has revealed that they are up by 45 percent in just one year – 2011 — Forty Two managers gave in their resignations in 2011 to 2012.  In the year 2010 it was only 29.  It is said that some of the resignations centred around the PAYE Code mistakes….an insider said quietly, ‘you could also not rule out the working tax credit situation — things have not been going well there either’

‘HMRC Staff Tutor in £15,000 Fraud’

TAX CIVIL SERVANT FIONA LYNCH was found guilty of dishonesty when she appeared before Livingston Sheriff’s Court in the West Lothians. It is said she blatantly claimed £15,000 in tax credits to which she was not entitled to over a five year period.  After pleading guilty to the offences she was ordered to do 300 hours of community work and pay back the money.  (Aug 2017)

HMRC NEW TAX ‘IT’ SYSTEM CAUSES  WIDESPREAD ERRORS — The HMRC merged 12 regional computers into one system — which caused widespread errors with tax bills affecting around six million people, who are now to be reimbursed for making overpayments.  An Insider who said ‘they wish to remain anonymous’ said of the new system, ‘when a mistake is made, it’s a big one, and very instant’  they blamed this on those who were running the system ‘ the intellectual quality is just not there, errors are commonplace ‘  It is said that the merger of the 12 regional computers has sent the tax coding system into chaos.

HMRC CHIEF HUMILIATED IN QUESTIONING BY PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE — David Hartnet the former boss of HMRC found himself being grilled by Margaret Hodge Chairman of The House of Commons Public Accounts Committee over a deal that let Goldman Sachs get off with a deal involving only £10million of tax. He was criticised for for a failure to seek proper legal advice involving specialists and not taking notes during negotiations with big companies.  When he retired he did a deal with the HMRC to work for up to 40 days, and the pay is not being disclosed!

HMRC LOSE £2.36 BILLION MOSTLY OVER MISTAKES!  The National Audit Office reported that the conservative estimate of £1.6billion was lost by the HMRC as a result of mistakes in their tax assessment departments rather than fraud by claimants.  The report went on to take its usual course of exonerating the tax principles, rather than own up to its own dodges and short-comings…and as reports usually go…tell of how they are managing to over come difficulties despite missing their targets?

‘HMRC Lies revealed – Lawyers tactics’

As the Public become more aware of the ‘gagging’ orders frequently put in place by government on civil servants; something that has been going on for many years, we managed to search out and contact a ‘victim’ employee of the HMRC and their lawyers.   Mr R. says he was unfairly made the scapegoat in an incident when he pointed out to Senior Staff at the HMRC that they had deliberately tampered with paperwork that clearly showed they had compromised a claimant wrongly (but wouldn’t own up to it) — deciding in their ‘wisdom’ to carry on with the ‘cover-up’ and action against the claimant knowing that they had found an error, because it would show them in a bad light and lead to recording the incident showing faults in the tax system.    When Mr R. appeared at a tribunal for the Inland Revenue (already geared up to win against the appellant), he was told by their impressive group of lawyers (who’d arrived mob handed), that he was only to reply and say what they had briefed him to say (even though it wasn’t the truth).  One lawyer took him to one side ‘ failure to repeat what they had told him may have an effect on your employment at HMRC’ he said reminding him of the consequences of making the Inland Revenue look bad.  When Mr R. read what he was told to say prior to going into the tribunal, he said he couldn’t agree with the prepared statement and wasn’t willing to be involved in a lie and cover-up.  This caused a bit of a shock to the lawyers gathered, and within minutes he was withdrawn as a witness and told he was not needed.  Mr R. said he was willing to go in, but only to tell the truth…but at that point he was barred from entering the tribunal that had got under way.   Within a month following that day, he found himself ‘dismissed’ and his employment terminated on the grounds of misconduct — and to make matters worse, he suddenly became aware that his colleagues deserted him, and the union didn’t want to know; even though the literature and conditions of membership said they were there to protect the rights of members in all kinds of disputes arising from their employment.  One other worker eventually told him that they were not allowed to converse with him because a ‘gagging order’ was invoked preventing discussing anything with him, ‘you don’t say anything against management or other employees, you should know that’

HMRC CIVIL SERVANT ARRESTED IN CORRUPT PAYMENTS PROBE — An un-named tax employee was caught by the police team investigating phone hacking ‘Operation Elveden’   The civil servant a 50 yr old man was taken with a female from their North-West London home to the Central London Police Station in connection with the making of corrupt payments and on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

CUSTOMS CORRUPTION CASE ORDERED TO STOP BY GOVERNMENT — The Government ordered police to drop a corruption case against the HMRC Customs Department involving 20 customs officers…..An investigation by the police which had cost the taxpayer £5.5million and six years, was unexpectedly brought to a sudden halt by the government.  Customs Director Terry Byrne and HMRC Lawyer David Pickup, were ordered to stay away from their offices while police examined allegations against them. The focus then turned towards the investigation of twenty customs officials…..the inquiry concerned smuggled alcohol besides a number of other incidents besides Senior Customs Officials.  But suddenly out of the blue, the CPS without explanation, said that ‘it was not in the public interest to continue the investigation’ despite the cost to the taxpayer.  MP Norman Lamb said ‘it was disgraceful’ for the government to be so secretive and decide the public should be kept out.

NB: As we said at the beginning of this list, this department is ‘untouchable’ if required, and any threat to them such as a huge corruption investigation against the HMRC can and will be dropped……just like the above……it happened with the heroin case and officers in an earlier corruption case……it was stopped by the government.

FORMER HMRC ‘FRAUD BUSTER’ CAUSES ANGER — Former Inland Revenue Chief Richard Alderman angered MP’s because of ‘The big pay-offs to pals’ at the S.F.O. where he works now, especially the generous travelling allowance of £27,600 he gave to Ms Williamson (who was a former colleague at the Inland Revenue when he was there).  MP’s branded Alderman as ‘dilatory, sloppy and slovenly’ and were angered by the big pay-offs which he handed out to Senior staff without consulting the Treasury.  He also approved payments of £15,000 to Williamson and Chief Capability Officer Chris Bailes, to head off legal claims that the two were planning to bring in relation to ‘whistle-blowing’ allegations made by SFO staff on the advice of his HR Chief, rather than the lawyers.

‘ HMRC Officer jailed over £12,000 Theft ‘

KAREN HINDLE a Co-ordinator with the HMRC was jailed at Southampton Crown Court for 12 months after she was found guilty of stealing £12,000.  It was said in court that she had plundered the accounts of those she was asked to pursue over unpaid tax,  The Hampshire Tax Official had bank details of around fifty taxpayers.  She was found guilty of 67 dishonest transactions.

THE HIDDEN WRONG-DOING AT THE HMRC  —  Concealing data on those tax officers and employees who have committed ‘minor offences’ has been revealed by a former worker who we sadly cannot name due to what is termed as a ‘Compromise Agreement’ roughly translated as a gagging order, which prevents them officially from ‘spilling the beans’…..however even so, the whistleblower said there are deals done between the DWP and HMRC behind closed doors in regard to the real ‘discipline figures’ and the figures for public consumption.  She tells that the cases are looked at over and over again by ‘legals’ in an attempt to find a way of ‘downgrading’ an offence or complaint so that it can ‘disappear’ officially….and be dealt with in-house.  She said that some of those involved call it ‘the dilution process’ which enables the team to submit fewer cases to the final panel.  Then there are the ‘Assessors’ a group who sanction the use of ‘written or verbal warnings’ to errant staff who have not wriggled their way out of the situation….these are kept out of the figures for submission to the Standards Committee…..who then issue the final ‘doctored figures’ for the Press and Public to see.  Of course, the union of Public Servants in the Civil Service are consulted at that point so that they can agree that figure……and that’s how this whitewash can be done……nice and tidy eh?

HMRC PRESS OFFICER CHARGED OVER MISCONDUCT — A recent case, quickly shoved out of the way….it concerns Press officer at the HMRC Jonathan Hall who was caught in the ‘Operation Eleveden’ for exchanging Revenue Information for payment according to the Internet article.  The CPS said that Hall and partner Maria Bukarwicz, and a Sun Newspaper Journalist Clodagh Hartley will be charged with conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office.  Details say that The Sun Newspaper paid £17,475 to HMRC Press Officer Jonathan Hall via his partner Maria Bukarwicz. The file on this case was submitted by The Metropolitan Police.

MAN TO SUE THE HMRC OVER ARREST — Public Relations Executive Richard Hillgrove has threatened to sue the Tax Office and his accountants over a wrongful arrest.  He said that the HMRC and Police arrested him in Somerset and subsequently charged him with cheating the public revenue of £10,000 when he appeared before Taunton Crown Court in September 2012.  ‘I shall be making an official challenge over this arrest’ he said.

SWINDON HMRC TAX OFFICER IS JAILED — Tax Man Pervaze Masih’s cancelling tax penalties for a friend led to his downfall and a jail sentence.  Masia was found guilty of ‘defrauding the HMRC’ of £43,327 by the court, who heard that he had decided to help out a ‘childhood’ friend and pal, Paul Cole who was having financial troubles. The court found the taxman guilty on four charges and said that he had abused his position in the HMRC for his own benefit and that of his friend.

THE HMRC ‘DEBT COLLECTORS’ CONTRACT — Debt Collection Agencies and the Government Tax System would at first seem unreal, but it isn’t, this abomination of twisted legal practice could only be invented and carried out by ‘the civil service’ and the many employees at the various tax offices.  It’s no use calling them ‘heartless’ as one former taxman, Mr Avery, admits it’s like water off a duck’s back to most of them.  He tells us he has worked in London, Birmingham and Preston, and has frequently seen ‘mistakes and callous vengeance’ exacted  on some claimants leading to ‘falsified paperwork’ (when someone alters a form rendering it suspicious and wrong)  leading to demands of payment being handed over to ‘debt collection’ without any real checks having been made — often made an excuse with that phrase ‘work overload’.  He tells us it is quite a ‘cosy’ relationship they have, one the managers enjoy.  Mr Avery tells us that many people have suffered hardship and wrongful accusations, and when on occasions it has discovered (because the claimant has complained and fought back) no-one at the tax office has been brought to book, dismissed or penalised? — and neither was the debt collection agency!  He informs us that many officers and staff in the tax office just laugh and put two fingers up at the successful claimant…… that is the tax office, and how they react to the public.

HMRC BOSS and Chief Executive Lin Homer tried to quash allegations that the HMRC were acting in a ‘brokers’ roll by introducing tax advisors to private companies.  He denied the accusations challenging the press to show evidence to support it……..probably knowing if there was any, the HMRC held all the cards!

HMRC KNEW ABOUT TAX LOOPHOLE FOR COMPANIES BUT SAID NOTHING  — The HMRC let several government contract companies on lucrative contracts use a legal loophole to avoid tax.  The private Care Companies cut their taxable UK profits by taking high-interest loans from their owners through the Channel Islands Stock Exchange.  They racked up large interest payments to their parent companies so that they could reduce and cut their tax liabilities. A watchdog said over thirty companies were benefitting from this, and the Inland Revenue knew about it.  The Government introduced the quoted’ Eurobond Exemption’ in 1984, which received very little public attention….definitely hardly at all outside the financial institutions.

THE STRANGE BUSINESS AT THE HMRC — Tax Avoidance Scam? within the HMRC!  Well it seems that the HMRC are not all that squeaky clean, especially with tax deals made behind closed doors.  One hears of the case of Mr Ed Lester and the HMRC agreeing that ‘no PAYE to be deducted in a nice deal that the treasury was not aware of’ and the one about IT Officer Deepak Singh who was turned down for promotion……resigned, and then was rehired to do the same job, and given a ‘tax free lump sum’  said to be £19,200…. and what others have benefitted from moves like this?  obviously you’ll not find them….the HMRC will take care of that.

‘ Nine HMRC staff in racial misconduct case ‘

THE REPORT HEADS WITH THE MISLEADING ‘SEVEN WORKERS SACKED’ —  But two others resigned before going in front of the Internal Inquiry.  They tampered with office records and deliberately underpaid child benefit to people from ethnic backgrounds.  The HMRC officials who worked in a Belfast Office were dismissed for racially motivated gross misconduct.  It was found that they altered and tampered with claimant forms and data in order to deliberately reduce the proper entitlement to which they should have been paid.  Interestingly again, the HMRC refused to identify the people involved!  (Aug 2010)

NB: Tagged onto this Belfast/Northern Ireland item is ‘A Coercion racket going on regarding VAT Registration’

HMRC TAXMAN RESIGNS AFTER SECRET FILMING —  David Heaton was caught in a camera sting and probe by BBC’s Panorama team and Private Eye….. he was caught on camera offering advice on how to avoid tax.  The Government Tax Advisor resigned shortly after the programme….. saying he had ‘done nothing wrong ( a somewhat familiar and tired phrase used by Government workers).   The HMRC immediately began to distance itself from the tax man,,,,,,,which comes as no surprise!

HMRC WORKER ARRESTED BY POLICE —  a Bootle HMRC employee was jailed for four months at Liverpool Crown Court because he appeared to be a risk to the public.  Gordon Redfern an HMRC worker phoned the police to warn them that he was having thoughts about killing fellow workers at Litherland House in Bootle.  A hunt was launched and he was tracked down and arrested.  It was stated that he had been suspended and then dismissed from his work for gross misconduct in 2012.

HMRC ADMITS TAX MAN IS AT FAULT — As 57 per cent of claims made against the HMRC are won by the claimant. Internal Data says that over half of the challenges to wrong tax are upheld on appeal.  In 2011 out of 58,110 complaints made against the HMRC over half were won by the public.  Many complaints were about the Debt Management Office,,,,complaints received often said there was poor treatment by staff, delays and errors and mistreatment by staff.  In 2011 to 2012 HMRC paid out £363,954 in compensation along with a total ‘errors’ cost of 1.3 million.  In 2012 they received 75,000 complaints.

TEN HMRC CUSTOMS MEN were accused of organising drug runs into Britain to boost arrest rates — It is said that Customs Officers encouraged smugglers to send shipments to the UK so that they could swoop on them.  See the full article and details at www.thefreelibrary.com

HMRC BOSS FACES PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE — Not for the first time either.  JIM HARRA The Director General of Business Tax has been called by the Commons Committee to explain accusations against his department of letting several firms breach tax rules…..this came about as Google and other giant Internet firms used the immoral tax avoidance ploys to dodge paying the right amount of tax.  Harra is one of three Inland Revenue Officials who will be called by the Committee.

‘Former Tax Inspector Jailed ‘

FORMER TAX INSPECTOR (TRAINEE) MALCOLM MACLEAN previously with the HMRC was said to have used his knowledge to defraud the taxpayer of £358,000.  He was jailed for 3 years after pleading guilty to fraud.   He appeared before Newcastle Crown Court, it was said he and two others running an accountancy and taxation firm falsified documents and manipulated clients’ accounts to cover up the tax fraud.

HMRC ‘BULLYBOY’ TACTICS – Yet again we find that the Tax man has no qualms about sending threat letters to even innocent families in an attempt to get tax owed or otherwise.  This new move rests on the tax staff thinking you owe more than you say, and the amount of tax they expected.  It is said that nearly 11 million people file self-assessment forms each year, yet officers are making assumptions that have menacing consequences to the person.  It says most of their targets have been in the self-employed professions…where even coming out without a loss is hard, never mind a profit…but the tax staff continue to think they’re lying and concealing a stash of cash……and why is this happening?…….because they have a shortfall of £35 billion (the tax gap).

HMRC HUMILIATED BY AUDIT OFFICE – THEIR SUMS ARE OUT BY £1.9 BILLION — Well, humiliation doesn’t last long with these people, its like water off a duck’s back… The National Audit Report said the tax people had wrongly claimed to have beaten its targets by £1.9 billion a year since the coalition government arrived.  The Accounts Committee said it was a ‘serious error’ which brought into question whether the tax people were up to doing the job properly.  They said if the HMRC get their own figures wrong then how can they go attacking the others hurling condemnation they filed inappropriate tax returns………. they can, and do, an error to them means nothing…..they have immunity from the state.

HMRC PICK ON EASY TARGETS TO BULLY — A report shows that the Big Corporate Tax Avoiders are doing rather nicely, and that is backed up by the Parliamentary Watchdog — The Public Accounts Committee. Margaret Hodge the Chairman said tax officials are holding back from using legal sanctions to recover money from large companies who use aggressive tax schemes to minimise their bills….leaving the small firms and individuals to make up the shortfall of what the revenues should have taken.

HMRC ‘ HOUND’ CAFE OWNERS…JUDGE TELLS THEM THEY WERE WRONG TO…….The HMRC yet again chose to pursue and victimise a target they said owed them £500,000………….but Judge says the Cafe Owners were ‘transparently honest’ (unlike the HMRC)… Icilda and Hugh Newell had a small takeaway cafe in North London, they didn’t make much money….and because of this tax staff and Inspectors became suspicious….they came to the conclusion that the Newell’s were hiding the true profits…. because they can never accept someone runs a business on a ‘shoestring’ ( because they like what they’re doing or indeed have to).  HMRC and their suspicious little minds made their own ‘dreamed-up’ estimates  saying they were hiding £700,000 in profits….which didn’t actually exist.  But they were having none of this, the Newell’s had to be exposed and brought down as true criminals of the system….that is how the staff at HMRC see people.  They constantly demanded payment and the case went before a tribunal.  The Judge Roger Berner said on summing up the case ‘ The HMRC was wrong to demand extra tax and ruled in favour of the Newell’s who’d suffered months of stress and worry caused by the staff at HMRC.   A spokesman for the HMRC said they didn’t comment on individual cases? …… especially when it shows how callous they really are!

‘BLATANT REVENGE TACTICS BY HMRC’ — Becoming obvious isn’t something the HMRC care about any longer and taking revenge on a critic is seen as fair game and within their remit.  Reporter and Journalist Alex Brummer revealed this when he was prepared to say that he had been targeted as a result of doing articles on the  HMRC and what they were up to.  He said he was recently the subject of an HMRC inspection, and his tax affairs were highly scrutinized….. for any sign of tax avoidance!  This inquiry certainly followed  two opinion column pieces questioning the alleged sweetheart dealings of former HMRC Boss David Harnett….and he believes this led to an order being made to go after him.

‘Arrest of HMRC taxman halts expensive court case ‘

A CASE CONCERNING £31 MILLION was adjourned and halted as news broke that DAVID DUTHRIE a Tax Revenues Officer in Edinburgh had been arrested by police….. relating to ‘Criminal behaviour in relation to the officer’s role as a tax official’    Duthrie at the time (2008) was involved in a 12 man team investigating firms and preparing witness documents.  A Spokesperson for the HMRC said that the adjournment of several months could be very costly to the taxpayers, and improper behaviour lodged against a staff member is taken very seriously, and we cannot comment further?

UNIT MANAGER AT HMRC IS SACKED —  The un-named woman, a line manager in 2012 was dismissed but not charged by the police despite an IPCC recommendation and the CPS knowing of it.  It was discovered that she was involved in a £10,530 credit card spend over a 12 month period.  Being a ‘team leader’ she had access to a number of HMRC credit cards, and the money she spent on ‘Intelligence Purposes’ in her claim was disbelieved by the tribunal who said that it was highly implausible.  She said some of it had gone to the Unit’s petty cash, but the Internal HMRC Disciplinary hearing decided on her being dismissed.

HMRC IN PENSION FIDDLE? — Possibly so as they win even if you suffer a loss.  One man invested his £37,000 pension pot after being advised by one of these Pension Companies.  He later found out that his £37,000 was reduced to about £25,000 after their fees etc, and then the HMRC reduced this to around £10,000 saying that he’d been misled by the info given and the tax had to be paid……so he lost £27,000 for trying to do right for his pension and HMRC made out that it was his fault.

HMRC IN TROUBLE OVER WINDING-UP PETITION PAY COMPENSATION —  ‘The whole episode can be described as ‘Civil Servants Syndrome’ said Enta Chairman Jason Tsai, ‘there is no accountability when civil servants make mistakes.  The HMRC should not have placed the petition in such a hurry, and luckily the Royal Court of Justice has ordered HMRC to compensate Enta for all legal costs incurred in us having to defend the petition.   Enta Technologies were served with a petition from the HMRC.  An HMRC solicitor refused to comment about it, and would only confirm that the petition was no longer ‘live’

‘ Taxman guilty of £17,000 fraud ‘

NICHOLAS KNOWLES an HMRC Employee from Rochford, appeared before Basildon Crown Court on seven charges of fraud, and was found guilty of stealing more than £17,000.  It was said that he submitted 47 fraudulent invoices to the Benenden Healthcare between 2005 and 2011.  He submitted ‘home made’ invoices totalling £17,610.20 for medical treatment he had never received.  It was heard in Court that he intended to challenge his dismissal?  and that his crime had been affected by a Drink Driving conviction and marriage trouble…. the Judge gave him a community order with tweve months supervision.

HMRC TOLD TO PAY £246,000 IN COMPENSATION TO COMPLAINANTS — The Tax Adjudicator said the HMRC were very poor on treating complaints, and that the Independent Watchdog found for nine people in every ten who had lodged claims against the HMRC.  He said many of those dealt unfairly by the Tax Office endured many months of stress fighting the HMRC for justice, which was never likely to come their way had there not been an appeal system.  The adjudicator said over a 12 month period he had received 12,074 complaints about shabby and awful treatment at the HMRC.  The Watchdog resolved 2,311 complaints, and of this number, 2,7073 went in favour of the complainant.

THE HMRC ‘HIDDEN AGENDA CASE’ — Secret actions, no public accountability.  ‘The Baxendale Affair’ a case that the HMRC would not like to be shown — but here it is — This involves secret identities, The Inland Revenue and the Legal Profession (more details of this are revealed in Featured Lawyers).  The Baxendale Case ended up in the High Court far from Press interest and public view via The Queens Bench…..it involved a  Mr David Keys referred to in court as BWS….Keys was a fictitious name…..his real name was Paul Baxendale-Walker, who was a player in the Law Firm of Solicitors.. Baxendale Walker.  He was taking on 9 prominent defendants.  ‘David Keys’ was posing as an Investigation Director with The Special Investigations Section SIS… said to be working for the HMRC as part of its Private Investigation Initiative……He later denied being an HMRC OFFICER?  He claimed to be a very well known and high profile expert in tax matters!  who devised schemes for clients (the nine defendants) who made accusations of fraud against him….saying that he’d never been challenged by the HMRC on this matter…..he also uses the word ‘Successfully’ in relation to this too?……Baxendale said that prior to the events and leading up to the court case, he was a Solicitor of the Supreme Court?…….You may be puzzled by all of this and asking what the HMRC was up to?……sadly we don’t have those papers or documents, our source managed only to supply these…..but what we do know is that The HMRC do get up to some activities they want kept very secret.

NB: A law firm involved in the above was DELOITTE LLP and that comes up again in the next article?

We have decided to print this next case in full so that you can truly see how the HMRC operate when they wrongfully tried to destroy a company, families and jobs based upon false evidence and lies…… read it all and see what you think of a department that bends the law to suit and protect itself….. but in this case, they are now being sued……..

How one family were brought to their knees by the taxman

One businessman tells how his life was destroyed after being wrongly accused of fraud by the HMRC.

By Alasdair Palmer

9:00PM GMT 01 Dec 2012

Rick Hone will never forget the morning of February 5, 2009. “I was in the car when I got a phone call from the office. The voice at the other end of the line was hysterical. I couldn’t really understand what was happening. I just knew I needed to get back to base immediately.

When he returned to Abbey Forwarding in Woolwich, London, the drinks warehousing business of which he had been a director for five years, he was shocked by what he saw.

”There were about 20 officers from HMRC [Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, the tax authorities],” he remembers.

“Some of them were already changing the locks on the doors. Others were going through the company’s documents and computers, packing them up to take them away.”

One officer came up to Mr Hone and told him: “You owe over £5million in taxes. You can’t pay it. The company will be closed down to protect the creditors.”

He introduced a woman whom he said had been appointed liquidator by HMRC to liquidate Abbey Forwarding.

“She told me that I had just been sacked, along with half the other staff,” Mr Hone remembers.

“She would sack the rest in four to six weeks time: for the moment, she needed their help in winding down the company.”*

The woman was Louise Brittain (correct). She now works for Deloitte, charges around £750 an hour, and is described as very tough and experienced. In 2010, she was ranked 17th in Accountancy Age’s list of the industry’s top 100 power players.

She has said that she works out “the pinch point for the fraudster in advance. It could be their family or a house they’re particularly emotionally attached to.”

Having identified it, she goes for it. Mr Hone’s ‘pinch point’ was his business. He and his fellow directors, Richard Mills and brothers Pat and William Owen, whose father had started the company in 1971, didn’t know what to do. “We were looking at financial ruin. Louise Brittain told us our personal bank accounts had all been frozen. We had been ejected from our own company. Thirty-two people had lost their jobs. We didn’t even know where we would get money to live on.”

The action by HMRC had come out the blue. “Our business, systems and accounts had been given a very thorough going-over by a man from HMRC only a month prior to the liquidation order,” Mr Hone recalls.

“We had a letter back from him which gave no hint that we were suspected of fraud. In fact he said our accounts were in order.”

I have seen that letter. It identifies a failure to keep some records according to approved protocols, but also states that “no inaccuracies were identified.”

So what had persuaded HMRC that Abbey Forwarding was “at the centre of a large, multinational, multimillion pound fraud”?

It had a turnover of several million pounds a year on the business of storing and arranging the transport of beer, wines and spirits. The taxes on alcohol are a large part of the retail price, and a great deal of money can be made by avoiding them. But why, having been through Abbey’s books and not identified anything which indicated fraud, did HMRC think the company was engaged in avoiding taxes?

The details of HMRC’s case changed several times: its essence was that its directors had systematically aided and abetted the evasion of the duty on the drink they stored and transported. But it was based on suspicion, assertion and the conviction of its officers that fraud was being perpetrated, rather than hard evidence.

“It was a nightmare, everything that we had built up over years of hard work was destroyed in an instant,” says Mr Hone.

“And the worst thing was, we couldn’t even appeal against HMRC’s order to liquidate Abbey because of its assessment that we owed £5 million.”

When the liquidator takes over a company, and the employees are sacked, the directors all become ex-directors. They have no standing in the company – legally, they no longer have any relationship with it. So, in law, they cannot appeal a judgment affecting the company. The person who can appeal is the liquidator. But the liquidator, although appointed by a judge, is selected by HMRC.

That Catch-22 situation looks very unfair to the ordinary citizen, who can be crushed beneath the juggernaut of a huge state agency, without most of the usual checks and balances to ensure that it is not misusing its power. Mere suspicion by HMRC officials that fraud is occurring can be enough to ruin a business.

HMRC can apply to a judge at an “ex-parte” hearing: one at which the company it wants to liquidate is not represented, and so cannot defend itself.

That is what happened in the case of Abbey Forwarding. The judge admitted he did not have time to go through in detail the evidence that allegedly proved their involvement in “large-scale fraud”.

He was persuaded that “these gentlemen are fraudsters…. there must be a risk, if they are given even a chink of light, of moving assets, removing computers, shedding documents. [But if] a liquidator can go in, properly armed in terms of numbers of people, none of this will be possible.”

The judge agreed to the appointment of a liquidator. But in fact, “these gentlemen” were not fraudsters, and HMRC’s “evidence” turned out to be spurious. The judge who granted the liquidation order could not have known that at the time because he was not given the opportunity to test that evidence. And what happened subsequently shows the dangers of granting liquidation orders on the word of HMRC alone.

Eighteen months later, a different judge was given the opportunity to assess HMRC’s evidence in detail. Ms Brittain, as liquidator, decided to sue the former directors for “malfeasance”: they had failed in their duty to operate the company honestly. Judge Lewison was given the task of assessing whether or not HMRC’s claims about Abbey’s former directors were true.

He found that they were false. Ms Brittain had, for example, alleged that on 301 occasions, HMRC had stopped lorries recorded as having picked up cans of beer from Abbey’s warehouse — but each one of those lorries had, when stopped, been empty.

This showed that Abbey was part of a conspiracy to sell the alcohol without paying the duty owed on it.

But Judge Lewison discovered that, in fact, there were only three occasions when HMRC stoppped empty lorries from Abbey. As the judge pointed out, HMRC and Ms Brittain had exaggerated “by a factor of a hundred”.

How such an allegation came to be made was, as Judge Lewison dryly observed, “unexplained”. But, whatever the explanation, HMRC presented sworn evidence to the court that was untrue. Furthermore, on each of those three occasions, there was an innocent explanation.

Judge Lewison was astonished when one HMRC employee admitted that he had no evidence that Abbey had been involved in fraud, but maintained that he had no proof that it was not involved in criminal activity — which, as the judge pointed out, is not grounds in law for liquidating the company.

In July 2010, he found that there was not a single item that proved that anyone at Abbey had been involved in any conspiracy to defraud HMRC, or indeed any fraud, and he dismissed the action against Mr Hone and the Owen brothers.

It was an enormous vindication for them. In the 18 months since Ms Brittain had taken over their company in order to liquidate it, their lives had been total misery. “I came very close to suicide”, Mr Hone told me.

“It just seemed so hopeless. Every possible way of proving my innocence, of getting my business and my life back, was blocked. The strain on our family was terrible. My son felt he couldn’t go to university: he had to start earning. My mother’s pension was tied up in the business. The legal bills were huge. We had to mortgage everything, and borrow as much money as we could.”

Mr Hone, from Chiselhurst, Kent, who has been married for 26 years, said: “The liquidator took possession of my mobile and called every single person in my address book, including my mother and godson, and asked them how much money I owed them.”

HMRC and their lawyers were ruthless. Two months before Judge Lewison reached his decision, they sent a letter reminding the directors that they were “bound to lose all of their assets and are all likely to go bankrupt”, and that there would be actions against their “family members who have profited unduly from Abbey”.

It warned them that they could only “avoid complete ruination” by admitting their guilt and settling the case.

”We knew we were innocent,” stresses Mr Hone.

“We were never going to give in, not even if they took everything from us.”

And despite Judge Lewison’s ruling, they came very close to doing precisely that.

Not only did HMRC maintain they had been right to close the company, they increased the amount owed to £7million. Ms Brittain, the only individual with legal standing to appeal HMRC’s assessment, refused to appeal it. HMRC’s strategy seemed to be to wear down Mr Hone and his fellow directors by attrition: there were further hearings, costs mounted.

Backed by the state, HMRC had infinite funds. They knew that their opponents had very limited resources.

But they did not give in. They won a series of rulings against the prevaricating tactics of HMRC. On August 4, 2011, five days before their appeal against HMRC’s assessment and tactics was finally to be heard in court, HMRC withdrew their claim that Abbey’s ex-directors owed £7 million in taxes and duties.

In a highly unusual step, Ms Brittain stepped down as liquidator. A new liquidator has been appointed on the recommendation of Mr Hone’s lawyer. He is still awaiting delivery of the relevant documents.

Last week, Mr Hone and the Owen brothers were in court again, suing the liquidator and HMRC for damages for having wrongly frozen their personal bank accounts. After that, they hope to launch a case against HMRC for the loss caused by the liquidation of their company, which amounts to millions of pounds in legal and other fees.

What happened to Abbey Forwarding is not an isolated case. Lawyers who specialise in liquidation proceedings note that HMRC frequently use ex-parte hearings to obtain liquidation orders against companies they suspect of fraud. Of course, many are guilty as charged. But some are not.

There has been disquiet for some years in legal circles at the extent of HMRC’s power. Geraint Jones, QC, a barrister who has been involved in many high-profile tax cases, notes that, as it stands, the law allows HMRC to be “judge, jury and executioner” in its own case. But there are no plans to limit that power; HMRC argues it needs the power in order “to catch the bad guys”.

HMRC will not comment on individual cases, but they insist there are sufficient checks and balances because they have to apply to a judge for a liquidation order.

“We only use ex-parte applications in the most serious cases to deal with the risk of assets derived from fraudulent activity being hidden, or company books and records being destroyed,” said an HMRC spokesman.

“We set out to the Court why we think this approach is the right one. The granting of a provisional liquidation order is then a matter for the court alone.”

To which, Mr Hone responds: “When a judge was able to test HMRC’s evidence properly he found it was all rubbish. If there had been a proper test at the ex-parte hearing the liquidation order would never have been granted in the first place.”

In his view, HMRC’s ability to liquidate companies without robust evaluation of its evidence takes on a sinister quality. He thinks himself lucky not to have been flattened by the power of HMRC; others may not be so fortunate.

NB: HMRC will deny all and anything, and Liars Team, the Lawyers team will be there to suppress all truth.

‘ Iceland Boss takes on the HMRC ‘

Chairman Malcolm Walker waged into battle with the tax authorities when they ordered him to pay £2.5 million of tax because he flew his staff to a £4 million conference with all the entertainment and trimmings.  He saw this as a company expense and therefore being deductable.  But the HMRC doggedly suggested it was ‘a reward to staff’ as a benefit of kind and should be taxed.  Walker who is boss of Iceland and is said to be worth £215 million disputes this and intends to challenge the HMRC.

THE HMRC £2 BILLION BLUNDER OF UNPAID TAX — it is reported that tax officials wrongly calculated their own performance to make it look like they had recouped nearly 2 billion in unpaid tax, in other words deceive, this was revealed by MP’s in a highly critical report.  They went ahead and massively overstated their achievement record in 2011 to 2012 and 2013 in annual reports.  They claimed they had exceeded their performance targets even when going before The Public Accounts Committee; up to then the ‘error’ as they like to call it went undetected.  Despite this deception, the HMRC intend to continue in the same way, business as usual?

‘ HMRC send out cheap flowers as compensation for demand of £979.000 ‘

As we have seen before, such is the nature of the taxman and staff who work at the Inland Revenue, their generosity know  s no bounds, except that it must be cheap enough.  Mr Coke said it was ‘Insulting that a taxman thought he could compensate his wife for the trauma of being sent such a massive demand with a cheap bunch of flowers.’  Cafe Owner Florence Coke couldn’t believe it when she saw a tax demand for £979,092,858.00, she had just opened the new business.  It was only later that Inland Revenue officials agreed that the amount was incorrect and should have been £17,000 for the five year period their calculation should have said.  Of course. this is far from the first time HMRC have blundered, they’ve apparently sent out 100 bouquets of flowers and actually don’t know the cost of them……which is no surprise as they are funded by the taxpayer!

HMRC , THE GOVERNMENT AND THE EXECUTIVES — TAX AVOIDANCE and the help — a report says that a government-sponsored loophole is saving these millionaires and executives £700 million a year. News is that the loophole is not closed and nobody is doing anything about it.  Tax campaigners said the arrangement was brokered by HMRC and the British Venture Capital Association amounted to a government-sponsored tax avoidance on a massive scale. 

HMRC SEND PENSIONER TAX BILL OF £4-7 BILLION — Retired pensioner Douglas Yeomans who lives in Derbyshire was absolutely shocked when he suddenly received a tax demand for £4,742,354,255 and was allowed to pay it in instalments £950 million a month.  He laughingly said in response to the demand, I can afford £255……the demand was for unpaid income tax?……HMRC have since apologised for the ‘error’

HMRC IN TWITTER PLAN SAID TO BE LAUGHABLE if it weren’t serious.  Politicians have called the plan rather ridiculous, and Margaret Hodge of The Public Accounts Committee says the idea is ‘laughable’…. no customer based service should tolerate such a poor service.  It said that people struggling with their annual tax return due at the end of the month should contact the Inland Revenue via Twitter.  All amid telephone waiting times of 10 minutes and 53 seconds to get someone to answer at the Tax Office.

The tax office will of course say that this is not representative of the HMRC, but we question that in the light of a confidential document that suggests that regional tax offices contact them before revealing wrong-doing by a member of staff, — and that clearly indicates they want time to choose what or who can be offered up as a sacrifice – plus the evidence of your own eyes here showing cases and documented incidents and reports.  We have already seen the secrecy indulged in and we know that some investigations are suppressed and dealt with in privacy.  We are also assured by our friend who devotes his website entirely to exposing the HMRC that he has hundreds of cases, and we have at least double what we have shown here. We have only scratched the surface and further probes across the Internet will reveal more.

That is our little but not exhausted list, (at least 30 more waiting) we have more for later on these departments.

NB. Additional item — Civil Servant avoids and dodged tax for ten years!  A ‘back page’ two inch column news insertion in the Finance pages offered up the report that a highly paid civil servant worked the tax system by being ‘off-payroll’ for a decade to avoid paying tax. It is said that MP’s were reviewing the case ‘behind closed doors’ as around 2,000 public officials are getting anxious about being named if it goes public, and the majority are in The Ministry of Defence, plus several others in the Treasury?

‘THE ONES THAT GET AWAY’ – What we found in many cases was that other members of staff involved could not be ‘got’ due to insufficient evidence despite suspicions they took part.  A lawyer said this result was commonplace ‘ They do not leave enough of a paper trail or computer evidence available because they are well versed in covering one’s tracks, and what might be mistakenly left is not enough to take before a court or the CPS, so they are assumed and deemed as innocent, and Investigators are unable to take the matter further’    Statistics will always show a ‘lower’ figure of corruption at the HMRC and they rely on this to virtually con the public — the government use these figures for their own use in denying that civil service crime is not ‘worrying’, when in fact this is a deceit (one of many).

In addition to the above – We found that many of these ‘white collar’ suspects can go and often do turn to the Internet to find lawyers who say they can represent any ‘accused worker’ — their pages glorify cases they have won as a result of taking on the Department — so there is an obvious reluctance to pursue a case or investigation against the civil service, who of course, can also represent that office worker with their own lawyers.

THE MAIL IN ITS MONEY MATTERS CONSIDERS THE NEXT ITEM IS A SCOOP AND BIGGEST EXPOSE, it isn’t, we’ve got a much bigger one that will shock those who believe the HMRC are above board.  It involves secrecy and corrupt methods to conceal the truth…. and the so called innocent staff are involved up to their necks.

‘HMRC hides ‘errors’ to block appeals’

Said to be ‘The Great Tax Cover-up Exposed’ in 2011, The Mail newspaper say they have evidence that HMRC are systematically ‘concealing mistakes and vital information’ for taxpayers.   It is said that an ‘Internal Memo’ reveals secret decision-making meetings among staff in the compliance department dealing with claims etc, — a process HMRC uses when dealing with appeals for leniency from people facing unexpected tax bills.   The ‘In-house’ confidential document reveals how despite acknowledging they had made numerous mistakes! HMRC CHOSE to conceal the details and went on to demand thousands of pounds in so named unpaid income tax.   Further to that in a new development, it was discovered that the HMRC is refusing to accept official employers forms in appeal cases.  These so called P14 documents are sent to the HMRC to help calculate end-of-the-year tax bills.  Apparently, the HMRC hold the claimant responsible for their errors!  and that’s official.

‘FORMER HMRC TAXMAN IN ‘SNOOPING CASE’  —  TIMOTHY STEVENSON was spared a jail sentence when he appeared before the Crown Court.   It was said in court that he was ‘A Computer Systems man’ who would check personal details of potential and former renters between 1996 and 2014.  The former HMRC officer was described as ‘obsessional’ and although he was employed by the Inland Revenue, he was dismissed from his position for gross misconduct in 2014.

‘JUDGE GOES AGAINST THE HMRC’  In a surprise to the tax authorities, Justice Kenneth Parker gave his reasons as ‘Procedural’ when the HMRC took a nasty decision to declare a firm guilty of wrong-doing when this had not been decided by the court.  He said that they had not given the firm a proper chance to make a defence case against the arbitrary decision they took; he said such a decision could be disastrous to a firm and clients, and they could lose everything.    (They have in fact done this frequently and caused many firms to go bust)

‘HMRC TAXMAN DESCRIBED IN COURT AS A DRUG DEALER’  —  HMRC Valuation Officer MARK JONES was said to be a drug dealer by the two men in court.  This case from the Wales area was trying the case of murder by two brothers of a tax man.  The Bennett brothers said they had a loan refused and owed Jones a considerable amount of money in other loans.  Prosecutor Christopher Clee told the jury that Mark Jones worked in the HMRC and he was also a drug dealer, and that Bennett owed him money on the day Jones went to meet the brothers at an arranged spot.

MORE CORRUPTION AT THE HMRC — December 2016 -The Watchdog Programme.  It was reported that all was not well at a student loan company as hundreds of pounds went missing from student accounts, and they were actually required to prove they were entitled to the money.  This case had Inland Revenue involvement.

‘Golden handshake for failed HMRC Chiefs’

Two Senior Civil Servants who were responsible for the lost details of 25 million child benefit claimants, received massive payouts nicely called ‘severance payments’ to quit their post early.  One can see how tax officials have no qualms about screwing the public and walking away rewarded for something not funny or to be considered okay.  PAUL GRAY and STUART  CRUICKSHANK have taken £200,000 between them, and strangely enough nobody is calling this a scandal.  The HMRC thinks this is quite fair!

‘HMRC TOLD TO HAND BACK £4 MILLION TO TAXPAYERS — In a move by The Adjudicator who oversees complaints against the Tax Authorities, he upheld ninety percent of the legitimate complaints of wrongdoing by the HMRC.  £4 MILLION was returned to people they had taxed incorrectly, plus redress payments.  Between 2013 and 2014 the Adjudicator received 1,087 new complaints.  The Adjudicator responded by saying, ‘I am again disappointed to see HMRC staff still overlooking the needs of some very vulnerable customers.’   So don’t discount staff involvement in these dire cases, they are an integral component in the wrongdoing.

‘HMRC Destroys firm and Pays out nearly £2 Million over what they call ‘an error’

Here’s the big one folks, and it was a case they tried to hide away from public gaze. The Press referred to it as ‘bungling’ but they somehow fail to see the more darker factors so blatantly obvious.  This case was manipulated all the way, very criminally too by the tax authorities who are supposed to serve the general public.  And before you think this is a one off, we will give you others.  Details it says in the report were ‘hidden’ in the annual report and accounts, which was casually mentioned while using 30 announcements as cover so that no one hopefully would spot it on the last day of a Parliament sitting.  It showed that a ‘special payment of £1.9million was made to the ‘undisclosed’ firm; which they are still trying to conceal.  Have a look at the following:

Anderson v HMRC 2016 (the same time as the incident) at The Royal Courts of Justice.  Mr Alan Anderson appellant. The court in its conclusion said that HMRC are not entitled to issue a discovery assessment for the tax year 2007/8 on the basis that there was a discovery of an insufficiency of capital gains tax brought about by the appellant — it follows that HMRC are out of time to issue such an assessment.  Mr Anderson’s appeal was upheld.

The firm went bust due to the HMRC — and a payment later will not fix things, and what do they care.  Disturbingly, there is more to this they don’t want said, and that is the pay-off to the one in charge when this went down.  LIN HOMER received a £2.4 million golden handshake or pension pot when she quit the job.  It was revealed that she was in charge when there were a string of failures, and the Press nicknamed her ‘Dame Disaster’ she nicely walked away from the whole thing.  An HMRC spokesperson made the usual derisory comments trying to play the whole thing down as having compensation plans to deal with things that go wrong?

But don’t forget here, the HMRC went to the High Court during the upheaval and obtained and were granted a provisional liquidation order against the company which sealed the fate of this firm.  As you can see, they act first, and when they get it wrong, deny all and instigate a cover-up.

In our investigations at the time our PI obtained a confidential e-mail connected with this so called ‘blunder’ which says staff involved were re-assured that they would not be named, and that they were covered by Crown Immunity and that anyone challenging the handling of the case could only claim damages by ‘Vicarious Liability’, and every effort would be made to keep this matter from the public.

‘DAMAGE LIMITATION AND REDUCING PUBLICITY AT THE HMRC —  The Adjudicator is known as an impartial part of the complaints service.  When a person/complainant is unhappy with the HMRC handling of their case, they can request a ‘formal review’ which may lead to the office of The Adjudicator.  There is also another process known as ‘mediation’, this is, according to internal memos, the favoured course vigorously pursued by staff at the HMRC in order to ‘quieten’ and manage any damaging facts that may come to the surface.  Failing mediation, it can go onto ‘recommendation’  which involves another review of the case — in other words ‘manipulation covertly activated’ by the HMRC.

‘HMRC INCOMPETENCE – REGULARLY DENIED OF COURSE!  — 3 MILLION PEOPLE were estimated to have paid the wrong tax after a revealed case of CHAOS left telephone callers waiting for over an hour on the line waiting to speak to advisors — call waiting time tripled, one in five callers had to abandon their calls due to spiralling costs, ones they were left to bear. The estimated cost to callers was £63 million in 2013/12 which steadily got to a staggering £97 million in 2015/16.  HMRC were unwilling to admit anything was wrong, and the usual arrogance followed.

‘Tax credit victim left in dire straits by HMRC’

Nothing unusual here, it’s typical HMRC treatment.  MP tells of how the Tax man forced an aged member in her constituency had to pawn her jewellery in order to make ends meet.  And how did this come about?  well, we have the word ‘Concentrix coupled HMRC’ two components, the first being a fiasco according to government sources, the other being a Rottweiler.  This lady had to sell items left by relatives and it also says another lost all her food in the freezer when the electricity was cut off.  And what of the link between CONCENTRIX and HMRC?  Well, the American based company was hired by the HMRC to root out Tax Credit Cheats?  It’s a pity there’s no firm rooting out Tax cheats at the HMRC, but I guess we will have to do.  And to finish this piece, it was apparent that HMRC knew things weren’t going well due to the complaints they were receiving, but kept that fairly quiet, because while they were coveniently ignoring them, MP’s were getting angry letters which ultimately led to the cancellation of this company’s contract.

‘JUDGE TELLS HMRC TO REPAY THE FINES’ —  Another court case goes against the Inland Revenue when the Judge told the HMRC to repay fines imposed by the taxman with interest where they have clearly acted unreasonably.  This blew up as the HMRC fined Kathleen Loma because of their clause ‘lateness to file’.  But it turned out that the HMRC did not make things clear or attempt to help in any way, so the Judge decided in her favour and said she had lost the opportunity to file online in time and avoid a penalty, and it is not for the HMRC to act in such an unconscionable manner to the public.  He ordered that the penalty of £100 should be returned along with the appropriate interest accrued.

‘HMRC LOSE CASE AGAINST CHESTER ZOO’ — Chester Zoo scored a victory against the taxman in court.  The presiding Judge ruled that they could reclaim the £1.3 million VAT paid because the cash had been used on looking after the animal welfare etc (8,000 animals).  Obviously in arrogant form, the HMRC disagreed, but Judge Jonathan Cannan ruled in favour of the charity status zoo.

‘FOOTBALL CLUB WINS CASE AGAINST HMRC’  — Another win for the down trodden.  Rangers Football Club won the £50 million case brought by the HMRC.  The case involved Employee Benefit Trusts (loans and payments made to players in a ‘tax efficient way’   Judge Lord Doherty dismissed an appeal launched by the HMRC after a tribunal decision went against them.  (2015)

‘HMRC Destroys Couple’s hairdressing Business’

Yes, we said there was more, and here we go again — Salon owner Kristine Swindells and husband Coilin in Bognor Regis ran an upfront business.  She did the hairdressing and her husband kept the books. Both people were in their 70’s, and everything was going smoothly until the taxman called, two of them actually.  The two Investigators or Compliance officers subjected them both to unreasonable questioning.  They carried out this almost like the Gestapo with the session lasting up to 4 hours.  They were demanding all details of their lives and how much they charged every customer in the appointments book.  Finally, they were both accused of dodging VAT payments by failing to report how much money their shop had made.  This accusation led to a nightmare that cost the couple thousands fighting the HMRC for a staggering 4 years.  However, after two appeals the case was suddenly stopped because tax officials ‘may have made a mistake’  The HMRC said ‘ Based on the evidence we saw during the inspection we wrongly advised Mr Colin Swindells to register for VAT……and they found there was no VAT due!  The HMRC went off unbothered or even apologetic about their treatment and hounding the couple.  The strain and stress caused led to the closure of the business once the matter was over.

Mr Swindells commented – ‘We were treated with utter contempt by the HMRC’

(It’s a pity we don’t get the names of these tax men, because they would end up here on this site)

PS — see a similar case earlier subtitled ‘HMRC HOUND CAFE OWNERS – The Newell’s.

‘TAXMAN CHASES £21 MILLION UNPAID BY THE SUPER RICH’ — This we’ve included because its laughable really, we all know they won’t get near their money, because they have prominent lawyers just like the HMRC who can cheat and manipulate court time and play around until the taxman gets a fraction of what they want….this kind of headline is to fool the ordinary taxpayer.  The item reveals that the HMRC are locked in disputes over how much tax should be paid, and some 4,000 inquiries have been ongoing for three years.  And not surprisingly to those hounded by the taxman, the HMRC looked into just 72 cases of fraud, and only 2 cases were criminally investigated with one conviction. So there you are, they’re really trying aren’t they, and succeeding badly….who would have thought it?

‘RICH MAN ECCLESTONE TAKES ON THE TAXMAN OVER TAX BILL  – Super rich Bernie Ecclestone takes legal action against the HMRC over their claims that he owes more than a £1 billion after it tore up a settlement agreed in 2008.  He is apparently suing them for breach of contract in view of the new actions they have taken.

TAX CREDIT SHAMBLES AS HMRC CUT DOWN ON STAFF — It appears that £1.6 billion of tax credits have been wrongly handed out according to the National Audit Office.  It blames the move on changes as the new universal benefit arrives to supersede the tax credit system.  The Inland Revenue blame it on errors, something they know well about and use it as a way out when they get things wrong.

‘HMRC FAULTY WEBSITE IS ACCUSED OF CHARGING TOO MUCH’ —  A report says that the tax calculator can leave claimants out of pocket and facing fines.  Also there is the risk of taxpayers being overcharged if they file their returns online.  It is also apparent that the website cannot cope with the volume of users. 

‘HMRC ORDERED TO SORT OUT FAILURES ON ITS CHILDCARE SITE’ — A report says that parents are having great difficulty in applying for the childcare credit, and this runs into thousands having difficulty online at the site.  Some 2,600 parents are still waiting to have these technical issues resolved. 

‘HMRC SNOOPING ON FACEBOOK’ –  This little headline appeared saying that the HMRC were offering £20,000 bribes to anyone who would give up information on their friends, colleagues and neighbours.  The only thing we think significant here, is the word ‘bribes’ and that is obviously something the tax man would deny, even in the face of it being an incentive for unwarranted intrusion into another person’s life.

‘HMRC in 31 million Injustice Case’

A court intervened when the HMRC told a sole business Scaffolder to pay them £930,000 when in reality he only owed them £11,153 in unpaid VAT.  Matthew Hodges was accused by the taxman of evading £529,536 in VAT on top of an unpaid penalty of £399.734 for non-payment.  It was heard at the Tribunal that most of this ridiculous demand came from estimates the tax man conjured up.  An Independent Accountant, Mr Hubbard said of the HMRC figures, ‘It looks to be little more than a simple back-of-the-envelope calculation with no thought being given to the reality of how one person could have achieved a turnover of that level to attract that kind of bill.’

‘TAX CREDIT HELL FOR ONE FAMILY’  — Anisha Walshaw said her family were barely surviving, and lived on a poultry £3.50 a day due to the HMRC Tax Credit system blunder that happened when she least expected.  She said there was a catalogue of ‘errors’ by the tax man since 2003 concerning her tax credits.  However, this didn’t stop the callous behaviour of the HMRC sending bills of £25,000 and £10,000 at a time.  It was said they were claiming money ‘wrongly’ paid to her.  Mrs Walshaw of Walton near York thinks this started with ‘a change in circumstances’ which was mis-recorded by the HMRC.  A local MP intervened and the HMRC have said they will look into the matter soon.

‘HMRC AND FACEBOOK AND THE COSY DEAL’  -Another little bit of news that shows who gets into who’s bed….apparently, Facebook paid just £4,000 in tax and the HMRC spent £27,000 of taxpayers money on adverts with them!

‘HMRC’s DIRTY TRICKS DEPARTMENT’ — Nick Morgan nicely shows us how they do what they do, and what happened to him when he did a tax return.  Nick Morgan is a freelance journalist who investigates and writes articles, and luckily he isn’t as underhand or dirty as some of the staff at the HMRC.  They lie he says – they look at your expenses and immediately reduce it by 75 percent,  They bully and trap taxpayers — an accountant advised this ‘ never attend an interview with HMRC without proper representation, they use everything you say to discredit your claim and demolish your honesty and make out the claimant is lying…when in fact they do that.  The Complaints team he says are not impartial, they are in league and part of the same investigation…always on the side of HMRC.  He says they can even find out if you’ve been to a lawyer etc, and have notes on what you said and see themselves as solicitors in a court looking at your witness testimony to catch you out when you don’t say exactly what you wrote.  So much for data protection, these guys are way above the law and they choose which one they want to use, and frequently break it without the slightest fear of reprisal or prosecution…they’ve got Crown Immunity!  At the end of Nick Morgan’s terrific expose of this branch of government he asked the HMRC for a comment!  They declined!

His webpage tells much more so you ought to go and see it  —  www.tax-hell.co.uk/sunday-times/

‘HMRC DON’T ABIDE BY THEIR OWN RULES’ — When it comes to demands and what it wants from you they stop at nothing to wreck your life and cause misery….but how do they react when they owe you?  do they pay you immediately?  well, get a load of this as it gives the answer to that question.  Here we see what steps they take not to co-operate or pay you as supplied by one man (thisistibi)  Sift Ltd.  He tells us of a tax return by a largish company which showed they overpaid corporation tax to the tune of £900,000.  The HMRC was contacted and chased for this over several months, often by phone, and always fobbed off.  Despite agreeing that they owed this money they didn’t quite see it as a debt, and no payment was received despite staff resorting to that cliche ‘its in the post’  Finally, they resorted to a new tact and said there was some technical issue on their pc which means the correct repayment amount is not being shown?

What you’ve got to remember here is that this agency is willing to suppress facts and compensation cases as we’ve already seen, and they won’t answer requests for information on how many staff have been sacked or prosecuted (if any) or give out what they have paid out in damages….this is the true face of the HMRC….no accountability, no transparency…in fact no assistance whatsoever if you seek truth.

‘FORMER HMRC FRAUDSTER GETS A GOOD COURT DEAL’  — Former Inland Revenue man Neil J Foster who worked at their Peterlee office lied on his tax return to steal more than £12,000 from the taxpayer.  The investigation was instigated and led by the HMRC.  It is stated he attended a voluntary interview in 2014 where he pleaded guilty on 4 counts of fraud at Newcastle Magistrates Court.  He was given a suspended prison sentence and ordered to pay £165 in costs.  Which apparently infuriates other taxpayers who are threatened by this same government body, especially knowing its one of their own….and some suspect he’s got off too lightly for certain reasons?

‘HMRC and The Freedom of Information Fiasco’

Why someone should think the HMRC will be upfront amazes us here, one seriously misguided person actually wrote and asked the HMRC to explain their policy of dealing with staff who make false claims and allegations against other members of staff etc.  It becomes evident right from the start they were going to ‘stonewall’ him.  The letters were many during what looks to be months.  And unsurprisingly, this was the infamous heartland of dirty dealing – THE TAX CREDIT OFFICE IN PRESTON, one that is mentioned on this site several times.  His first letter (issued by Mr Renate Ackerman) pleaded – ‘Please tell me how many employees have been found guilty of bullying a colleague at work etc’.  HMRC sent an attachment in their reply of 22/11/2011 in response to this Freedom of Information request.  They simply ignored a direct answer to the letter and made out that they would pass the request to some other department more qualified to deal with it.  Gradually they came onto costing meaning it would cost a great deal if he didn’t narrow the terms of his request.  They then repeated another delaying letter.  And outlined the ‘confidentiality of any answer saying he could not make it public’  More letters followed going back and forth going in the only way it does with the HMRC, nowhere, we know they were never going to give him the info, and we’ll tell you why at the end of this piece.  See the web stuff on this if you can.  Finally after the runaround, MARY LEEDS of the HMRC and Commissioners pointed out with nothing added, see Section 12(1) Exemption.   We’ve already seen that some time ago, and it means they are not required to assist a person wanting to know what the HMRC hold or file.  This is the government looking after its own, no accountability here or transparency, Teresa May isn’t going to tell you that the Freedom of Information Act is subjective and only applies in certain ways.

‘HMRC – COMPLAINTS ABOUT ITS CONDUCT’ — The Telegraph Newspaper headlined this in a more down to Earth related tone, ‘HMRC getting nastier with taxpayers who dare to complain’  Apparently in May 2013, HMRC upheld only 30 percent of the 75,568 complaints it processed between 2011/12.  This was the highest number of complaints rejected to date.  And in a seperate survey carried out, it showed that the HMRC’s internal VAT review process appeared to be making decisions increasingly in the Taxman’s favour.   ‘Who’d have thought it?

‘HMRC’S MANAGEMENT OF INTERNAL FRAUD AND CORRUPTION’ — No, don’t get excited here, they actually don’t reveal anything.  The Official document is designed to deceive in reality and make one think they are accountable.  They issued this little gem in 2012, and it doesn’t print a list of employees caught and prosecuted.  Most of the lengthy document is waffle and dealing with procedures and terms that take one away from discovering anything.  ‘Terms of reference’  ‘method’  ‘structures’ ‘leadership’ ‘areas for improvement’ are repeated time and time again using legalise from the decidedly dodgy solicitors.  This is a nothing document and a fraud really.

‘ Firm accuses HMRC of bullying tactics ‘

A report on a small firm’s tax nightmare, revealed that tax officials deliberately spent thousands of pounds of public money pursuing the small construction company SCOTIA ROOFING in Stirlingshire.  This 5 year harassment by the HMRC un-necessarily cost the small company £120,000 to defend a winding up petition launched by HMRC to save their business.   After taking over the firm after her father passed away IN 2006, Mrs Aitchison said the HMRC used bully tactics to repeatedly demand PAYE and VAT payments which were not due, and lodged the petition alleging there was a £59,000 debt.  At no stage were they prepared to negotiate or listen, they were hell bent on seeing the petition through.  ‘We were told later’ said Mrs Aitchison, ‘We couldn’t got to debate, it was not in the public interest for people to claim expenses against the HMRC.’

‘HMRC’S BULLYING IN FAMILY TAX CASE’ — another case supporting the above article.  This concerned a small family firm called ‘ARCTIC SYSTEMS LTD’ which used dividends from the business to remunerate Geoff and Diana Jones, the shareholders.  Despite a decisive victory in favour of the family firm against the HMRC in The Court of Appeal, and a refusal by that court to give leave for an appeal to the House of Lords, HMRC announced they were going to petition the UK’s Highest Court to get their way.  An FSB tax spokesman said, ‘HMRC’s hard line attitude to a taxpayer family run business is very worrying, and so is the evident fact that HMRC has refused to respect the decision of the Court of Appeal, which delivered a decisive and authoritative ruling in favour of the taxpayer in this case.’  (2006)

‘ JUDGE SLAMS HMRC OVER MISCONDUCT ‘Here’s a third firm in the spotlight, and this was a recent case at a Tribunal Court dealing with an Appeal by the taxpayer.  GEKKO & COMPANY LTD  v HMRC.  This one contains the infamous penalties the HMRC are fond of using in a VAT case that amounted to less than £900.  The assessment was £69, plus three penalties imposed by HMRC, the first being £780, the second one £8.85, and the third penalty of £10.35, totalling = £888.20.  The company is situated in Lincolnshire (Boston).  It is stated that the decision describes a saga of HMRC  bizarre explanations, changes of opinion and those ‘errors’ — the Judge was not pleased throughout the case, and in his decision concerning the quality of the HMRC’s Officers’ enquiry work, he cancelled the VAT claim and all of the penalties, and went on to say ‘I frequently deal with taxpayers in dispute with HMRC.  The quality of work is poor, HMRC officers do not take the time to explain to taxpayers and their advisers their concerns, resulting in substantial assessments and unfair penalties.’ (Aug 4/2017)

‘TAX EXPERTS CHALLENGE THE HMRC’ (hmrc refuse to challenge big tax dodgers) —  In 2016 the Tax Officials at HMRC were to face questioning over spurious claims that didn’t add up to close scrutiny.  THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE heard from tax experts that the HMRC were underestimating the problem of Britain’s tax avoidance problems by the rich in particular.  In a 2016 report The Public Accounts Committee noted ‘HMRC told us that its performance in addressing tax fraud was good’  but the assessment of the tax gap shows that the level of tax fraud has remained virtually static over the last 5 years.  Which glaringly tells us they’re either cooking the books or entering a world of fiction.  However, a simple deduction shows us that they are trying to hide things yet again.

‘ HMRC Employee in £65,000 scam is jailed ‘

HMRC Benefits Department Officer NICHOLA FARNINGHAM was a ‘benefits adviser who dealt with Child and Working Tax Credits at the HMRC in Dundee.  Amazingly, in her own case, she failed to disclose that her own claim was incorrect and positively fraudulent, as she was taking money from the taxpayer to the amount of £65,000.  She was jailed for a period of 21 weeks and ordered to pay over £40,410 within six months at the Sheriffs Court.   (6/4/2017)  Go online to get the details if you’d like to know more.  The Record Newspaper.

‘HMRC MENTIONED IN SECRET CORRUPTION REPORT OF 2003’  – This essentially – Met Police Report, reveals that the anti-corruption squad led by former assistant commissioner of police, Andy Hayman, found out that Organised Gang lords and crooks had infiltrated government departments such as the HMRC and CROWN PROSECUTION SERVICE in order to manipulate investigations and their outcomes, so that corruption would survive without interference.

‘THICK AS THIEVES’ — As one man recently said in an interview with a radio station,  ‘The HMRC tax you on income, and they tax you again at 20 percent in VAT on what you spend, why don’t they just take the lot and give you an allowance?  but as the interviewer pointed out, ‘They might just tax you on that too!  the Government will see that as an excellent idea, especially on the poor and less well off.’

‘HMRC PROCLAIMED WORSE THAN DEBT COLLECTORS’ — Almost accurate too, as this was said by a Major Accountancy Firm in Leeds, one Russell Smith, who stepped forward to say it like it is, and this is what he had to say —  ‘As a tax accountant we deal with the HMRC more than most.  We have regular lines of communication with HMRC’s Office, but even we cannot predict their often ‘erratic behaviour’  We’ve had many horror stories involving them demanding payments that weren’t due, and aggressively chasing tax bills that were only just filed a few days ago.  Stranger than that, we’ve experienced tax bills go unpaid for years without even a nod from HMRC, while others; often upstanding business owners, have been hounded by the taxman for tiny infractions and mistakes.  Sometimes infractions aren’t even made, in some instances we’ve had the HMRC knocking on the door of a tiny business or taxpayer demanding money they’ve already been paid, simply because their officers failed to properly record it.  This Government body was declared worse than even private debt collectors when it came to settling bills!’

‘ HMRC Tax Officers swoop on Fish ‘n’ Chips’ Shop owner at 9pm ‘

A Representative or Legal Advisor (remaining anonymous) had this to say on behalf of his client — ‘She had a very distressing call from her client who owned a fish and chip shop.  Her client said that two tax inspectors arrived out of the blue at 9pm despite no notice being given at all by the tax office.  They began their interrogation immediately depite the shop being still open with just half an hour to go.  The fact that she was without representation didn’t cross their minds as they asked her about business banking and how much had she paid to supliers.  Even though it was embarrassing, she did answer all their questions despite having to close up for the night early and make sure the till receipts were okay.  Amazingly, all protocols issued by the HMRC were breached by the two inspectors.  They had not made any previous arrangement to visit, they were not impeded in any way either before or at present, nor were they out when this visit occured.  They just barged in at 9pm and expected the owner to jump to their orders.’  (source – the Web)

‘HMRC NIGHTMARE ARRIVES IN THE POST’  — Alison says on returning from a shopping trip, she was greeted by 7 official looking brown envelopes (all marked Inland Revenue) from the taxman which informed her that she was overpaid in relation to tax credits.  It was a total of nearly £7,000, to be paid by the 26th of May, or twelve months.  All her present tax credits were stopped and a banking giro was enclosed for her to pay the money demanded.  Alison acknowledges that they did get working tax credits at one stage when she and her husband were moving house and area, and her husband was job seeking at the time.  And she also remembers having advised them of changes and spoke to at least one advisor at the HMRC.  But being a long time ago, she threw out a lot of stuff in the move, and cannot find the paperwork for the period they’ve assessed her for.

‘HMRC BOSS NOMINATED ‘DIRTY OLD MAN’ — Sounds a bit like the sex misconduct enquiry happening now (Harvey Weinstein and all that).  The article dated December the 4th 2010  which can be located at  www.salfordstar.com/article  says ‘I would like to nominate NICHOLAS ANTHONY SHAW for ‘Dirty Old Man’  – it goes on to say that he is a Senior Civil Servant, HMRC BOSS Nicholas Anthony Shaw is Assistant Director of Criminal Investigations for the HMRC North West Region.

PS. If anyone knows why this appeared as it did from 2010 until now, and more about the incident that has led to this post, please contact us at www.corruptionseeker@hotmail.com  we’d like to get the full story.

‘HMRC FORCE CHARITY TO PAY BACK £125,000 OF TAX’  — A Sutton Charity along with several councillors are angered to see that the HMRC have told the local charity that they want immediate payment of £125,000 worth of tax covering the previous nine months.  In a recent HMRC ruling, organised by them of course, they have de-classified the charity ‘Hope for Tomorrow’ saying they were no longer exempt from paying VAT at 20 percent for billed costs, unlike the NHS owned facilities.   Locals, including councillors say that the charity is providing a much needed vital service to cancer patients.  Sutton Council in the light of this sudden move by the HMRC attack, will now lobby the government to look into this matter urgently.  ‘We are also calling on two MP’s and the Mayor of London to support our campaign’ said Ms Heron.

‘ Whistleblowers not welcome at HMRC ‘

MARGARET HODGE of THE COMMONS PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE said, ‘Whistleblowers at the HMRC had been often subjected to bullying and harassment. Citing one particular case she was very familiar with, she said ‘Protection for Whistleblowers was still not adequate, and OSITA MBA, a former Lawyer at HMRC who drew attention to what he claimed were ‘Sweetheart deals’ between the tax authorities and GOLDMAN SACHS, plunged him into something he didn’t quite expect.  Margaret Hodge commended Mr Mba calling him a really brave guy, who found it was becoming impossible for him to remain with the HMRC after his disclosures, and he had to start his life again elsewhere.

NB.  One should not forget the Commissioners for the HMRC in the above case, they advise all the HMRC management in order to as they put it ‘ Very clearly capable of bringing HMRC into disrepute’.  They will obviously stop at nothing to whitewash all the wrongdoing by the HMRC and it looks like this lawyer wasn’t the sort they wanted at the tax office.

‘BARCLAY BROTHERS SUE HMRC FOR £1 BILLION’  — Through their company ‘LITTLEWOODS’ the family group of business giants are suing HMRC for a tax rebate of one billion pounds, concerning ‘a compounded interest rate’ on VAT they overpaid between 1973 and 2004.  Looking into this firm we see that Barclay Brothers bought ‘Littlewoods’ in 2002, and somehow found out two years later that they were owed millions in this amazing deal, so why haven’t we heard more about this, as this article is dated September 2012.  Have the tax authorities suppressed this item?

‘Pensioners finally get a repayment from HMRC’

This case reminds one of the expression ‘Buyer Beware’ which tells you that this case concerns those pension pot and National Insurance schemes by the Tax Office which let you buy lost credits so that you get a full pension.   John and Jan Airey decided to opt for a £7,000 top up for their state pension pot on the advice of the tax people.  These are called voluntary payments to cover any shortfall.  However, they were not told about a change in the rules which rendered their £7,000 payment useless.  They contacted the HMRC and appealed to the then boss, JON THOMPSON, but this fell on deaf ears!  The couple accused the HMRC of acting like second-hand car dealers, but staff there wear body armour and ear muffs.  It was only when an organisation called ‘This is Money’ stepped in that the HMRC agreed to repay the old couple as a ‘goodwill gesture’.  Mr Airey said ‘They were penalised for an honest mistake, but nobody at the HMRC seemed bothered.  STEVE WEBB a former ‘Pensions Minister’ said of this case, I can quite understand that the Airey’s felt like they had been scammed.’ (1/9/2017)

‘ PENSIONERS OVERPAYING £450 MILLION TO HMRC ‘ — Since 2010 the Tax Man has known that the system was too complicated and causing distress to many taxpayers.  Millions of pensioners are said to be getting ‘ A raw Deal’  A report said ‘The Public Accounts Committee said that pensioners are poorly served by the HMRC.  They also went on to say, ‘It is simply unacceptable older members of society should continue to pay the wrong amount of tax, often ‘overpaying’ amounts they cannot afford to lose.’

‘NEIL MARTIN V THE COMMISSIONERS FOR HMRC’ — This court case of 2007 didn’t get much notice at the time, so here it is.  The Court of Appeal clearly showed that an aggrieved taxpayer can sue the HMRC in that they have ‘A Duty of Care’ to the taxpayer.  Builder Neil Martin suffered severe disruption and loss due to the Tax Man because of a stream of ‘errors’ made by HMRC when it processed his CIS application in 1999.  This led to unnecessary delays, and he was let down by the Revenue Adjudicator in 2000.  After this it was onwards to the next stage – The Ombudsman whose investigation discovered ‘persistent errors’ (under COP1).  The Judge said ‘ The HMRC employee was responsible even though it was denied by HMRC, and Mr Martin’s claim for damages was upheld.’

‘HMRC MAKE AN-OUT-OF-COURT SETTLEMENT’ — (5/2/2015)  This is the case of Sir Fraser Morrison v HMRC at the Court of Session,  It was confirmed that an out-of-court-settlement in the region of £12 million was paid out by the Inland Revenue following a claim for damages for misrepresentation.  The full details of this can be found at  www.rpc.co.uk/perspectives/tax-take/out-of-court-settlement

‘HMRC to be given power to raid taxpayers’ bank accounts’

Yes folk, you’re getting this hot off the press!  The words ‘WITHOUT A COURT ORDER’ made the Commons Treasury Committee raise concerns over what this means to the ordinary man in the street, and law!  This recent Treasury Plan (of November 2017) is to allow the Inland Revenue to sidestep normal legal protections in the law.  ‘It is very concerning, especially in the light of their history of ‘mistakes’ and ‘errors’ said the Committee.  It was revealed that HMRC were going to target about 17,000 people a year using these powers.  The Committee didn’t pull any punches when they said ‘This could be seen as ‘An Abuse of Power’.   One Organisation said, If and when they get things wrong, and they do regularly.  How does one get justice and sue them under the present rules which allow them to decide the outcome of any complaint.  It is already known that the HMRC close ranks and makes attempts to cover their mistakes and wrongdoing, and some of these are costly mistakes, and they prevent the public from getting F.O.I. replies because they already know they’re exempt from close scrutiny, and don’t adhere to transparency or rigorous accountability.  In fact, they’re a law unto themselves and they use that to beat down the taxpayer.’

‘HMRC IN BLUNDER, CUT OFF TAX CREDITS TO MOTHER —  Mother of one, AnneMarie Anderson’s world crashed about her when the Tax Office suspended her tax credits claim.  Even though the blunder was a mess up by that American firm CONCENTRIX who were contracted by HMRC (now fired), the Tax Office were pointing the finger of fraud at her, asking to see a year of bank statements.  Even when she complied with this they actually delayed looking into her case despite knowing she was not getting any official financial support, and she has a young child as she pointed out at the time!

‘MAIL MYSTERY AND SABOTAGE AT HMRC’  – A taxpayer, one of many, says he is deeply worried about his situation in April 2015.  He says that he’s having a problem with HMRC and mail.  Not receiving letters relating to his self-assessment.  He sent 3 letters to them all first class and registered involving important  tax paperwork.  Two were sent to their postcode BX9 1AS, 17th March/14th April/ and a later one on the 20th, and none of them showed they’d ever been received.  He asks if they are deliberately not acknowledging registered post?  Well, the answer may lie with others in a similar situation,. Others with similar experiences suggest there may well be a plot to fine the taxpayer who sends it, because they can levy a penalty of £100….and how does this work?  Well, if the officer doesn’t sign for it but merely makes it go away, technically the office didn’t receive it, because they well know that by taking it and signing, anything else after that date would be seen as their fault.  So by not ‘receiving the mail’ they render the sender in breach of a penalty, which plays into the HMRC hands.  And finally, one man informs us that the HMRC are systematically blocking up their post boxes because they don’t want to deal with any paperwork from the public!

Update on the above — This BX9 1AS is a bit of a bogus ruse invented by the HMRC, it isn’t on the Royal Mail Database.  It is an ‘ARTIFICIAL POSTCODE’ which sent mail to Bexley in Kent.  And more alarmingly to those that sent packages etc, our research shows this address to be operating the opening of mail ‘electronically’ and sending things to other HMRC offices.

‘HMRC Employees under Criminal Investigation’

This little item was recently uncovered, and it goes back to 19/1/2006, and it centred around a VAT Fraud Trial which collapsed at Southwark Crown Court.  It was said to be one of the costliest cases ever brought.  It was one that the HMRC didn’t want known, and they initiated steps to prevent it.  However, ‘Special Legislation’ was approved to allow the IPCC (Police Complaints Authority) to investigate HMRC Employees, concerning the ‘failed’ £100 million VAT Case.  Judge Crane, presiding, was said to be highly critical of the manner and process by which unused material had been disclosed by Customs, and raised serious concerns about the evidence given by HMRC Staff, saying that some had withheld evidence from their own legal team, which showed they could not be relied upon to tell the truth.’

NB:  There was no outcome ever published on ‘the staff members’ and evidence points to it having been suppressed by the Commissioners and HMRC Management along with the Civil Servants Association.

‘ANOTHER VICTIM OF HMRC TAX SUSPICIONS’ — There are many victims of HMRC abuse, and not all of them are published.  However, Lorelie Banks will have her space here.  She has one son, Ethan, and she’s a single mother who had her tax credits stopped because they accused her of having a ‘relationship’ with her brother.  Things went so far that the HMRC sent her a bill for £1.400, and said she owed this.  Luckily for her, The Daily Record was interested, and it was subsequently discovered to be a ‘HMRC Error’, and they reinstated her payments for tax credits.  What they didn’t do was, compensate her for the stress and worry caused to this Motherwell citizen. (16/10/2015)

THE HMRC ‘RUNAROUND-GAME’ FOR TAXPAYERS — (HMRC FAILING TO REFUND OVERPAID INCOME TAX)  — This report has a familiar theme now experienced by the taxpayer.  M. Boyce has pointed out that the helpline blurb issued by the Inland Revenue ‘If you think you’ve paid too much tax, you don’t need to contact us, we will automatically send you any refund due’  MISDIRECTION is the word here, and they are not to be trusted, nor are their answers to F.O.I. requests.   M.Boyce began writing to them for help! on the 15th of September 2015, and continued until the 2nd of November getting nowhere after being involved in silly games by HMRC staff.  16 letters went back and forth in this matter with HMRC stone-walling at every turn.  The matter was a simple one, but not to the HMRC of course.

HMRC’S UNREASONABLE LITIGATION CONDUCT — This one involves the HMRC Lawyers.  Dated Sept 18/2017, This concentrates on the unusual decision to award costs in a VAT case to the ‘victim’ —  Misconduct of the HMRC and its Lawyers — in the George Rowell Case.  He successfully applied for the taxpayers legal costs in an appeal against VAT assessments for £1.4 million.  This involved a County Taxi  Association representing some 200 drivers.  The Tribunal found HMRC’s handling of the matter amounted to ‘unreasonable conduct’ and rejected HMRC’s argument by their Lawyers that ‘A PUBLIC BODY SHOULD BE FREE TO WALK AWAY FROM LITIGATION WITHOUT COMPENSATING THE OTHER PARTY FOR ITS COSTS’……….very arrogant, but typical HMRC.

‘HMRC Tax Investigator given a jail sentence ‘

RICHARD BARR of the HMRC was convicted of a £500,000 scam the report said.  It was said in court that he set up two bogus companies dealing in electrical products and claimed £500,000 from the HMRC.  It revealed that Barr had been an Investigator with the HMRC, who looked into financial criminal activities.  He was convicted at Manchester Crown Court on a charge of misconduct in public office?  and was jailed for twelve months.  It was also revealed that his two companies never existed at all.

‘HMRC AND ITS DOUBLE STANDARDS’ —  Double Standards? does that sound like the HMRC…..Well, Margaret Hodge at the Public Accounts Committee (19/12/2011) said so when she heard that 1.4 million people were sent ‘back-dated’ tax demands totalling almost £4 billion, after experiencing problems with the PAYE system.  She went onto say ‘Revenue Executives have become ‘Unduly Cosy’ with larger firms and have tried to hide from public scrutiny details of a series of deals with companies’  HMRC failed to collect more than £25 billion in ‘unresolved tax bills’ from major firms.

‘HMRC LOSE IN SUPREME COURT JUDGEMENT’ — (March 2014).  The mighty Lawyers at the HMRC arrogantly felt confident that they could defeat the defendants, Secret Hotels 2 Ltd, on VAT treatment of Booking Agents Services.  They had been ‘dining out’ on previous success at the Court Of Appeal in 2012.  But this time they lost and the Supreme Court overturned the decision of the Lower Court, stating that ‘One aspect of economics reality is that it is the hotelier, not the Company, who owns the accommodation and its the customer, not the company. to whom it is ultimately supplied.’

‘HMRC FAILINGS LED TO PAYMENT THREATS’ — This is the case of Tony Hetherington who suffered misery at the hands of the HMRC as they kept on demanding a rising assessment of what they said he owed the Inland Revenue.  Tony and his wife suffered stress and the thought of losing everything once these people at the Tax Office set about them.  However, knights in shining armour, The Financial Mail involved themselves in questioning the HMRC on how they arrived at these assessments.  The result was thus, the HMRC had clearly failed to carry out a proper investigation.  Tony had actually overpaid the taxman, and they owed him £187.  The threats ceased, and the staff at HMRC just moved onto another victim. (2012)

‘HMRC Administration officer is jailed for 2 years’

(May 2013)  HMRC Civil Servant ISOMIDOLA OLAJIDE fraudulently obtained tax credits to the value of £72,000, by using a false claim as a single parent when she was not.  She worked in a London Branch of the Inland Revenue from 2003 to 2013.  The Judge said this was ‘Hard nosed dishonesty over a significant period of time’ when she appeared at Woolwich Crown Court, having admitted to tax fraud.  She was handed a jail sentence of two years.

‘HMRC IN SECRET DEAL WITH THE FOOTBALL RICH’ — It was always suspected and known that the HMRC was engaging in ‘Special Deals’ for the wealthy’  said former Chairman of The Public Accounts Committee, Margaret Hodge.  ‘These kind of secret deals for the wealthy are totally unjustifiable, they are the kind of thing that brings the whole tax system into disrepute!’     The exact amount by which the football clubs have reduced their tax bills under the secret deal is not known — and looking at the HMRC’s track record, no one will find out because they will hide it from the taxpayers.

‘BULLIED AND PRESSURISED BY THE HMRC’ — DH received  a demand from the tax man of £3,800, and they wanted it now!  The letter said ‘On speaking to HMRC by phone, they agreed this was not the correct amount.  They’d also sent him communicates urging that he sell his car or anything expensive like sports gear to pay the bill.  It appears none of this was his fault, and the assessment was way over the top.  But DH had to fight them all the way…and according to some top accountants, the assessment thing is one of the biggest ‘legal cons’ that HMRC love to send the taxpayer.  (2013)

‘HMRC HIT OUT AT DISABILITY CHARITIES’  — Yet again in their quest to take no prisoners, Lawyer Matt Wort of Anthony Collins Solicitors spoke out against the HMRC, saying, ‘The demand  of £400 million back pay taxes from disability charities was ‘unlawful’.  He said, ‘An internal guidance note to HMRC’s compliance staff in use until March 2016, shows the department was enforcing contradictory guidance at that time’  (2017) Go to link for more on this  www.civilsociety.co.uk/hmrc-back-pay-demands

‘Former HMRC advisor is jailed over share fraud’

A FORMER HMRC ADVISOR DAVID PERRIN set up a fairly massive tax avoidance scheme involving charities who suspected nothing of his dirty dealings.  Perrin and Vantis Tax Ltd became so confident that they actually claimed £70 million tax relief in connection with the shares, and these shares were discovered to be worthless it was said in court.  Perrin believed he knew the tax system so well, especially as he’d been with HMRC, that he stole millions of pounds from the taxpayers.  He was jailed for 18 months for tax fraud and exploited the rules for his own gain. (Feb 2012)

‘HMRC BREACHED DUTY OF CONFIDENTIALITY’  — What we know so far is that taxpayers are not regarded much by the people who run the Inland Revenue, and this little item from (13/12/2016) proves it.  The Supreme Court decided that the HMRC had breached its statutory duty of confidentiality, set out in Section 18(1) of the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act (2005), in disclosing confidential information relating to INGENIOUS MEDIA HOLDINGS to two journalists during an ‘off the record’ press briefing by the Head of HMRC.  The Court said ‘It was not part of HMRC’s function to pass on confidential information to the Press’

NB:  The Head of HMRC who was involved was not named, nor disciplined!

HMRC PAYOUTS TO SACKED STAFF REVEALED — This item is not intended to show regret for HMRC as we openly seek to bring you cases and information that damages these claims of being reputable. But this one does fall into the category of character reference and show just what they will do to their own.  It seems that ‘disgusting’ may not be the right word for certain HMRC practices that have been going on at the Inland Revenue for a long time.  Worker Alison Doran was awarded compensation of £11,581-03 by a tribunal panel that heard that HMRC had sacked her for her disability.  Worker Sara Pryde received compensation of £11,570 for a similar complaint against HMRC, and lastly, Rebecca Smith received £9,000 for discrimination at work against HMRC.  (13/6/2017)  There are many others.

‘UNIVERSITY AWARD GOES TO HMRC WHISTLEBLOWER’ — Former Solicitor to the HMRC OSITA MBA was given an award by Middlesex University for his bravery in exposing corruption and the tax deal brokered by the Head of Tax DAVE HARTNELL, who let off Goldman Sachs in a private deal so that they could benefit from not having to pay £10 million in interest. (2014)

NB: One should be quite cautious in praising this solicitor, the nice bloke image only applies to the Goldman Sachs case, he was after all engaged in making other decisions for the HMRC that might cancel out this gesture of openness.

‘Man commits suicide over HMRC tax demand’

The affect they have on the taxpayer can have drastic consequences, which they play down and feel no blame for, and we have one here, and we’ll tell you their response to this suicide.  On receiving a tax demand for £3,000, and being relentlessly pursued by the Inland Revenue staff, builder Simon Thompson stabbed himself in the heart in front of his bride-to-be.  These facts came out at the Inquest in Worthing, West Sussex.  Like many taxpayers, Simon got the bill at an extremely bad moment in his life after returning home from a special romantic trip with his wife to be.  His whole world turned upside down by the tax demand, devastating him completely.  A spokesman said ‘one cannot lay the circumstances of this on the HMRC?’

PS We can and we do with many others that see this as the knife that drove him to the act, that letter was clearly a major factor.

It has been reported to us that, in these circumstances the tax bill is levied against the estate of the deceased.

HMRC PARTY TO THE CONCENTRIX EVIL — Thousands of claimants for tax credit were hounded by this American firm contracted by HMRC.  Concentrix acted wilfully and at times unlawfully in the full knowledge of the HMRC who always step back and change the story with Lawyers at hand to write and invent the scripts.  People were accused of cheating on their tax credits, besides threats to have their benefits stopped a report says.  Staff at Concentrix admitted to The Independent newspaper that they were under pressure to do around 50 new tax credit investigations a day, and they don’t have time to check whether the allegations were correct?

45,000 AWARDS SUSPENDED IN HMRC BLUNDER — In 2016, HMRC chose not to worry about the problems they caused to claimants waiting for their tax credits during the renewal process.  They caused unnecessary hardship and distress, and even later they only reinstated 30,000 claims to which people had been entitled.  Public Account Committee Chairman MEG HILLER said ‘The HMRC must put right the damage done, and that means fully reinstating the awards of all claimants who wrongly lost their tax credits, and ensuring they are properly compensated for any impact on their entitlement to other benefits’

NB:  WE HAVEN’T FOUND A SINGLE PERSON COMPENSATED.

‘COURT RULES AGAINST HMRC OVER UNFAIR CLOSURE NOTICES’ — Ref: Manswoth v Jelley.  -Hely -Hutchinson.  The court quashed closure notices by the Inland Revenue because HMRC had not properly considered whether assessing tax that was technically due would be so unfair as to amount to ‘An Abuse of Power’   HMRC had breached the principle that all taxpayers should be treated fairly and consistently because other ‘Mansworth v Jolley’  loss claims had been allowed, unlawful use of statutory power to enquire into a taxpayers affairs.

HMRC Chief accused of Arrogance’

‘We made no mistakes’ said the boss of HMRC (2010) DAME LESLEY STRATHIE over a tax fiasco affecting millions of people.  She actually said her staff made no mistakes to which she was clearly wrong.  The Treasury Select Committee were not convinced, and blamed her for raising public anger towards the Inland Revenue.  Labour MP George Mudie, a member of the Committee accused her of arrogance – ‘I thought her remarks about business and choosing customers told you all you need to know about HMRC thinking.  They seem to regret the fact that as public servants they have to serve all the public.’

‘HMRC RUNNING ROUGHSHOD OF DATA LAW’  — The Data Protection Act was supposed to be a legal guardian to millions of people and businesses in the UK, yet, the HMRC have no regard for it at all, unless?  its their data.  And that is protected with all the force they can use inside or outside of the law.  This little item comes via the solicitors, not theirs I may add.  And they believe they have been compromised by HMRC with their clients, and they risk being sued by them for releasing confidential information.  Strangely enough, the HMRC aren’t big on confidentiality if you’ve read some of our other reports. (HMRC BREACH THE RULE OF CONFIDENTIALITY)

‘HMRC ACCUSED OF HARASSING SMALL BUSINESSES’  — Business leaders and Associations along with MP’s have criticised the abuse of power frequently acted out by the tax man as they increase ‘spot checks’ on small companies and traders.  Mr Walker, the Chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses said ‘ We have approached the HMRC on this subject several times and told them they are not doing themselves any favours in launching this scheme regardless of the consequences.’  MP Priti Patel said ‘ The persecution of small businesses is not a welcome thing, and the attitude of HMRC to small businesses is frankly quite disgraceful.’  (2/1/2012)

‘Drinks Firm considers suing the HMRC’

ESSEX DRINKS WHOLESALER MILLENIUM CASH ‘N’ CARRY are considering taking the Inland Revenue to court for damages to its business and reputation.  The HMRC seized around £150,000 worth of its stock in a sudden raid and impounded it.  QC for the company, Philip Coppel, said ‘This has had a catastrophic effect on the business and daily trade, and its employees.  This is a prolonged and deliberate misuse of highly invasive powers.’     The HMRC declined to comment….now there’s a surprise.   (6/8/2010)

‘MAN IS TO SUE HMRC FOR WRONGFUL ARREST’ — Following on nicely from the above item, Richard Hillgrove, Advisor to the TV’s Dragons Den team announced that he was told by a police insider to press his lawyer into a case against the HMRC, because he has a strong enough case.  He was initially arrested and charged with cheating the Inland Revenue of £100,000.   He told journalists ‘ they stormed into my house and acted very inappropriately…The Bristol Office!  (yes we’ve got some info on them)  and he was taken to Taunton Police Station for questioning.  He described it like a ‘Gestapo’ arrest, which other taxpayers concur in other items on this page.  (12/9/2012)

‘HMRC IN ‘RUBBER STAMP’ OPERATION TO SEARCH’  — This has some nasty HMRC activity so read on — Lord Justice Gillen said ‘ A process to obtain warrants to search the homes of four accountants under investigation for suspected tax evasion could be seen as just a ‘rubber stamping operation.’  He pressed Counsel for the HMRC on the lack of available reasons for authorising raids on the accountants.  Justice Gillen was also told that the HMRC ‘misled magistrates’ who granted granted the warrants at hearings where the men were not represented.  The defendant’s Lawyer, Barry MacDonald QC said ‘ The move by the HMRC was intrusive and breached the Human Rights Act in the case of the defendants.  The early morning raids were carried out when their children were at home, and this involved officers trawling and searching through schoolbags!  He further suggested that the Inland Revenue haven’t played a straight bat in this case, either in dealing with this investigation or in dealing with this application for a Judicial Review.’   (30/11/2016)

‘Tax Man involved in Child Porn Cache’

HMRC TAX MAN BENEDICT CULLUM was found to have over 2,000 images of kids, some as early as 6yrs in age, in abuse situations on his computer.  He admitted to one charge of making indecent images of children when he appeared before Magistrates in Stockport, Cheshire.  Police had made a raid on his house and seized the pc and its collection of photos.  It went onto say that he resigned from his position as a Senior Officer with the HMRC after the arrest.  There were 2,714 category C images!  He was told that he could face a jail term.  (29/10/2015)

‘FURY OVER HMRC BULLY-BOY TACTICS’ — Often read about, and little done is the real answer to curbing these abuses by the tax man, and why is that so?  Why is Parliament standing back?  Who are these Commissioners for HMRC and what agendas do they have?   Another ‘new’ report says the tax man is facing new fury as it emerged HMRC had been given sweeping powers to fine people who owe money just for knocking on their doors.  People who are behind on their taxes are being hit with stiff penalties for visits to their homes by the HMRC!  (November 28th 2017)

‘JUDGE CONDEMNS HMRC SECRET DEALS’  —  In this case of the taxman’s ‘secret deal’ which allowed fraudsters to go free — We look at a Court case in Leeds.  A Judge has condemned a ‘secret policy’ by the HMRC not to prosecute fraudsters who may have cheated the taxpayer out of millions of pounds in revenue through a scheme allowing disabled people to buy cars free of VAT.  This decision by the HMRC was revealed at Leeds Crown Court when a case collapsed against nine defendants facing conspiracy charges.  The Judge was furious with how much the case had cost on investigation and prosecution, which was begun and entered into because the Police and Crown Prosecution Service were ‘unaware’ of the HMRC ‘Secret Policy’     (23/2/2010)

‘OUTRAGE OVER HMRC SECRET TAX DEAL FOR MICROSOFT’ — Corruption meets corruption here as we see the big players in what one could call ‘mutual admiration’ — you scratch my back and I will?  Demands have been made for the government and HMRC to publish details of the deal it did with the Internet Giant.  Microsoft has ‘avoided’ up to £100 million a year in Corporation tax under a ‘confidential agreement’ with the Tax man.  Alex Cobham of the Tax Justice Network said’ It is simply untenable for HMRC to claim taxpayer confidentiality as an excuse to keep these deals private’  The arrangement with Microsoft is known as ‘An advance Pricing Agreement’ (The former PM David Cameron was there in 2012 when this was agreed)  Alex went onto say ‘It’s difficult to fathom how HMRC could have agreed a deal that legitimised the scale of misalignment between Microsoft’s real activity and its tax profits?

(We have more on Microsoft at our associated new site CORRUPT DOMAINS AND WEB HOSTS.COM on Google sites — just go to Google listing at https://sites/google.com/site/corruptdomainsandwebhosts/

‘610 H M R C staff disciplined and dismissed’

Over 610 civil servants at the HMRC have been disciplined for inappropriately accessing tax records of taxpayers since the Department was formed by the merger of Customs and Excise and The Inland Revenue three years ago says a recently accessed article — info by a website The A Register 1st May 2008.  The details are sadly far and few between on the offences committed at the HMRC, and we certainly wish we had the 610 cases to publish here, mind you, we will still go on searching for these no matter what.  The Financial Secretary at the time, one JANE KENNEDY played down the number saying it only represented one per cent of the total workforce at HMRC.  So we will show you her figures, the official ones?   Between April 2005 to December 2005 it says that 238 members of staff were caught snooping.  In January to December 2006  it says 180 were caught.  In January to December 2007 it says a rise to 192.  So taking that this rise indicates a future upward trend we did a modern calculation on this using the known ‘assessment’ records the taxman does to mere mortals it goes after and the figures show this to be on a calculation of x2, and then x2 of that which taxmen do to you the taxpayer, and we arrive at 2,440  and a figure of around 5 percent each year of the fiddling, corrupt HMRC civil servants.

‘HMRC APPLIES FOR THE POWER TO TAKE FINGERPRINTS’  -The Taxman showed incredible audacity in 2006 when it went to its friends, the government, seeking to gain the authority to take fingerprints of suspects — the taxpayer.  In fact it wanted free access to ‘water down’ all rights in law to make it easier for them to get search warrants and even more evasive powers.  They said ‘We want to avoid delays, which often happens when we face the normal channels’  — which was a crass statement to make in the Press.

‘TRIBUNAL RULES THAT HMRC CALCULATIONS UNFAIR’ — Mr and Mrs Jeffries were hotel owners who began an appeal, and appeared at the Tribunal Court to challenge the HMRC on a PPR calculation worked out by the taxman.  In the case of the above I.S. Jeffries and L.A.Jeffries versus The HMRC, it was decided that HMRC’s approach was definitely wrong.  (28/3/2014)

‘MAN FIGHTS FOR REFUND FROM THE HMRC’  — Branch Manager Mr Mooney claimed he was wrongly treated by the tax man, he claimed he should be regarded as self-employed, and assessed accordingly.  THE HIGH COURT held that the tax man was wrong in the Lower Court when the Inspector of Taxes appealed the decision and achieved a win.  The High Court up held Mr Mooney’s claim and the HMRC had to pay back a sum of £58,853 refund, and the court also made an order that the HMRC should pay interest on this.

‘The HMRC Tax Credit Rip-off and Clawback’

Not often talked about in detail, so we’ve got a case here that shows you just how callous and calculating the staff are at this Government Department — so read on.

CITIZEN D had his tax credits terminated in November by the Tax man A.CREWE in Preston, who made several disparaging remarks about D-s business, even though he knew very little about it.  CREWE was only interested in profitable businesses.  Citizen D. had been struggling to make ends meet and make a living, and realised for himself that the end was in sight for the trade he’d set up in 1998.  But A.CREWE remarked that he didn’t consider citizen D. was in a trade, profession or vocation that is commercial. (Somehow, we don’t think the other second-hand booksellers will take kindly to this at all)  CREWE promptly informed citizen D. that he was stopping the Tax credits immediately and re-branding the original award to the beginning of the tax year on the 6th of April 2017, of which they’d already made payments totalling £1,745. 01 which works out at £54.53 a week.  Which now means citizen D. was living on a weekly income of around £15.36, not that A.CREWE cares.  Even with the tax credit award citizen D. only earned about £69.89 a week, which is far below the minimum wage and categorised ‘poor’ by the Government itself.  Now A.CREWE has made citizen D. in debt to the HMRC for that £1,745.01 and intends to claw it back.  Citizen D. cannot do a back claim for JSA or Universal credit, he takes a huge loss and is now in debt due to this A.CREWE who realise he lived on only £15.36 most of the time…and being on tax credits at the time he couldn’t insure himself against this move and sign on, because he’s only allowed one benefit and he chose the lower to minimise his claim from the taxpayer.  No doubt the Conservative Government or May, and not forgetting the evil A,CREWE won’t be in the same boat, he or she simply moves onto another tax credit claimer feeling victorious in a warped and perverted way….an utterly corrupt individual.

So beware all tax credit claimers, there are probably more cases of this, and its probably not the first time A.CREWE has been on a ‘wrecking mission’ for his or her paymasters.

‘THE CONTINUED CORRUPTION IN THE HMRC AND DWP’  — Individuals like Meakin and Crewe are not rare in the tax office, they are simply part of the wider fabric called ‘the staff’ they are indoctrinated into corruption by the policies issued by The Commissioners and politicians that hide behind the schemes to deprive the public out of everything they can, and get the law to back up this by using crafty conniving solicitors to ruthlessly harass and alter the laws meaning to represent their paymasters views.  If you’ve already seen and read the above item and the HMRC freedom of information fiasco, you’ll not be surprised to hear that we looked at a similar thing on the DWP and they were just as evasive.  A man asked about help with fares and travel involved with seeking a job, and quite rightly pointed out that these were extra costs beyond the so-called JSA which says’ JSA is the amount you need to live on’ and there’s no clarification that this should also include extra costs borne by the claimant, who may end up with much less to live on.  The Freedom of Information reply dodged the issue several times by saying the words they often credit the allowance to, isn’t exact, and it is up to the jobseeker to see that they attend any interviews with no mention of compensation, saying that the Jobcentre has a small pot of cash that is carefully managed to help ‘in some cases’ — yet another get out, in other words corruptly interpreting the law to suit what they want, and to make sure they are not caught out, and this is typical of Tax staff who in the fiasco article also confused the applicant and avoided any direct question with a planned answer to deceive and mislead the claimant, whilst at the same time covering their backs…..this is a very dark and devious corruption that these departments play in order to save money, deter claimants, and to control claimants with threats of a financial and penalty situation.

CORRUPTION MEANS ‘To Wilfully deprive or Disadvantage’ someone to the advantage of another/to be morally depraved….which the DWP spokesperson was doing and so were Meakin and Crewe.  Their intentions were to weed out claimants and end their claims, and in the case of the Inland Revenue, disadvantage them and drive them into debt, showing no moral compass, compassion or mercy, and to wilfully execute this as soon as possible.

‘WOMAN’S ESTATE CHALLENGES HMRC AND WINS’  — Good news here for the taxpayer, An Upper Tribunal rejected an appeal made by the HMRC when it pursued a deceased’s money.  The case involved a woman who was terminally ill.  The HMRC treated a transfer deal only entered into just a matter of weeks before her death, as a ‘chargeable lifetime transfer’ and put in a claim for inheritance tax.  The Court ruled that and IHT advantage gained from the transfer was ‘not intended to confer gratuitous benefit’ and therefore HMRC’s appeal was rejected.  The Deceased woman was Mrs Staveley (January 25th 2017)

NB: The above case just shows you the motivation outstrips anything else — a means to their end, the tax man has no principles!

‘HMRC SPIES — GOVERNMENT APPROVED’  — The Government and HMRC are but one, a nicely tight knitted band of robbers in one guise or another — that’s why they get even more power to snoop and defile the moral codes that are already fractured by society.  A report says HMRC officers monitor E-Bay, Amazon and much more as they hire data anylists in their quest to suck out the cash from taxpayers.  Auction sites, shops etc, can be forced to hand over your details.  The only Data Law that exists with the HMRC, is their own, and accessing info is strictly discouraged and denied in 99 percent of cases, and that’s to protect the staff and the dirty deals they engage in.

GAGGING ORDERS IMPOSED ON EX-HMRC FIRED WORKERS’ —  As we set about finding out who these dismissed workers were that were fired for misconduct etc, one of these guys contacted us through our corruptionseeker e-mails account.  Before we could get anywhere he asked us not to reveal his name for fear of reprisals from HMRC, particularly the Commissioners he said.  Reluctant as we are we did the deal so that you can now know why there isn’t a huge story file, it’s prevented by the HMRC and their Lawyers. He sent us a copy of his termination letter which proved interesting more by what it failed to say or disclose.  They mentioned ‘reports’ department heads and managers besides how the investigation into their offence was carried out before coming to the final paragraph and that’s the bit that sounded more like a threat!  Obviously from their Legal Department, it said they were not allowed to disclose the contents which it pointed out was ‘confidential’ and they were not to discuss or communicate the contents of the letter with anyone else, repeat, copy etc, as this could result in further action against them of legal proceedings….a little bit like the Official Secrets Act, which they meant it to sound like.

So, now we know why those 0riginal 610 can’t be found on the Internet, but we’re going to try and find some of them.

‘ HMRC Tax Officer stole £160,000’

HMRC Employee RUTH KEVAN was a manager at The Tax Office in Southend, Essex, and a much praised member of staff.  But this all faded when she appeared at Basildon Crown Court facing theft charges.  She apparently conned fellow staff members to invest money into a savings club run by Kevan, which was being run like a Ponzi-style Scam.  It was said she took around £160,000 and spent it on a luxury lifestyle….apparently her husband, who also worked at the Tax Office alongside her, said he knew nothing of what she had been doing!  She was jailed for two and a half years.  (6/11/2013)

MISCALCULATIONS OF HMRC REVEALED IN LEAKED MEMO — The Taxman found things rather awkward when it was revealed that a blunder by staff sent out thousands of tax statements that were in fact, incorrect.  The report went onto say that around five million UK workers have been discovered to have underpaid or overpaid through the PAYE system.  The leaked memo said they were ‘sorry’ about the incorrect calculations and that they were investigating these cases,  Stuart Philips who runs a Financial Advice Firm said ‘This clearly calls into question their ability to do accurate assessments in the real time system.’   (9/10/2014)

HMRC NOT THE PLACE YOU THINK IT IS?  — We grabbed this from a forum we happened upon, and took out some tasty bits for this page, and we’re going to begin with one that certainly sounds genuine, and casts doubts on a lot of the others.

‘Most reviews on this forum are like CV fillers!’

‘HMRC not the best place to work due to the inexperience of all managers, especially HEO’s who would not advise applicants’

‘You tend to report to someone who has no knowledge of tax Law and less in people.’

‘You’re judged on numbers, not knowledge, compassion or understanding.’

‘You’ll get bored of ignoring customers!’

‘Its a depressing atmosphere and repetitive work’

‘Bullying managers, who are covert and divisive!’

‘They care more about the pennies than the people who help run the place.  and they care more about ‘stats’ than the welfare of claimants.’

So there you are, we left it at that point because some of the praises looked artificial and placed on the forum deliberately.

HMRC DATA BLUNDER LEADS TO LOWER PENSIONS — This recent report says around 4 million ordinary workers about to retire on a new flat rate pension could get the wrong amount because of inaccurate records.  It says that early information dating back to 1978 is riddled with errors and mistakes which could affect pensions.  The Treasury have been told that data being used to calculate the £155 a week pension is unreliable.  The HMRC made no comment other than the matter is of urgent concern and is being looked into.

‘Bungling Tax Inspectors Overpaid themselves £22 million over the past decade’

It emerged in a Whitehall paper that tax workers were involved in many tax blunders which resulted in the HMRC Officials chasing down their colleagues to get overpayments back.  This ‘untouched’ article from The Mail Online, said that 245 HMRC employees were overpaid more than £1,000 last year as a result of ‘errors’ in the Payroll Department.  In 2015 to 2016, salary blunders added up to £1.4 million! an average of £5,000 extra for each staff member.  (Published 15th Feb 2017)

‘RAIL WORKER RECEIVES TAX DEMAND FOR £14 TRILLION?’ — A man from Bristol who works on the railways was shocked to receive a tax bill from the HMRC demanding a payment of £14 trillion pounds.  Giles Hembrough opened the ominous brown envelope and was completely stunned by what he saw.  The HMRC had changed his tax code prior to this, and the bill said ‘they would let him know if this amount is right?’  The tax office blamed it on a computer error saying that these bills are ‘generated’ by recent activity on record, but it apparently looks as if someone fell asleep on the keyboard!’

FORMER ‘CONCENTRIX’ WORKER SAYS HMRC WAS AT FAULT, NOT CONCENTRIX  — At last, a rebuttle, as a recently dismissed tax worker who fell victim of the cancelled contract by HMRC, said ‘It was HMRC poor systems to blame. ‘After we closed off cases, it just sits there in a sort of limbo stage, waiting for HMRC to process it’ she said.  ‘There were massive delays and we took the blame, well, it was pushed onto us.  Everything was supposed to run right, but it was at the HMRC end that it failed, but as they were paying the £75 million bill, we were used to cover their errors.’  (October 3rd 2016)

THE MASSIVE HMRC LIE — HMRC make the false statement of ‘If your payments have gone down’ they will help. this is a flight of fancy and cannot be supported by this organisation.  It pretends that you the claimant, cannot meet your essential living expenses because your payments have gone down, they laughably ask you to contact them ‘as we may be able to make extra payments’.  These are greatly exaggerated and mostly a lie perpetrated by HMRC staff.  Having looked at this closely, it becomes obvious that they cannot explain what essential needs are, and who qualifies for it…and that is no one.  They more or less say that once your benefit has been fixed that’s all you are allowed to by law, their law, so any extra is not an entitlement and they turn most people asking this, away and point them to the DWP and other benefits they’re not likely to get.  Tax credits are fixed at certain rates which are rigorously controlled, there is no room to offer extra help, all the staff know it, and dangle this bit of fiction in front of people to con them.  ‘may be able’ isn’t something that can be relied upon.  Its not enforceable or policy of the Inland Revenue, its a piece of propaganda aimed to deceive the public.

‘Revelations of a CORRUPT HMRC Culture’

This next item was an actual government appraisal of HMRC and The Committees worries over their non compliance in many areas.

REPORT OF SESSION 2010 – 2012 — THE COMMITTEE OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS.

‘Inland Revenue try to avoid scrutiny and consistently fail to give straight answers to any questions regarding their operations.’

Disturbing Fact: There is a provision that allows The Commissioners to authorise disclosure of confidential taxpayers details’ (and this goes unchecked most of the time)

‘The HMRC withhold details from Parliament which reduces transparency and makes it impossible for Parliament to hold The Commissioners to account?’

‘There is the Departments failure to comply with its own processes.’

‘They often take no responsibility for serious errors.’

‘They make many spurious arguments in front of the tribunal’

‘They can withhold repayments (refunds) which cause delay, and evidence shows that the HMRC go way beyond the Statute and what their guidelines allow!’

‘Any challenge of a decision or repayment must trigger an enquiry, and this is often overlooked by HMRC officers.’

‘They apply restrictive conditions designed to delay or deny a claimant — the subjectivity is as follows — ‘unconscionable’ ‘unprincipled’ and ‘indefensible’ and many more such terms (invented by their crafty Lawyers)

The Public Accounts Committee were quick to point out this — ‘We saw very little evidence of personal accountability within the Department’

There was more, but the above facts give the game away.

‘NO PROTECTION FROM THE HMRC ON DATA’  — The only secret and safe data? to be not seen by the majority of taxpayers is with the HMRC.  Even their Freedom of Information answers are evasive and corruptly arrogant.  As to Claimants and Taxpayers, their data is an ‘open market’ to be picked on and shared by 60 other countries.  They operate a program called ‘CONNECT’ which cost the taxpayer £80 million.  Its function and purpose is to find out everything about you, personal info, commercial info, and your life to a very invasive degree.  They even scour sites like Facebook, Amazon and E-bay to see if they can get you.  Anything odd or vaguely connecting to a rumour is flagged up, and an invisible investigation is prompted.  And if it leads to a wrong assumption and damages, the Lawyers for HMRC automatically place legal hurdles and stonewalling to hinder and destroy the claimants chances of compensation.

HMRC TAX CREDIT DETECTIVES POUNCE ON THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE’  – An article by Simon Read tells you how it is with the HMRC…..and their motto is — ‘You’re guilty until proven innocent’   And our research here shows that to be so.  He goes on to say that tens of thousands of people have been targeted with bullying letters from HMRC.  A despicable case in point is — One woman who received just £15 a week in tax credits was threatened, and asked to prove that she was innocent of the allegation they made.  They told her that her tax credits would be stopped within 30 days.  She had to send in bank statements, rental agreements, gas bills, and numerous other things of a confidential nature.  We did an experiment here, and got someone to ask a tax officer whether they were willing to show such items, this led to answer that said all data of HMRC staff was confidential and not available under the law?   So as we can see it, there’s one law for them, and another for the public.

‘HACKER SAYS HE CAN GET INTO ANY HMRC FILES’  — and just to finish this section, we came across a statement by a hacker, and this is what he says.  ‘All that I need to do is find a Customs Official to compromise (and that’s not difficult), and I will have access to basic tax records.   With an Official in The Revenue Commissioners, HMRC, I can acess bank account details held by offices, addresses, assets, even investment details all for the price of a ‘burner phone’  I don’t even need to know how to turn on the computer, and restricted databases are quite easy really!

‘HMRC Suppress ‘Damages’ Reporting’

The current tax credit hardship processes are not well publicised, and very little information is provided about when someone might qualify under the Hardship Provisions.  The HMRC are quite well aware of this and instead of making an effort to ease stress and breakdowns caused, the Commissioners back a policy of ‘Suppression’ so that they can keep it out of the public arena and Media, so that they are not briefed on these awful actions and the results, and there are many cases, but not often picked up by the casual person on the street.  This obviously suits the Inland Revenue and as far as we can see they don’t really care.  We tried to find some, but drew a blank, which certainly shows how effective the HMRC are in covering up a scandal.

HMRC CHIEF FORCED TO APOLOGISE FOR BLUNDER’ — Top Civil Servant and boss of HMRC, David Hartnett, kept his arrogant stance until the last moment as the pressure mounted in the Government and Public gaze.  This was the man who said ‘I’m not sure I see a need to apologise over blunders that left 1.4 million people facing demands for an average of £1,428 extra tax’  on a radio 4 interview.  However, on reflection he issued one and the HMRC tried to make light of it as usual.

HMRC WRONGLY SEND OUT WRONGLY SENT PENALTY NOTICES TO 12,000 PEOPLE.  — Busy tax officials sent out some 12,000 penalty notices for non-filing of tax returns, warning them of daily fines amounting to £10 a day.  It turned out these were incorrect and were sent out in ‘error’    This ‘error’ followed an earlier error when the HMRC sent out around a million letters containing potentially confusing information about child tax credits!    Not bad for a department that claims it doesn’t do mistakes?    (April 2012)

THE FLAWED HMRC TAX CREDIT APPEALS — You are led to believe that you can dispute an overpayment decision because it wasn’t your fault, and in many cases the client isn’t aware of an impending catastrophe about to arrive by a vindictive tax officer out to screw up people’s lives.  But often or not, they get a kick out of doing this — and it’s the ‘Powerkick’, a sense of being God and one without morals.  The .Gov site almost destroys the notion of fairplay, as it openly says that FEWER THAN 1 IN 10 TAX CREDIT DISPUTES ARE SUCCESSFUL,  and the criteria necessary is that you’ve got to prove they made ‘a mistake’  and as we see from these arrogant civil servants, they only have ‘errors’ and no mistakes!

‘HMRC Civil Servant gets £19,000 to find new job, and is re-employed on £50,000 a month!’

Yes, and this one refused to work for anything less?  HMRC civil servant DEEPAK SINGH who quit his tax post because he was only earning £160,000,  walked back into the HMRC just weeks after quitting to be re-employed for £600,000 a year, and this was all over his lack of promotion within the department?  Apparently, a disgusted MP wrote to The Chief Secretary to the Treasury demanding an investigation.  The scandal emerged as Chief of HMRC Dame Strathie was being quizzed by The Commons Public Accounts Committee.  (13th October 2010)

PS.  No investigation took place and HMRC ‘blagged’ its way out of the situation.

‘HMRC MAN ON ADULTERY WEBSITE’  — Yes, we’ve found it. so here’s the story you may not be aware of.  The article says that civil servants used official Government websites to register profiles and explicit sexual fantasies on an Adultery website.  Some of these officials were identified as belonging to The Inland Revenue and Ministry of Justice, who used their ‘secure’ accounts on a website for those seeking illicit affairs, One Senior HMRC official described himself as ‘a great dad’ before specifying that he wanted to meet a ‘curvy raven haired MILF’ its translation being a sleazy Internet Acronym.  They used the Government Secure Intranet (GSI) which is intended to let civil servants send confidential and restricted information securely. All this came to light when hackers broke into the site and released details of the users.  Interestingly The Home Office gave this statement – ‘ The Civil Service Code outlines the values and standards of behaviour expected of all civil servants’ — which of course is shattered already and means very little, if nothing!

‘THE STRANGE RELATIONSHIP OF IAN BARLOW (HMRC) AND THE CANDY BROTHERS?’ — Barlow, who became the Head of HMRC came under the scrutiny and interest of PRIVATE EYE, and questions arose over whether Ian Barlow, having been the Head of an Accounting firm KVMG’s tax practise of running off-shore tax avoidance schemes until 2001, and then the firm’s Senior UK partner until leaving and taking up the Candy Directorship!  PRIVATE EYE said they’d seen evidence that showed Barlow acted as an Advisor to the billionaire Candy Brothers.  PRIVATE EYE put several questions to HMRC, but they said Mr Barlow was unable to answer the questions as he was ‘on leave’…. probably off-shore?

HMRC IN DISPUTE WITH MANY FIRMS OVER TAX — The taxman may be looking at their own bill (taxpayers bill) of £43 billion pounds, the cost of repaying firms who say they have been paying too much tax.  This figure was released in their latest annual accounts (Aug 2015) as the HMRC are locked in a battle of multi-million law cases with dozens of Corporations who believe they are owed refunds.  Some of these are Littlewoods the catalogue people, the Prudential, British American Tobacco etc.

‘MAN PLANS TO FIGHT HMRC OVER TAX CODES’ — Keith Watkins, now 70, said he received five separate letters in one day, all from the HMRC demanding money to cover ‘underpaid tax’.  He said he couldn’t see or understand how these adjustments are calculated, and that goes for these tax codes, and that makes it very difficult for me to check if they’re right!  Mr Watkins is worried that his latest codes may be wrong too.  ‘I will definitely be challenging the demand for payment, as it is not fair to land pensioners with unexpected bills of this nature!’

‘The Inland Revenue Compensation Saga’

Claiming costs?  from HMRC…….From what we’ve gathered, it’s an absolute nightmare according to a businessman who has spent hours listening to recorded messages all about how much information is available on the HMRC website, and then you get disconnected afre about three minutes or so.  And he has been waiting for tax codes because the HMRC were taking weeks to sort the matter out.  He was advised to lodge a series of complaints, quantify the cost of the financial loss he’s incurred, and then make the claim based on solid agreement with them that HMRC was faulty in its service delivery.   However, before you go this far, you will be passed from pillar to post through a whole series of ‘customer service’ officers, departments, who have no understanding whatsoever of tax or the HMRC systems, and are chiefly skilled in fobbing you off!

‘UN-NAMED HMRC MANAGER ON TAXPAYER FUNDED CREDIT CARD SPREE’  — We happened on this because it was part of an IPCC report, and they usually tackle police situations and misconduct.  The report said they had been passed this case from the HMRC, and it concerned a Tax Staff Manager, a woman who has now been dismissed.  She was said to have spent around £10,000 using HMRC Corporate Credit Cards.  She made several withdrawals not only on one card, but others used by her team.  She apparently denied any wrongdoing initially, and the case was passed to the CPS who did not pursue any criminal charges?  (22/8/2012)

‘HMRC HIT STUDENT WITH A BILL THAT WASN’T HIS RESPONSIBILITY’ —  Amidst the HMRC’s attempt to crush all opposition to their self awarded powers, they began their evil by tripling the penalties for late payment and inaccuracies!  Student Jack Dyson filled in his own personal self-assessment return, but reportedly failed to submit a ‘joint’ return with a fellow student who he’d set up a business with.  Although Jack Dyson owed little or no tax, he received an automatic ‘late-filing’ penalty of £1,300, and he was not permitted to appeal against it due to a ‘loophole’ in other words, ‘ a denial of rights under the Inland Revenue Law?  (27/4/2015)

‘TAXMAN’S AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOUR SHOWS NO HALT IN SIGHT’ — Sanctioned and condoned by the 2013/14 new regulations,  the Taxman’s target has been pointed in the direction of childminders.  In their Government backed ‘state of hate’ the HMRC hounds are agressively cracking down on Tax Credit claimants such as the financial affairs of childminders.  They have sent out 1000’s of letters demanding that they provide up-to-date accounts and other evidence that they work.  In DWP mode, both agencies have launched an attack on the people in order to lessen the benefits and drive out the claimants so that only the top people in Society have a say and control the power.  They are demanding details of what is done in the working hours, adverts placed, social media activity and names and addresses of customers.  The fact they cause fear, issue threats, bully and blackmail claimants is of no interest, and this is supposed to be a criminal act, but that isn’t applicable to HMRC OR DWP, they have complete immunity granted by the State and its Lawyers.   One can actually see their game, and that is to make people afraid to claim, because they can’t figure out where they stand, and the power of the HMRC is able to come down on them at the slightest mistake and wreak massive damage….this is what the HMRC and DWP doing, and it’s a government backed scheme.  (20/12’2017)

‘HMRC Taxman is caught in lewd act on the train’

INLAND REVENUE CIVIL SERVANT WILLIAM PATTERSON obviously thought as he did at work, that he was immune from those common laws and his Lawyer pleaded with the Court to have him spared due to his employment status at the HMRC.  The act which was rather pathetic and of course indecent, was caught on the train’s CCTV.  The Inland Revenue taxman Patterson, was charged with a breach of the peace and sexual aggravation when he appeared before the SHERIFF’S COURT at Greenock.  It was said that Patterson worked at the Glasgow Inland Revenue Office.  (21/3/2015)

‘SHORT-CHANGED BY HMRC STAFF’ – Have you ever tried claiming back cost incurred?  Well, several of you have, especially over items like account books that you’ve been ordered to send in.  Quite a few people say they’ve lost out by up to £6 in postage fees and the tax office just ignores this.  Some say they have written several times and invoiced the Inland Revenue who don’t see it as their problem, but on the other hand, if its costs they incurred they chase you all the way.  They don’t actually care whether this extra finance causes you a problem and ignore the issue completely.  Staff have even told the claimant it’s their duty to co-operate with a request and that the costs should be borne by the sender.  Having looked at this we find their mindset rather at odds with common decency and business sense…if someone requests a service off you and you fulfil that at a cost, that makes it a transaction which should be paid by the recipient of the item they have sent for, after all, any goods sent out on approval etc, the postage is always picked up by the one asking for that service…but not the HMRC.

‘HMRC IN SHADY OFF-SHORE DEAL’  — Not really surprising,  In 2001 ALISTAIR DARLING, Chancellor at the time, authorised a deal by selling off 600 buildings of the HMRC, in other words – State Assets.  The Inland Revenue said it had signed a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) deal with UK registered Mapeley Ltd, transferring ‘ownership and management’ of the entire estate.  But this was not strictly the truth.  HMRC had sold the properties to a Bermuda based ‘sister company’ Mapeley Steps Ltd for £220 million, while paying rent to a UK company called Mapeley Steps Contractors Ltd.  The former off-shored company with huge profits posted losses to HMRC, and therefore paid no taxes to the Treasury, which in itself is a scandal.  When asked about this transaction and what had been going on, HMRC stated that their ‘misleading’ Press release was simply a mistake? (24/5/2016)

‘The Scandal HMRC would rather forget about’

This little item is labelled ‘A CAN OF HMRC WORMS’ by its author who seems very confident of his facts.  He points to a deal the HMRC used to broker called the ‘CONTRACTOR SCHEME’  which went on nicely for a period of almost eleven years without fuss.  Apparently the Inland Revenue allowed these schemes to exist, to be promoted, to operate, without batting an eye!  The article mentions APN’s and the official IR35 legislation.  It points at a deal that the HMRC turned a blind eye to and rarely asked questions about, so long as it remained off the radar.  For more on this, the full details and story are at https://www.dotas-scandal.org/a-can-of-worms/

‘HMRC HUMILIATION OVER WHISTLEBLOWER’S E-MAIL’  — This was an e-mail lost for 7 years.  Investigators in the Media said that an e-mail emerged 7 years after a whistleblower had offered the HMRC evidence of a tax avoidance scandal involving HSBC’s Swiss Subsidiary involving British account holders in 2008.  But HMRC did nothing about it.  The Head of HMRC at the time was Lin Homer, and she told MP’s that she had no knowledge of the e-mail?  (13/2/2015)

‘THE TAX SCANDAL HMRC COULDN’T GET AT OR ACCESS’  — Former Chairman of the Commons Public Accounts Committee Margaret Hodge said she didn’t have much confidence in HMRC’s appetite for really defending the taxpayers interests.  She said that after quoting the time HMRC came under fire for its response to tax evasion by customers of the HSBC’s Swiss Bank Saga.  This time it’s THE PANAMA PAPERS and the Panamanian Law Firm of MOSSACK FONSECA.  HMRC are having to seek help from investigative journalists who managed to grab 11.5 million leaked documents showing tax deals and evasion on a large scale involving British Companies and individuals. (5/4/2016)

‘5 Years Jail for HMRC Employee’

CIVIL SERVANT SUSANNE GREEN worked in the ‘electronic payments team’ at the Inland Revenue’s Essex Office.  She was hired to identify ‘unallocated VAT payments’ but she fraudulently paid them elsewhere.  Investigators found that she was working with others, a ‘six man team’ as it was described in court.  She actually entered a ‘not guilty plea’ when she was on trial at Southbank Crown Court, but this was rejected and she was jailed for five years  It was said that the scam involved £2.4million, one of the biggest fraud cases.  (11/12/ 2017)

‘A SMACK IN THE FACE FOR CREDIT CARD USERS AS HMRC WON’T ACCEPT THEM — Yes, it’s another move by the Inland Revenue and supported by the Conservative Government.  They have banned payments on tax bills to be paid by credit cards, despite persuading all the country to use cards in shops and online for everything.  The HMRC made a statement saying ‘ New rules mean that we can no longer pass on what our bank charges for processing a credit card payment.  It woud be unfair to expect taxpayers to pick up this cost….. which means they have been doing all along, and as ‘being unfair’ how fair is it to block FOI’s and information on payouts and cases they made to employees they fired?  Think about that before you get fooled into thinking they serve the country for you!   (30/12/2017)

HMRC DEPARTMENT RESPONSIBLE FOR HALF OF STAFF FRAUD IN GOVERNMENT’

Deception and swindling by staff at HM Revenue and Customs are now understood to be responsible for more than half of the recorded fraud by value committed across all government departments.  Official records in 2008 revealed that in once case, 14 members of HMRC staff were investigated for financial fraud totalling £2.3 million in March 2008.   Fraud by Customs staff had increased also, 10 members of staff were investigated over a £1.7 million fraud.  They were all found guilty of  a criminal offence and sacked.      About £3million to £6million pounds worth of recorded fraud was committed by government employees across 28 departments.    (the figures have gone up in the last ten years a suvey says)

‘Tax Credits Compliance Officer in £34,000 Fraud’

HMRC BENEFITS AND TAX CREDITS COMPLIANCE OFFICER LAURA SOUTHERN was described in court as ‘being convicted of the very crime she was paid to investigate and deter’  The Civil Servant from Clonmore Park, Lisburn, checked fraudulent claims whilst at the same time fraudulently claiming she was a single parent for which she received tax credits to the value of £34,209  between the years of 2012 and 2017.  At Craigavon Crown Court she was given a suspended 15 month prison sentence after pleading guilty to fraud.  (14/12/2017)

‘WORRIED TAX WORKER CONTACTS THIS SITE ABOUT WHAT’S GOING ON’  —  We shall call him John as he doesn’t wish to be labelled as a whistleblower in the tax department where he works.  He said he’s seen some things going on that look decidedly unlawful and been told to ignore certain activities.  He says that some of the others go along with it because they fear they might be booted out, but he feels they are only adding to the problem and not being fair to the claimants who are reliant on their tax credit awards.  ‘They’re frightened enough without some of the staff using them as a game to get their kicks’ he says and going up to management can be risky as one cannot trust that they too are involved or as he noticed, complacent about claimants anyway.  He tells us that two he knows quite well alter things on documents and lose vital info deliberately to put the claimant at risk.  He asked us what should he do?  so, we’ve told him to log things he sees, get copies of papers that he can which look suspicious, and we will do the rest.  So any of you in the same dilemma, go to  corruptionseeker@hotmail.com

‘Tax Officer rips off the Taxpayer by £56,000’

TAX OFFICER FRANCES CYNTHIA COLE of the HMRC, ripped off the taxpayer by £56,000 in a Tax Credit Fraud.  She was sentenced at the Isleworth Crown Court to one year in jail.  Cole from West London was employed by the Inland Revenue as an Administration Officer in the Tax Credit Compliance Department.  It was said in court that she deliberately abused her position and made fraudulent claims in order to receive the tax credit payments over a long period of time.  (19/8/2013)

‘THE INLAND REVENUE ‘SELF-ASSESSMENT’ SCAM’  — This move by The Government and its partner in crime, the HMRC, was in fact one of the most blatant schemes to rob the public legally, and that’s what they did.  They placed all the responsibility on the taxpayer not only in the filling and being warned about honesty and correctiveness , but the filing of the form too in regard to time limits.  Coming up with the idea of fines must have been the Treasury’s idea along with the Revenue department, as the fines system not only allowed them to just collect extra money but perversely alter things so that they could accuse a person of other ‘crimes’ that rendered the taxman bigger fines.  Current info suggests that it’s at least £100 a time to miss the deadline, and reports show us that 1 in 10 people around the country miss this deadline and that means millions extra for the HMRC, and that’s not tax, that is pure ‘greed’ by a government that wants to take as much as it can and give very little back to the people.  These are ‘automatic’ fines, people doing their tax return on line face up to an hour on completing it, and they are warned to check this thoroughly.  The amount of paperwork needed is quite staggering, it includes P45 income, possibly a P60, and maybe a P11D.  You must declare any income from any investments and property, pension contributions, and that’s just the beginning.  You must state your assets, any capital gains, and you must not leave anything out!  You could go to an accountant and this in 2017 costs around £200 for completing a ‘straight-forward simple tax return’….and their costs may not be able to be claimed for, so beware on that…the Inland Revenue are not too keen on deductable income and have pulled many items once claimed for out of the bag.  This robbery is unique, in that a Parliament has made it legal…..and they have a bunch of civil servants at your cost pursuing you for every penny they can!

‘HMRC IN PLOT TO SHARE PRIVATE DATA ON EVERY PERSON IN UK — This piece seems to have its origins in Whitehall, so here it is.  It says in the report that departments such as the HMRC will be able to pass on private data of millions to private firms, town halls, quangos etc, under new powers mentioned in the Queens Speech.  Collections of bulk data will now be available to who they decide.  These measures are mentioned in the Digital Economy Bill which deals with Broadband across Britain, the ministers will put in new law allowing other bodies to share the mass of confidential public data.

‘HMRC refuse to disclose cost of 5 year case’

Amazingly, the Inland Revenue pride themselves on knowing ‘exactly’ how much you owe them in tax, and they are keen to send you the bill as soon as possible, and these include fines.  They also insist on honesty and transparency from the taxpayer when it comes to tax returns, and they come down heavily on those who don’t account for every penny they earned or received.  Yet, when questioned about a five year case against ‘Rangers’ they refuse to disclose that cost, and were steadfastly keeping to the reply ‘It would cost too much to find out the costs in this particular case!’  This is how the fobbed off journalists seeking to know how much the taxpayer had paid….but that’s accountability for you, and transparency – nil!

‘TWO MILLION PEOPLE FACE TAX DEMANDS FROM HMRC’  – A report says that the Inland Revenue will be billing around two million people for £800 million for underpaying in the last financial year.  The HMRC will be chasing those who did not pay enough tax and said the average shortfall will be around £400 each.  This means that these people will be paying an extra £33 a month to catch up.  They said that they had paid out £4.32 million in overpayments in 2015 and 2016, and that they will be pursuing these.

‘THE UNUSUAL CASE OF MR WILLIAMS AND HIS TAX APPEAL’ — This happened in 2011, and we were lucky to spot this, but being the hound dogs we are, here it is –  ‘Although Mr Williams had his appeal rejected, which surprised him….in the envelope telling him of the decision to disallow his appeal, there was an ‘internal memo’ enclosed, one that was not meant for him to see.  The HMRC said it was mistakenly enclosed and uttered that they were sorry that he saw it.  The internal note was from a technical advisor to the tax officer who was dealing with Mr William’s case and appeal.  And this told a very different story, which said – ‘Although we made errors, he should (Mr Williams, the Taxpayer) have picked up on them.  You will have to write to him and apologise for the poor quality of service he has received, but unfortunately he has to pay the charges!’

NB: So as you can see from the above, if they make any errors, you the taxpayer must pay for their mistakes, not bad eh?

‘HMRC in court battle ordered to pay £500 by Tax Adjudicator’

BETH PORTER SUED THE INLAND REVENUE because she lost half of her state pension due to the negligence of the HMRC, who claimed they could not find 15 previous years of National Insurance contributions.  The Former Actress of film and TV now 72, has fought a 13 year battle with the department for Work and Pensions, claiming they are incompetent.  She said ‘I’ve experienced rude staff, my letters being ignored and promises of phone calls that never happened, and they also lost documents or claimed them to be so’  After getting nowhere and feeling very frustrated with the affair, she lodged a formal complaint with the Tax Adjudicator, and won a £500 payout against HMRC, one of the highest awards for anyone suffering at the hands of the tax man.  Despite this, HMRC didn’t budge on their decision to pay her half of her pension saying certain records were no longer available, because certain data from the 70’s were deleted.  The case has now gone onto the appeal stage.    (15/5/2015)

‘HMRC WRONG SAYS JUDGE IN PAYMENT’S CASE’ — The Inland Revenue, supported by PM David Cameron, hoped they could force through legislation to claw back benefit payments sent oversees by UK unemployed migrant parents getting £20 per week payments for child allowance.  But the Judge dismissed HMRC’s appeal and ruled that ‘even Europeans living in Britain who are jobless and claiming, can receive the £20 allowance payment for children living overseas.’  Further disclosures revealed that in another Tribunal case, Judge Edward Jacobs in the Upper Tribunal ruled it ‘wrong to try to claw back child benefits from unemployed migrant parents.’    The HMRC later admitted they’d relied on outdated E.U.Law for their appeal?

‘THE TAXMAN LOSES IN ANOTHER COURT CHALLENGE’ — This was the NOVASOFT CASE- versus the HMRC.  The taxpayer’s appeal case was successful with the Commissioners against the HMRC.  The Tribunal decided that this was a case of ‘self-employment’ and being so, the   I.R.35 legislation did not apply in this case.  In reaching its verdict, the Tribunal cited the ‘Hall v Lorimer’ case in that it is necessary to ‘paint a picture from the accumulation of detail.’  The I.R.35 relates to intermediary companies — it is said that its intention, though complex, is to catch disguised employees falsely trading through their limited companies to reduce their tax.  But it has on occasions unfairly treated genuine self-employed people, as it did in this case.’     (15/5/2010)

‘20,000 Tribunal cases against the HMRC pending’

A Report shows that the tax man is involved in 20,000 tribunal cases pending, and there could be many more as a result of a successful businessman, Sir Terry Leahy who has urged people who have had concerns and issues with the new tax legislation, should take on the HMRC legally and change the law.  Saying that a Tribunal hearing would make a good start to do this instead of letting the taxman have his way.  This has now led to the Inland Revenue admitting that they already have 20,000 tribunal cases pending and it could take up to 38 years to go through all of them, they also said it could cost them billions in tax.     (14/1/2018)

‘HMRC IN PITIFUL COMPENSATION SCANDAL’  — One hears of benefitting from someone else’s downfall, and recent news of £14 being paid out to 1,271 victims of the ‘Concentrix Situation’ is certainly what HMRC are good at.  The recent report into the firm Concentrix has revealed that the £75 million pound contracted company hired by the Inland Revenue terminated or adjusted 108,000 cases of claimants tax credits, of which a third were overturned at appeal.  Taking advantage of the fact they had to terminate the deal, HMRC have only paid out £18,035 in compensation to 1,271 people, and what is more, there is news that because the deal was terminated before it ended, Concentrix walked away with £32 million of taxpayers money.  The findings against Concentrix reveals that 87 percent of cases went to appeal because they did real harm and caused damage to people’s lives.  Both the Concentrix and Carillion episodes have shown that the bosses walked away with a decent payoff and bonus deal.  In 2016 Concentrix was accused of ‘a brutal and disrespectful approach’…..and in the case of these so called HMRC ‘compensation packages of £14’  they should be added to this list of brutal and disrespectful monsters that bow to the paymasters the Tory Party.      (Jan 2018)

‘150 LAPTOP PC’s LOST BY INLAND REVENUE STAFF’ — This report dated November 2011, says that over a five year period, civil servants at the HMRC could not account for 150 missing laptop computers.  It was said that they were all disk encrypted.  And yet again the HMRC would not comment on the matter of these taxpayer funded pc’s and apparently, no disciplinary action has been taken against the staff involved, so there’s no surprise there!    

‘MP and Law Centre hit out at the HMRC’

The suffering of Tax Credit claimants became such an issue to The Hackney Law Centre and Meg Hillier MP and Chairman of The Public Accounts Committee, that they spoke out saying that the ‘outsourcing to Concentrix’ was a venture ‘with appalling human consequences!’  Meg Hillier, also the MP for Hackney, added, ‘We will be examining the NAO’s findings closely and holding Senior Officials from HMRC and Concentrix to account on the issues highlighted when we take evidence from them in January.’                                                                                In Mid-December 2016, the HMRC had paid out compensation of around £87,000to claimants who suffered worry and distress.   (Jan 2017)

‘HMRC ignore Data Law because they can!’

Not surprisingly, this report only goes to show that they abuse and misuse power regularly because they believe they are immune from any interference or court (and finding a court that has actually done them for an offence is rare).  In the years they have rectified any loopholes in their powers by requesting Parliament to ‘rubber stamp’ changes which have gone through Parliament unopposed, and therefore not known about in the general public.   The most recent outrage is the tax helpline recording calls without permission.  The report says that they have collected and stored some 5.1 million recordings of taxpayers through the telephone services.  The trick they are using is to require the caller to repeat the phrase ‘My voice is my password’ to access its tax services, and unknown to the customers they have now trapped themselves as they are unable to opt out of saying the phrase, there is no choice to decline or delete any activity they make.  The Organisation – Big Brother Watch  say that HMRC is breaching data protection laws.        No-one at the HMRC would discuss this when a request was made to clarify the position.  It is intertesting that they are not subject to any of this and immediately tell callers they cannot answer as it is protected by the data law, but you are not, especially when they can then farm your data out to any agency they wish to without needing authority.

‘The non-existent Code system — HMRC GOV.UK’

We were contacted and told that this system to access your details such as pension and tax etc was more or less a lie, the customer was left waiting for over 40 minutes for an access code sent to their e-mail account.  HMRC said it would take ‘a few minutes’ but no such e-mail or code arrived in their in-box.  It was however, a huge inconvenience to the customer who eventually gave up trying in case they got the threats and things saying there would be penalties?  a pastime the tax workers enjoy.

HMRC in callous mode — A Report in Carers UK shows how staff at the Tax Office have no regard for anyone struggling to survive their rules of 2014, which says in definition to being ‘self employed’ and being in business ‘Buying and Selling with the intention to make a profit’   This case which is not pleasant goes by the handle ‘bowlingbun’, she lost her husband who ran the small company.  She notified the HMRC that all she had after the funeral was 30 tons of vintage lorry spares; otherwise called assets by this lot.  Which took her over 10 years to gradually sell.  They told her it was her own choice to downsize the stuff, and that was her own affair.  They also said this did not amount to a business under their interpretation and gave her no help or tax credits, this was all she had to live on, and promptly ignored her as if she didn’t exist…..however if there had been the slightest cash they could grab, they would have been all over her…..what bastards eh? (6/7/2018)

NB   this tale can be accessed on the web by going to the carers uk link.

‘HMRC USE THE ‘ERROR’ GAME’

Yes, here we know that game all too well, it’s frequently used like ‘a get out of jail card’ and works for this lot every time.  This report comes from the Political corridors of power and they say a Tory privileged connection was revealed by the HMRC, which of course yet again indicates data law.  Ministers said it was ‘A huge error of judgement’ for an HM Revenue and Customs Official to mention that Lycamobile was a major Tory Party Donor when turning down a French request for help with an inquiry into the telecoms company Phillip Hammond said.  He said the decision to decline the French request was properly made by HMRC Lawyers, but it was ‘inappropriate’ to mention ‘completely extraneous’ and ‘irrelevant’ Tory donations and ‘The Prince Charles Trust’ in the response.  This involved the subject of ‘money-laundering’ and an investigation into the telecoms firm.  Apparently HMRC Lawyers were unable to satisfy a UK Judge that the criteria for issuing a search warrant had been met, which in layman terms showed that these Lawyers for the HMRC didn’t have enough proof, but still thought they could get away with it because they were with the Tax Authorities.

‘Dark Secrets come to light on HMRC Lawyers ‘

It’s not often that one gets a helping hand from someone in the organisation, and in the light of the above article we were rewarded when a whistleblower contacted us.  We have reluctantly agreed to call him ‘M’ otherwise we probably would not have got this article.  ‘M’ says he is a caseworker who works between the departments, legal and management, who discuss possible cases of claims against the HMRC, and whenever there is a serious or difficult one looming on the horizon, they immediately meet to discuss what the claimant may have and how to ‘rubbish’ it basically.  He says that all paperwork on file is pulled together and civil servants involved are interviewed mainly to see if this can be altered and shown as an error by the claimant and if necessary alter some of the papers and claim copies had to be made because the originals were accidentally shredded or a glitch on the computer resulting in corrupted files.  He said he had seen them almost willing to go to any length to hinder the claimant and delay the courts and tribunals so that they could ‘fix things’  Some civil servants involved in disputes were briefed and told how to answer the court, and of course remain silent while the Lawyer took over in typical ‘firewall’ mode.  He said they were well versed in protecting the HMRC and staying just within the law in tricky situations even though they had misled the court without anyone picking up on it.  We did ask him for some examples and possible cases that showed this, but he sounded hesitant and said he would think about it and come back to us later.

‘Taxman Deals come with ‘dodgy’ being written all over them’

It’s not all that surprising to learn that HMRC have certain little secrets they want to keep that way, especially in the light that a confidential leak was exposed when reporters discovered that the taxman was ‘ordered to go easy on Amazon’  —  It appears that Deputy Director Guy Westhead was recorded saying ministers had been reluctant to challenge giant online market Amazon over claims of tax avoidance.  it is said these remarks were made in a private conversation with tax campaigner, Richard Allen in 2015, the same man who lobbied HMRC for better enforcement of VAT Law.  Apparently he told Mr Westhead, ‘What worries me is ministers have some kind of agenda to basically not annoy Amazon.  After certain other things that should be considered as to why one should not go after Amazon that might be beneficial, he said ‘I’ve heard from the Treasury , and they don’t want us to be too hard on Amazon.’  Yet earlier in the same year, the Treasury had been saying it would clamp down hard on Web Giants and consider new rules?  …..which now seem to be yesterdays news!  (July 2018)

‘The ‘Threats Brigade’ aka HMRC — ‘After all, they’re doing it for the State’

Both the HMRC and DWP have a distinct nasty approach of ‘threatening claimants and taxpayers alike’ in just about every document written and devised by Lawyers acting for them, often using words like ‘Penalties’ and ‘Pass this on to a Debt Collection Agency’ and we know such actions callously lead to cases like the ‘Suicide of 19yr old Jerome Rogers’ who was hounded by bailiffs employed by the courts and State.  All they could utter after his death was ‘It isn’t our fault’ when in fact it clearly was no matter how the Lawyers spin it into a tragic accident to disclaim any liability on behalf of their clients.  Lawyers are trained in the art of deception the moment they enter Law School or University to study Law (We have several cases of trainee Lawyers caught out in this very subject).  As with the DWP and its invention of ‘Sanctions’ – Civil Servants empowered with this authority to use them, often do so without much care for the claimant or what harm it inflicts financially, after all, they’re doing it for the State?      HMRC with their departments and Lawyers have many such options that cause disastrous harm like ruining businesses, ruining individuals and driving victims into poverty, and in some cases — suicide.  After all, they’re doing it for the State!  Amazingly, they delude themselves by claiming that they have a reputation to uphold, and falsely claim to be honest and caring, which is really outrageous!!

‘HMRC gloat over Tax Snatch’

Not only do they tip off and work hand in hand with the DWP, but they have an added quality of making sure they leave some people (and that is most), without anything to live on despite the lies they pitch to the Press.  A recent article in the Newspapers points to gloating, a rather sinister and nasty way of enjoying their jobs.  Adam Lulat was involved in a case brought by the HMRC, one in which he was convicted, and the authorities put in an order that he paid the taxman a large sum of money, but his only asset was One Pound in his bank account.  Shortly after he won at a poker game, the sum of 68,930 pounds, which led to the HMRC Rottweiler’s pouncing on this money by bringing him back to court,……….. and the full amount ‘with the court’s help’ was handed over to HMRC.

‘Taxman ‘Wholly Unreasonable’ says Judge as business couple win case’

A small Southend family business in Essex defeated the HMRC at a Court Tribunal after Tax Inspectors targeted The Farthings Steak House Restaurant.  They made assertions that the fifty percent gross profits in the account books were far too low, and immediately applied ‘pressure’ demanding that they pay the Inland Revenue 20,000 pounds.  However, at the Tribunal Court they beat down the might of the HMRC and won a landmark judgement as the Judge awarded costs against the HMRC for the first time.  The Judge said that the HMRC acted in ‘bad faith’ and were ‘wholly unreasonable’ when they demanded the money from business owners Trevor and Vivienne Scott.

 The Special Commissioners later said that the officers from HMRC were ‘heavy handed’ in dealing with the small business……which yet again shows another case of HMRC Bully Tactics and abuse of power!

We shall be back shortly with another set of cases that informs, challenges and scorns the integrity of the HMRC and an ongoing case that involves the HMRC retrospectively ‘stealing’ back awarded tax credits from a small businesses, and in the process bankrupting them, hence forcing those claimants onto JSA and jobless market?

NB: Strangely enough, this is the direct opposite to the Government’s ‘start a business’ and get off the jobless figures!  Apparently they want you to run a business that the HMRC have approved, and none other.

NOTICE– Irritatingly, the HMRC like to hide and prevent cases of misconduct coming to the notice of the public, So If you have a case similar to any of the above, or you have been in a secret payout that officially gags you, let us know and we will name, shame and tell the whole thing.  HMRC have no such gag on us, and their ‘confidentiality’ means nothing.  If you know of a worker or lawyer you believe is corrupt at the HMRC, any information on that person, past, personal or present is welcome, contact us at the following. www.corruptionseeker@hotmail.com

We investigate State and Civil Service Corruption/Malpractice, so let us know anything that will lead us to a case being revealed.

More to come soon, we have a decent folder still to process with many similar cases of HMRC corruption.THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE ITEMS ON  HMRC TO HELP ANOTHER WEBSITE PROVE CORRUPTION AGAINST THEM.

‘SADLY, WE HAVE NEVER SEEN SUCH A SCALE OF CORRUPTION ANYWHERE ELSE, THE CIVIL SERVICE IS RIGHT THERE AT THE TOP OF THE LADDER, FROM THE GOVERNMENT MP’S TO COUNCILS AND THE WORKERS WHO CARRY OUT THE DIRTY WORK.  What we found was quite shocking, and unbelievably, the workers have the misguided notion that they are not corrupt, and that is far from the truth.  The top of the corruption ladder filters down to the workers who are a party to the crime, and many of them enjoy the power they get from being under the protection of the Civil Service. 

To show this, we’re going to include some, not all, cases of evil that are way beyond the imagination in what is laughingly called a fair and honest society.  And this will include fabrication of documents, lies, using the law to benefit from ill-gotten gains, destroying individuals and much more, all instigated by the laws they twist to deprive others from their earnings, savings and property…and these will include council lawyers (they will also feature in ‘Featured Lawyers’ for good measure).

We begin that with this case:

‘DWP Reduce man to nothing via health decision, and take advantage of him’

on Raab says:

August 26, 2016 at 2:04 pmWhat can you do when there has been such bad maladministration that the the DWP refuses to acknowledge or reply to complaints.? After 3 years of gross abuse while I had diminished responsibility from dementia it turned out the diagnosis was incorrect and I recovered. The way I was treated while easily manipulated was disgusting, I was put to forced labour. Tribunal judges ruling was ignored, my pension was stolen from me . My benefit payments were stopped without any reasons. I was left to starve, I was forced to abandon medication and encouraged to become an injecting drug user. All to entertain certain individuals. As I recovered and it was realised that I would be complaining, a war of paperwork began designed to prevent me from escalating my complaints. Then professional advocates began to write in on my behalf demanding explanations for the way my claim was handled or why no assistance was offered or why I was not identified as being vulnerable and doctors letters ignored. These are simply ignored and usually followed by another bunch of fires being being lit beneath me, to me either punish me or to give me yet another complaints process to deal with. The latest Is that I am to be prosecuted for fraud for failing to notify the DWP of a change of circumstances brought on by a decision made by the DWP. They have also ignored a tribunal judges request to provide paperwork he needed for my PIP case when the assessor lied on every question including the reason I was making the claim. My case has been adjourned 3 times now and I have been housebound for over a year since my DLA was transferred to PIP , the disability component of ESA has been cancelled because it was an interim payment while awaiting my tribunal and they have decided not to wait any longer but have still not responded to the tribunal requests for the documents.
They have contradicted themselves on several comments and made illegal decisions but will not reply to letters asking which one is correct or why decisions were made with no intention of notifying me or with no options for appeal they inform me that complaints have been escalated, ‘when they have not’ – in the hope I will forget. I have had 4 consolatory payments for maladministration and harassment but my treatment gets worse and they refuse to consider reparation for actual loss as a result of their abuse of position. They even mocked the CAB who said They had placed me between a rock and a hard place. They replied “yes that is correct, we have.”

We have highlighted this case in particular as it shows the level of corruption employed.

The next case has similarities, involving civil servants, and one who was named.

‘Civil servant wrecks ill man’s life – using underhand methods’

Neville Collins  Customer Investigations Manager. HM Court of Protection.

Dear Mr Collins thank you for your email and advice.    In 2013 Mrs Justice Pauffley instructed HHJ Simon Oliver to send my case to the Court of Appeal.   Thereafter, a Government Agency placed a conviction of fraud upon me, without a hearing, and with no rights of appeal!    The conviction of fraud was later set aside with an admission that the action had been malicious.  The Civil Servant responsible has been identified, a Ms Z. CHADWICK, and her home address traced to the Bradford area.    Also in early 2013, according to a Metropolitan Police Specialist Operations Unit, a Government Lawyer had requested the Metropolitan Police to investigate me and make life difficult for me rather than investigate me; the detectives invited me to meet them for coffee in London.   They also named the Civil Servant responsible.

(A section of the Metropolitan Police has a very detailed in-depth knowledge on me, arising from my previous occupation. ) 

.It is puzzling that Mrs Justice Pauffley did not know that the Court of Appeal cannot interfere with a patient certified under Part VII Mental Health Act 1983, it has to be a nominated judge  (J Mummary, J Moorebick, LJ Arden).  That is why in September 2012 His Honour Judge Philip Waller CBE (a nominate judge) instructed that the files be sent to the Court of Protection in the instance and an appeal filed at the Court of Protection, and not at the Court of Appeal.

HHJ Simon Oliver held in 2012/13 a Part 9 authorisation, which is not a Court of Protection authorisation. 

Yours respectfully,  Leonard Lawrence

Diagnosed with moderate brain inquiry, I was made homeless and evicted on to the streets, whilst lacking mental capacity.

On the 30 August 2012 His Honour Judge Simon Oliver, Reading County Court, was entirely satisfied with what had occurred to me, and wrote that I was well represented.  I was under the jurisdiction of Government Legal Services solicitor Helen Mary CLIFT office of the Official Solicitor to the Senior Courts for England and Wales.

.There are many, many others like me in England and Wales,  including mothers and fathers whose children have been taken and are threatened with prison if they speak, like Tom Dobbie,  Carol  and Safia.  Our homes are taken, like Carol Wood and Anne Clark. Our assets are taken like Robert W, Colin B, Johnathan T,   Yvonne G, Lee G, also Scott.  The police, all too often, take no action.

.Lord Justice Sir James Munby, President of the Court of Protection, said that it was a number of Government Ministers that were keeping the Court of Protection secret, and that may be so.  However, it is a few unscrupulous  (having or showing no moral principles;  honesty or fairness) judges barristers and solicitors that that are inflicting this suffering, like solicitor Helen Mary CLIFT  office of the Official Solicitor.

This man suffered appalling treatment by the authorities, and most of it in secret for many years, and the first case shows that this is commonplace in our society.  

NB: One is often told ‘its a one off’, and we’re publishing two for you doubters, and we have others, so isn’t it time you did something?

‘Civil Servant Spelling Mistake Ruins Family Business’

THE CULPRIT, AN ‘UN-NAMED’ CLERK AT COMPANY HOUSE completely ruined a family business employing 250 workers by one flick of the pen or adding an ‘s’ on the computer text.  And yet again, he has been protected by the organisation who look after civil servants for our conniving government.  There is no report on him or her being dismissed or suffering a penalty.  And interestingly, Companies House would not comment or admit they were in the wrong again leaving that famous word ‘error’ to take care of everything.  However, in the High Court, the Judge ruled that the blunder was easy to avoid, and awarded the family business owner, Philip Davison-Selby a multi-million payout.  Judge Andrew Edis said the companies house had been directly responsible, and ordered the agency to pay for the damage it caused in the six year battle the owner had to incur over this matter.  The payout was published elsewhere, and it mentions £9 million!  probably all public money.  We also found out that lawyers for the agency delayed and made things awkward for as long as they could, using misdirection and procedures to achieve this for their paymasters in government.

‘Shameful DWP ignore police direction to leave ‘witness’ claimant alone’

If you’re not shocked at the way the DWP do their business, you should be — read on,  Apparently the DWP broke its promise to stop harassing a court witness in the run up to the trial.  Despite being clearly instructed by the police not to contact the claimant, David, until the trial was over, they continued to threaten him over his benefits, and also continued to order him to attend an assessment.  A Police spokesman said ‘By continuing with their actions, they are wilfully causing our witness’s health to deteriorate and this in turn could potentially compromise his ability to give evidence in the Crown Court Trial.’                                                                                                                                                               The Minister for the disabled, JUSTIN TOMLINSON MP even threatened last year to stop David’s benefits if he failed to co-operate with the PIP re-assessment provided by the DWP contractor Atos.                                                                                                                                                     Quite rightly, Tomlinson was called on to resign in the Commons.                                                                                                                                 We don’t know if he did, being a Tory, it seems unlikely.  They just have one agenda, pay themselves well, and make the less well-off suffer!  David has severe post-traumatic stress disorder caused by horrific sexual abuse which he suffered as a child, which later brought on several suicide attempts.  The toll and stress of the the child abuse trial in which he was a vital witness has not been easy, and even prior to this he was harassed over his claim for ‘out-of-work’ disability benefit employment, and received many threats of sanctions, cut of his benefits, and this Tory Government say they are the right choice for the people of this country?   Think again idiots, vote them out for good.    (22/8/2017)

‘Jobcentre Officer in £18,000 swindle’

DWP CIVIL SERVANT JAINE MILLER, was what could be described as a trusted colleague in the Jobcentre who made sure the public jobseekers etc, got off their backs and worked for their money…..except in her case, she decided to take £18,000 of welfare cash to fund some luxuries.  In Canterbury Crown Court she was described as being a committed fan of West Ham Football Club.  She had begun claiming disability living allowance after suffering from mobility problems.  And she kept on claiming benefit, paid regardless of her employment status for five years after getting better.  A jury convicted her after seeing a film showing her to be in good heath.  It was also discovered that she had debts of £100,000.  She was sentenced to a year in prison.

‘Jobcentre orders man with MS to attend or else!’

LOUGHBOROUGH JOBCENTRE decided to flex their muscles and exercise authority when implementing ‘Compliance’ in the case of an immobilised man with MS.  Civil servants at the Centre summoned him to the Job Centre to discuss his benefits and getting a job.  The man, Mr Nick Gaskin, who could only communicate by blinking had been receiving disability allowance.  A letter from the Jobcentre said ‘ You and your personal advisor will discuss the possibility of going into paid work, training for work, or looking for work in the future’  you have to attend your appointment.  (these are the usual threatening terms the DWP use and they all end up with ‘you will lose your benefit)   The DWP after The Leicester Mercury got involved, claimed there was a misunderstanding?…….they lie quite easily.

‘Jobcentre Trio-plus in £1.7million Swindle’

Three Jobcentre staff got together with others to defraud the DWP and taxpayer by creating bogus claims a court was told.  ANTHONY EKAJEH, FIAYO AKINWUMIJU and OLUFEMI KEHINDE were all jailed when they appeared for trial at Croydon Crown Court.  The Officer grade Civil Servants made numerous false claims for tax credits, JSA and grants, while working at the Jobcentre it was revealed.  In court it was stated that the gang had made around 1,767 bogus claims and walked away with around £1-7 million.  It also stated in the report that several others fled before the trial.  (4/5/2012)

‘The True Face of DWP Management’

This is a kind of ‘Behind the scenes’ expose as we look into the case of a DWP worker taking the DWP to a tribunal.  MR BARRY CAULCUTT produced an e-mail to support his case, and it is a shocking piece that must be exposed here too.  The evidence he submitted was an e-mail from an Operations Manager BEV LOVATT  — ‘In my mind, scrap the meeting, Let him whinge like crap and raise it in his ET (Employment Tribunal). He doesn’t deserve us to be nice to him.’  this e-mail was to the Jobcentre Manager EIDDWEN BORLAND, and she agreed in a reply e-mail.  MR CAULCUTT had worked at the DWP for almost 35 years!  And the Jobcentre is – Caernarfon Jobcentre.    Incidentally, the next bit will alarm you more,  The DWP BARRISTER DAVID TINKLER revealed this, ‘The private e-mails from Bev Lovatt were not meant to be seen by Mr Caulcutt’ and he described this as unfortunate!   (11/1/2017)

PS: Now you know the sort of legal advice they get, and the tactics ot the DWP Lawyers who would have rather kept this a secret.

‘Pensioner suffers for 5 weeks after DWP stop her pension’

This is probably another case they didn’t want anybody to see or hear about, but luckily it surfaced.  Showing the DWP in their true light is often difficult to do because they have a system that works very hard to cover up this sort of thing and when it does it is often handled by several people who have been instructed to minimise the fallout and publicity it might interest.  This case is yet again truly dreadful, as it concerns a widow of 76 yrs of age who recently lost her husband.  The newspapers are calling them ‘Blundering Officials’ but we here know more about these civil servants than they think.  Diane Geraghty found herself living on scraps for five weeks, and they were from her husband’s funeral meal.  She was at the time, on 166 pounds a week pension, but this suddenly stopped without notice because ‘someone’ unidentified of course, marked her claim as finished because she was dead’….and without further investigation or inquiries the DWP were now no longer paying out, which is what they like.  The frail pensioner felt lonely and unable to do anything so she more or less went into hiding, and didn’t even tell her relatives what had happened.  Mrs Geraghty of Lowestoft made inquiries to her bank, and that was met by no success in putting things right.  She stopped using the phone because of the bill she feared, which she knew she couldn’t pay.  She was frail and very frightened as the weeks passed by, and it was only due to someone noticing her in the garden that this case was ever brought to light, and it was David Kinsella 67, who became her rescue and contacted emergency supplies from the foodbank and rang for help.  ‘This poor lady was in a right state, no money for food, or anything at all, in fact, she seemed all alone in the World’ he said, He then set about putting things right.

  And that should have been the DWP, who have now paid her the arrears and apologised for ‘the administrative error’….and in another case we will tell you more about the so-called ‘error’ and what the DWP will do to avoid it being ‘unaccepted’ as it rightly should have been.

‘DWP Pensions Officer steals £44,000’

CIVIL SERVANT CLAIRE WILLIS a DWP worker who was with the Tyneside DWP Office in Longbenton, and was considered a trustworthy colleague by others there….but, she was carrying out a scam to deprive the elderly out of their pensions.  She ‘doctored’ the personal records of a chosen 6 pensioners and gained £44,000.  Newcastle Crown Court jailed her for 12 months.  Apparently, she used the office computer to find pensioners with a similar name to her own, and then altered their records.   (26/2/2013)

‘Looking into the DWP Pensions Robbery’

This started with the Labour Government, and was continued in somewhat secrecy! with the Conservatives who are currently limiting entitlement and withdrawing as much pension they can from the taxpayer by means of ‘Assessments’ and ‘Mandatory Interpretations’ that delay and in most cases, deprive the pensioner and drive them to food banks, friends, and charities for help.  The Authority behind this, is of course, the DWP whose evil and malevolent intentions pervert natural justice to an extremely immoral depth of which they are proud to continue, and hide the real truth about pensions and what they did!    But we can expose this, and after hours of research, tell you how they did this without making it a longer than necessary story.  We have the facts, so let us begin here….. The year was 1997, and GORDON BROWN was at the Treasury (and had with him a little known group of advisors – The Hotel Group).  Among this group was GEOFFREY ROBINSON and CHARLIE WHELON, and they were not liked by other Treasury staff, which led to a state of unease, and little did they know that this was to be ‘Gordon Brown’s Smash and Grab scenario’ to plunder the Pensions Pot of the UK’s citizens and taxpayers.   He immediately began with removing the Tax Credit which Pension Funds received on dividend payments from companies in which they were invested.  Apparently, Robinson kept this highly ‘sensitive’ proposal tucked away until it was suddenly announced in Whitehall.  Anderson (one of Brown’s cohorts) had already tested some of this previously with (Sir) PETER DAVIES, of The Prudential Insurance Group.  When the Dividend Tax Credit was stopped, they suppressed the facts from being made public for several years (until 2007).  Those at The Treasury and HMRC argued that the value of the Pensions Funds would fall drastically, and went on to predict a drop of £75 billion.  Many thought Brown’s plan would hit private pension schemes and the self-employed, and it did!    The Inland Revenue told him at the time ‘that abolishing Tax Credits would make a large hole in Pension Scheme Finances, and it would need and extra £3 t0 4 billion a year to meet their commitments because any future pension benefits would suffer!  And as we see today, the DWP in the hands of the conservatives are trying to slash tax credits and do away with them.  It was interesting to note the ED BALLS (Economic Secretary at the Treasury) said the abolition of the Dividend Tax Credit was a good idea in a BBC Radio 4 interview, and he proceeded to get things wrong despite his claims which were rejected by Lord Turner.                                    But nothing was going to stop this robbery of the pensions, Brown was adamant that he was right, and that there would be no adverse affect on pensions of the future.   However, 11 million taxpayers with company pensions and an additional 7 million with personal pensions were becoming seriously affected by this.    Even the Commons Public Accounts Committee issued a damning report, concluding that The Pensions Regulator and the DWP were not doing enough to safeguard scheme members.                                                                                     Amid ‘misleading official literature’ being sent out, it was beginning to point to the fact that the government’s hard-line stance had backfired.  Pensions had collapsed for many and the subject of compensation had to be addressed despite the government trying to ignore it.  Being between a rock and a hard place, the government (anxious to use the cheapest way out) offered ‘limited compensation’ in the form of an F.A.S. – A Financial Assistance Scheme run by the DWP.   The Pensions Action Group were not happy, especially as it left many of its members out, and was only designed to assist a few ‘hardship cases’ and it was also inadequately staffed and resourced, and was far too bureaucratic, resulting in applicants who applied for funds feeling threatened and humiliated (something today’s DWP rather enjoy and keep up as a policy).  ROS ALTMANN a Pensions Advisor to Number 10 made proposals which would give ‘victims’ a better deal, but even these funds would run out eventually, they were just a sticking plaster over a widening cut.                                                                                              The Workers and their Unions were in anger mode, and they threatened the government with Legal Action.  They said it was ignoring part of the 1980 European Union Insolvency Directive, that required member states to ensure that there are necessary measures in place to protect employees in relation to their pension rights.  The Government’s efforts to appease things fell short as usual, and the Government Ombudsman’s report on the state of the pensions collapse said ‘This report is a damning indictment of successive governments who, again and again, gave misleading information about the safety of pensions and failed to protect the interests of long-term investors (the taxpayer), the government is once again refusing to accept responsibility.’

PS: It may be worth noting here that Brexit may remove that Directive requiring this government to protect pensions, and that may be what this government is hoping, as it will allow them more scope to destroy pensions and benefit from it themselves without legal sanctions?

‘State Pension will fall by £1,400 short of minimum income’

This new article nicely follows the DWP PENSION ROBBERY above —  A recent (2017) report says the state pension is to be around £159-55 a week for pensioners and that is about £8,000 a year, and that is subjective to assessment, and many other factors the DWP are enforcing so that they can lower the pensions bill…..and it was them along with the Labour Government that plundered the pensions as we revealed.  The figure is £1,400 a year short of the ‘minimum income’ they’ve been ‘kidding everyone’ about in their misleading statements.   These figures have been revealed by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.    Another Report weeks before this said that this revised state pension leaves many elderly pensioners in poverty, and the Government are trying not to address this at all.  A staggering fact revealed that before the collapse a worker could expect an average of 60 percent of earning related pension, but that has fallen to 29 percent with this present government and they were the figures from the OBCD.  A third report announced that around a Million pensioners are relying on handouts of cash from friends and family these days to make ends meet…the report says that one in every nine senior pensioners require extra support and its not coming from the government who callously point them to charities and food banks.

NB: So heed what we tell you about the pensions, read the above articles, and never trust this government to tell you the truth.

‘The DWP Pensions fiasco — £7 to £230 a week’

Yes, more on that robbery subject of the taxpayers pension pot that shrinks every time the Tories look for extra money.  A report we have unearthed from 2012 revealed that around 13,000 people would receive a pension of £7 or less a week while an equivalent number would get in the region of £230 a week or more.  It says that the DWP are struggling with the problem because of its complexity?

‘MP’s Pensions are invested in Jersey off-shore trust’

Still staying on pensions, you may be interested to know where these civil servants have theirs, and more securely too.  This report informs us that MP’s have around £6.6 million invested and put away in an off-shore unit trust fund in Jersey.  It also goes onto say that the Parliamentary Contributory Pension Fund as a further £6 million invested in three US companies that have been accused of tax avoidance.  The pension fund said to have a total value of  around £621 million in March 2016 had £48 million invested in 4 property funds, three based in the UK and one in Jersey.

PS.  So there you have it, this lot took care of their pension funds, and plundered yours while you were trusting them to be above board and transparent!

‘The Pension Robbery still goes on!’

Sad to say, The Tories are still pounding at the pensions of the public, and a report out today (18/1/2018/) announces that thousands of pension savers face a tax bill shock after new curbs on their allowances.  Yes, The DWP and HMRC work hand in hand, the two main villains in this robbery on UK citizens.  The report says that under new rules brought in in 2017 the allowances will be restricted on how much they can claim and save into their pensions.  Experts have said that this new system is so confusing that many people are likely to have inadvertently over-paid, and as such will get an unpleasant shock as the deadline for filing tax returns draws near.  The first notice of drops in allowance were apparent in 2016.  Steve Webb a former pensions minister, who we will not vouch for as a good guy, said ‘this tapered allowance is one of the most ‘absurdly complex’ pieces of personal tax legislation he has seen in years, and he goes onto say ‘One of the worst things about it is the amount you can put in to a pension this year depends on your annual income, which you can’t no for sure until the end of the financial year.’  But as we’ve seen above, the Tory MP’s have their pensions nicely tied up in off-shore accounts…good eh? 

‘The Pension System is in a crisis and the DWP ignore the risks of a meltdown’

Playing fast and loose with the pension system is something as we have already seen, and new articles which pop up every now and then are showing that the Tories have no real plans to repair the mistakes that the politicians have caused.  POOR RETURNS ON GOVERNMENT’S PENSION PLAN highlights several dangers for the workers.  The report says that workers earning the ‘national living wage’ could be left ‘significantly worse off’ in retirement as a result of the government’s pensions auto-enrolment scheme, which was analysed by researchers. The President of Icas, Sir Brian Souter who commissioned the research says ‘ The Government must look again at the deal they offer to the lower paid. It can’t be right that a policy could actually result in the poorest getting poorer’    ‘WORKERS ‘SHAMELESSLY EXPLOITED’ IN PENSIONS MIS-SELLING SCANDAL’ — The Watchdog The Work and Pensions Committee issued a report revealing that a major pensions mis-selling scandal is erupting behind the scenes which highlighted the British Steel Pension Scheme members being ‘bamboozled’ shamelessly by the operators.  They said that members had been ‘exploited for cynical personal gain by dubious financial advisors in tandem with parasitical so-called ‘introducers’   they said the workers pension scheme created perfect conditions for vultures to take advantage.  Pensions are being ripped off, not only by government, but private firm pensions being looted until they are no longer viable as in the Carillion Scandal. ‘WE MUST GET TOUGHER, SAYS PENSIONS WATCHDOG’ somewhat a bit late for many. 

In the light of the pensions scandal, the next item is very important to both pensioners and benefits claimants;

‘DWP’s hidden clause ‘Deliberate Deprivation of Assets’ – a dangerous position for taxpayers’

We begin here by saying some of what we are about to tell you is not available by way of a FOI it is deemed ‘exempt’

This little understood clause that is used not only for pensions also applies to claimants on JSA and other benefits.  In regard to pensions, they made great pretence of ‘Pension Freedom’ which the public inadvertently thought meant they could spend or give away gifts and cash and do a luxury holiday, buy a Porsche or Ferrari, without fear from either the HMRC or DWP.  But they were wrong, the government were not being upfront on this at all, it was yet again, another Tory scam to look nice for voters, especially old folk.  They were ready to pounce and say ‘it was a deliberate deprivation of assets’, and as such, your folly will mean that you can’t rely or fall back on the State to help you out, benefit wise or similar, because they are ready for you!                                                                                                                                                                  They issued a little known DWP facts-sheet that said ‘Your pensions pot, and withdrawals from it affect entitlement to various income-related benefits, including Housing benefit, Pension credit, and Universal credit — under the ‘Deprivation Rule’ as they call it.  If you spend, transfer or give away money that you take from your pension pot, the DWP will consider whether you have deliberately deprived yourself of that money in order to secure (or increase) your entitlement to benefits.  If it is decided that you have deliberately deprived yourself, you will be treated as still having that money, and it will be taken into account as income or capital when your entitlement to benefit is worked out!                          If you lose all of your money or have given too much away, and need government support, you will only be allowed it if the government agrees with your financial decisions?    which means you having to explain what you bought or did with your cash.                                           Relative to this is the connection of this ‘Legislation’ is that it affects the jobseeker if that jobseeker was self employed with a business.  We learned of one who having signed on after his business was wound up, had to declare any assets, bank account to the DWP (via the jobcentre) which led to a reduction of his JSA allowance.  He had already explained that part of his account was an investment, and as such he had paid back the investor shortly after signing on.  Although he’d explained the money, they still assessed his JSA and treated his claim as if the money was still there…almost disbelieving him and using this ‘Deprivation Rule’ to cover what they were doing.  He had to finally fill out a statement form and get another bank statement, (his so-called ‘Coach’ said she didn’t deal with that, but this was a deliberate fob), and even though he had followed this, they rang him and told him to get the ‘investor’ to confirm the amount in writing to them.                                          So, as you can see, this so called ‘Deprivation Rule’ gives the DWP such intrusive powers that go way beyond reasonable or Human Rights.

(We’d like to thank the Newbridge Consultancy for their help in this matter) 

‘MP’s and Peers have links with off-shore firms’

Well, having seen the above item on pensions, their off-shore interests is no surprise at this stage.  The Report says that Several Senior Conservatives, and donors, have been caught up in the PANAMA PAPERS SCANDAL – the tax haven saga.  They were reported by the International Consortium of Investigative journalists to have secure links with the Law Firm MOSSACK FONESCA, who had been keeping things quite secret until a mass of confidential documents were leaked to the outside world.  Names like, MP LORD FLIGHT, SIR TONY BALDRY have either made denials or excuses, the latter having stood down,  LORD BAMFORD a major Tory donor denied having assets in Casper Ltd which was registered in the Virgin Islands and these were mentioned in the Panama documents…but they’re all innocent eh?

‘Work and Pensions Minister Stephen Crabb in sexting scandal’

Former Tory leadership challenger DWP Minister STEPHEN CRABB was having it says crisis talks with his family after being caught out in a ‘sexting scandal.’  The married father of two had sent sexually charged messages to another woman (unidentified) in the few days just before the referendum.  Apparently the woman became infuriated by his supposed hypocrisy in campaigning to be party leader on the platform he was a devout Christian and family values man.  Shortly after the revelations he pulled out of the contest for Tory Leadership.

‘DWP and HMRC use outrageous Interference of the Law to limit successful appeals’

In order to reduce the winners at Tribunals against them. the DWP and HMRC set about making sure that 80 percent of claimants would be rejected, and this was in their policy, not a public policy either.  Since 2013, both Agencies of the Government have stifled appeals, and prevented such action by introducing ‘MANDATORY RECONSIDERATION’ as a first step to secure their aims.  This measure was a target to uphold 80 percent of their decisions already taken were successful and never went to the Tribunal.  This step was not to be passed by any claim.  Former Judge Henry Brooke said this was ‘An absolutely outrageous interference with the rule of law.’  The Mandatory Reconsideration enables staff to look at a complaint/application again and have the power to overturn it if they think its incorrect.  Which means that they can select many if not a majority of Tribunal cases to be, and turn them down in order to meet the 80 percent objective, which is what they are currently doing…and these civil servants are not lawyers or members of the tribunal.   (16/5/2017)

‘The Great Benefits Swindle 2017’

The swindle here is the DWP and HMRC, they along with their Lawyers have developed a system which enables them to pay claimants less than the ‘official’ benefits JSA award of £72. 40 (via the Government website .Gov) or the £73.10 quoted by a Worthing assessment centre.  A rather false figure applying to the two.  They use terms like ‘This assessment is based on how much the Law says you need to live on?  The Law!  The Lawyers who signed to this are on more than a £1,000 a week.  The assessment jargon comes straight from the Tax people at the HMRC, because they include things like ‘We have used the tax years ending 2015 to 2016 to assess your claim’  and this is the problem.  Some claimants fall below the number of ‘qualifying’ contributions (N.i.) and the JSA allowance goes down to £70 and less per week with no possibility of a top up (because they’ve removed other benefits and installed decision-makers, the faceless ones. who can stall you all the way to a Tribunal, which is often months down the line)…and that’s where the lie comes in  as Politicians and civil servants promote the illusion that all JSA benefit claimants get the standard rate, when in fact they don’t.  As we have shown, one can get £73.10 and another £70.10, so which one is the correct ‘how much the law says you need to live on?  clearly not the second one as that falls short and therefore lower than what is required.  But you don’t see these fat cat DWP Lawyers rushing forward to put things right, nor the DWP civil servants, no, they couldn’t care less.  By taking away the former standing ‘rate’ whereby all jobseekers got the same money, it now varies quite a lot.  But this was the Tory Government and their 2013 Benefits Bill and that horror smiling merchant Iain Duncan-Smith, who pretends to be that ‘all so fair minded person’.  They passed this Bill without arousing suspicion of their true nature to con and deprive the poorly paid and benefits claimants who are bullied by civil servants across the country.  By stealth, they have cut legal aid and removed basic rights; legal aid is now categorised with qualifying titles and money rules that have been drastically lowered to floor level, whereby someone can only afford the cheapest of lawyers or trainees to go up against seasoned barristers and solicitors paid by the taxpayer, to fight and destroy the taxpayer, and they call this justice.  While increasing their powers to de-stable their opponents, the poor, they help the rich to wield more power so that they become the decision-makers over the poor.  In 2017, the middle classes and rich have benefitted well by these Tory actions, and to such a point that they care very little about the poor, and this suits the DWP, the HMRC, and other departments who have very little accountability and transparency, and in most cases, None!

‘Government reluctantly agree to falsehood statements on Jobcentre strategies it denied involving the DWP’

THIS IS A SWINDLE TOO – so read on –  After frequent denials the DWP and Government admitted that Jobcentres set targets to take away benefits from claimants.  The report says Jobcentre staff all around the country have been involved in a policy to remove people off benefits by the method of ‘sanctions’ one of the most evil systems set by the Tory Government.  The staff were to remove people off benefits amid pressure to meet welfare targets set by their managers the government admitted.                                                                                                   Had it not been for THE GUARDIAN NEWSPAPER, the government would have stuck to their denials the whistleblower said who revealed to them that ‘vulnerable claimants were being tricked into losing welfare entitlements by Jobcentre staff.  They were given targets of three people a week to refer for sanctions (where benefits are removed for up to six months).                                                                                      Despite what the government has now admitted,  former DWP MINISTER IAIN DUNCAN-SMITH claimed it was all ‘claptrap’ and ‘a conspiracy’ during a radio interview, that such an order was made…….which of course makes IAIN DUNCAN-SMITH A LIAR and IMMORAL too.  A union boss tabled a motion that Iain Duncan-Smith apologise and own up on his return to the House, but this minister made no such move, such is his arrogance.   The Whistleblower actually worked at the Jobcentre and he produced e-mails as evidence to the Guardian Investigators in April 2016.

‘DWP sends out leaflet with fictitious claimants which was fake’

The Government admitted that they made up and fabricated a leaflet intended for public consumption, which in fact was deceitful, as the claimants with their photos, and statements, were untrue.  Their views shown, of the two bogus claimants, had been written up by the DWP to fool the public into believing that the ‘sanctions policy’ was good and accepted by the claimants, which was of course to deceive the public and deflect their attention to reports appearing in the Press.  Their downfall was the Press who couldn’t accept that these so called claimants were actually praising the sanctions system, which didn’t ring true.  So they acted on this with issuing a Freedom of Information request on this welfare leaflet.  After some time the DWP revealed that the so called interviews of the two claimants were ‘a fake’ and that they had done this to merely illustrate the situation ‘in good faith’  It was subsequently withdrawn immediately.  The DWP made no apologies despite breaching the Advertising Standards Authority whose rules state that marketing material must not mislead or be seen to have likely done so.  Iain Duncan-Smith was in charge!   No penalties were given out to the DWP by the ASA…who’s bed are they sleeping in?    (19/8/2015)

‘Duncan – Smith is not the good guy he claims’

Under his review of the DWP as Minister, he inflicted a charge on those that were stripped of benefits to fight the decision in an appeals court with an independent judge present.  This came as a report that revealed that more than half of the 874,850 jobseekers allowance claimants who had their benefits automatically stripped in the last year were for low-level problems like missing an appointment at the Jobcentre.  The proposed charge which would hit 1000’s of poor people relying on benefits, aims to raise money for the government found in a leaked internal efficiency review.  The charge up to £250 to lodge an appeal at an Employment Tribunal would take it out of reach of the many JSA claimants on a sanction — and it was suggested that Duncan-Smith well knew this, and that it was probably his idea to use this as a prevention, and a stick to beat them with.  Such is the Iain Duncan-Smith ideology.’  (21/2/2014)

‘DWP in ‘Dirty Tricks’ row over abusive comments’

The components here are a warning about IAIN DUNCAN-SMITH DWP MINISTER and a pc used for abuse next door to the DWP Headquarters!  The Dirty Tricks Mob are out and about in the halls of Government, and everything points to a pseudonym being used by someone in the Tory Party within the DWP.  In this instance a row broke out over abusive comments made to, and about a disabled MP.  It arrived in the form of an anonymous comment attacking a former Labour MP who happens to be disabled.  It was posted on the DNS website in response to an interview with Dame Anne Begg, who lost her seat in the 2015 General Election.                                                                                                          Dame Begg was heavily critical of the Conservatives, especially the DWP Minister IAIN DUNCAN-SMITH.  She feared that the disabled would bear the brunt of a new wave of benefit cuts to The Social Welfare Budget, and with a Tory manifesto pledging to cut it further with another £12 billion of ‘savings.  Dame Begg was a former chairperson on THe Commons Work and Pensions Select Committee, whose reports held the DWP and Iain Duncan-Smith to account over the Coalition’s Welfare Reforms.   She tweeted a link to the Guardian News on Iain Duncan-Smith being re-appointed as Work and Pensions Secretary who would be in charge of making sure that plans to cut £12 billion from the benefits bill would go through under his authority.  She added the comment ‘Be Afraid, Be very Afraid’    It was found by the help of a techie, that the abuser used a laptop computer to send the message from the area of the Methodist Central Hall, which is right next door to the DWP Headquarters in Tothill street, London.   (22/5/2015)                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

‘Former DWP Ministers could face a police investigation?’

This directly goes to MP’s IAIN DUNCAN-SMITH and CHRIS GRAYLING MP and Minister who both ran the DWP.  Both MP’s are to be looked at by the police after a complaint was lodged against both politicians.  This comes from the Police in Scotland who are assessing whether to launch a criminal investigation into their handling of the nicknamed ‘Disability fit-to-work Tests’    Activist John Mc Ardle lodged a complaint with the police in March against both ex-DWP Ministers, he accuses them both of ignoring a coroner’s concerns about the safety of the tests, which are used to determine whether a disabled person receives benefits.  He also produced a list of suicides brought on by their actions and policies.    (May 7th 2016)

NB: Sadly, both of these politicians have not been charged or taken to task, and the police dropped this on the orders of?

‘Minister Grayling accused of avoiding rail fury by taking a convenient trip’

TORY TRANSPORT MINISTER CHRIS GRAYLING seems to learn this term of avoidance well, and just as the rail fares went up he was nowhere to be seen.  Many see this as cowardly, but the government said he was on a trip to Qatar….to do what?                                                                 The Transport Secretary’s visit to Qatar  and Turkey conveniently got him out of the way of angry train commuters who on that very day faced huge rises in their travel costs.  But this isn’t the first convenient disappearance, commuters in the strike ridden south have had their travel disrupted for almost two years without any meaningful intervention from Chris Grayling, he merely comments on how awful it is and then no more, he’s more or less allowed this strike to carry on regardless.  And as we can see from the above article he was a DWP minister who did nothing for the claimants but make things harder for them, much in the same way he’s treated rail passengers on Southern Rail.

‘Grayling is accused of Misleading the Public’

In a report on the state of the Railway, The NAO accused the Transport Secretary of misleading the public when he gave reasons for the cancelled rail upgrade.  They said his explanation was not the true reason when he said they would not be proceeding with three major rail-electrifying projects following an investigation into the cancellation.    The National Audit Office said the reason was entirely financial!

‘Grayling uses the word ‘help’ as he targets 500,000 for work at the DWP’

100.000’s was the initial quote as CHRIS GRAYLING MP was the Minister in charge of the DWP.  He says he ought to have had this job years ago.  ‘I shall break down Britain’s Incapacity Benefit Culture for the next three years’ he said during an interview.  And in true Iain Duncan-Smith fashion, he said  ‘There are hundreds of thousands of people young and old who have been claiming benefit for a decade and a half’ presumably written out for him by the usual DWP money men before he did the interview and yet another statement saying this ‘ We shall be re-assessing 1.6 million people over the next three years.’

PS. It’s a pity all this energy was never put into solving the Southern Rail strikes with has lasted well over 19 months, especially as he’s the Transport Minister?

‘DWP at the root of many new depression cases, and mental anguish’

Having carried out our own survey by trawling through hundreds of blogs and forums involved with complaints and cases against cruelty inflicted by the system that fraudulently claims to help, we saw a familiar pattern of abuse and civil service ‘You do this or?’ attitude from those who claim they are obligated to follow the Government rules, and claim they have no room to make a decision without the authority of a line manager of another department.  We have cases on this site of suicide, and not all of them by any means.  We contacted a doctor who admitted that some of his most recent patients were suffering moderate to acute depression due to signing on at a Jobcentre where they feel intimidated and bossed around like children.  The latter being quite common, and again, we have many such selected cases on this site of this happening.  The DWP dismiss this out of hand and pretend it is nothing to do with them, which is a typical Tory response to the activities they back which is intended to demoralise the less well off.  One should always remember that they are the party of the rich, and they pander to the rich and very rich almost exclusively.  They were taken to task several times over the ‘Sanctions’ but they are still there in the DWP policy and they are being used to frighten, harass, and de-humanise a claimant who either ‘fights back’  ‘questions their authority’ or ‘does not co-operate fully’    On one case of a DWP compliance operator, she can be heard saying’ Well, if you come into the office for the interview, we can talk about re-instating your benefits’  no promise or guarantees.  She says ‘talk’ and talk is cheap as we all know.  Even if that interview leads to the reinstatement of benefits, that will not happen straight away, we found out that it could take up to two weeks, and that claimant will be paying a high price both mentally and health wise in being ‘accepted by this officer’  who in fact has breached this person’s human rights.  We asked the GP if he passes on this alarming situation to the Government,  firstly he said they never ask, and then said he wasn’t obliged to communicate privileged information on his patients according to confidentiality and Data Protection Laws.  Having looked at this factor, we now understand why the DWP and Government are getting away with what they are inflicting, and until the Medical Profession stop ignoring this and launch their own official investigation, the Tory Government and Civil Service will get away with abuses last seen in the war.

‘Cease and Desist Order against the DWP’

We came across this amazing ‘recorded telephone call between a sanctioned claimant and DWP Compliance Officer, which rather answers some of the above facts.  We summarise this only as one really must seek this conversation out and listen to it.  ‘Claimant Mr Harper hands in a letter of complaint accusing the DWP of harassment against the named DWP Ofiicer MARIE CLARK in Halifax.  The incident is dated on the Internet as 11th September 2014 (still relevant now).  Mr Harper a claimant, did not allow Ms Clark to enter his house, at which stage he said his son was affected by her presence, because some of the conversation was done on the doorstep.  As a subsequence, she immediately instructed the Jobcentre boss, MARCUS, to stop his benefits.  Mr Harper then said he’d already issued a ‘Cease and Desist’ order at the time he made a complaint to the Jobcentre Manager Marcus at the Crossfield House, Halifax.  She said she was prepared to book him in for the meeting on Tuesday the next day when they could ‘talk’ about things.  Mr Harper said he didn’t wish to have her at the meeting, and said he’d still not been told why his benefits had been stopped or sanctioned and wanted to know before being interviewed.  Ms Clark said another colleague would be selected, but at the moment they didn’t have an available date, and that colleague would ring him to fix it.  Mr Harper levelled several allegations against her, which sound a bit muddled, but it was an intriguing conversation, and of course when you consider it, he’s still left without any safety or benefits until they, the DWP decide to lift those sanctions…and as we’ve seen this could be weeks and it could severely affect the emotional stability of a claimant…and one wonders how they’re getting away with such a thing in  2017/2018.

‘DWP issued with notification by claimants’

In 2013 Claimant and Jobseeker Declan Heavey found it necessary to challenge the Secretary of State IAIN DUNCAN-SMITH after being ignored by the Bansbury Jobcentre who refused to give him reasons why his benefit payments had stopped without any prior warning.  Mr Heavey sent a pre-action letter involving the request for a Judicial Review.  He gave the Jobcentre 14 days to reply before going ahead on the legal side of things.  He also made a MF47 statement.  He says he only learned of the non-payment of his jobseekers allowance when he visited his Building Society.  Further to this they’d lost their dwelling due to other reasons, and he was looking to engage a solicitor to engage the services of Broadway Homelessness and Support, to help him acquire a safe address.  Upsetting as this is, it’s clear that the DWP acted without compassion or due process to him and his wife, who informed them of their plight, and what they clearly did was let them down, and it’s possible they breached their care of duty in this matter.   (18/6/2015)

‘Scottish Minister Alex Neil’s fury at DWP Bullying’

ALEX NEIL, Scotland’s SOCIAL JUSTICE MINISTER came out against the DWP over the Case of STUART CHESTER who has Downs Syndrome and cannot do anything for himself.  It was revealed that the local jobcentre and DWP were trying to get him on a work programme, and that it was reaching the bullying stage.  Stuart’s mother, Deborah, said, ‘The Tory Government doesn’t care that their system is killing people after their own figures revealed how 90 people a month are dying after being declared fit for work by assessments.’  Statistics obtained from a memo said that between December 2011 and February 2014, 2,380 people died after their claim for employment and support allowance ended because of a work capability assessment found they were fit for work.   Minister Alex Neil is calling on the people of Scotland to join him in his fight to have welfare powers devolved in order to put a stop to vulnerable people being victimised and families put on the breadline because of sanctions.    (30/9/2015)

‘Jobcentre Worker fraudulently claims £27,000’

DWP JOBCENTRE WORKER DENISE KELLY decided that she would claim disability allowance, and made a claim that netted her £27,000 in payments.  She said she had trouble walking and suffered severe discomfort and had problems sleeping properly at home.  But colleagues at the centre saw her walking around the offices in high heels on many occasions when doing her job there.  She appeared before Liverpool Crown Court where it was said she banked the payments over a five year period after making a bogus claim in 2009.  She apparently refused to accept she acted dishonestly and only pleaded guilty to fraudulently claiming Disability Living Allowance.  The Judge remarked that being in a Jobcentre she knew all too well what she was up to.   She was given a six month prison sentence which was suspended for two years.  (7/9/2015)

‘Channel 4 Despatches show exposes the DWP Assessors’

CIVIL SERVANTS of the Government and DWP who assess disabled claimants, were caught out by the investigative ‘Despatches’ programme on TV’s Channel 4 who captured staff insulting disabled claimants.  The stark truth was revealed much to the annoyance of the DWP and Iain Duncan-Smith who later resigned from the Cabinet and his Minister’s post.  As the nation watched one assessor said they were earning up to £20,000 a month by rushing through dozens of appointments.  Liz Sayce OBE top executive of Disability Rights UK was shocked to see and hear the rude and disparaging remarks made by the assessors who should be treating disabled claimants with respect.  She also witnessed how the PIP system was being abused by the assessors.  These harassments were being carried out by CAPITA, the firm contracted by the DWp who are desperate to reduce the massive £12 billion annual disability benefits bill, and thousands of current claimants have had their applications rejected.  The PIP assessment is a 35 page questionnaire document.  The TV programme witnessed breaches of the Data Protection Act by one assessor who was taking photos of the claimants details on the VU screen.  Capita were loathe to accept responsibility and said it would be looking into the matter, and they would take the appropriate action necessary.  (this video footage etc, can be seen on the internet if you just put the subtitle in the search box of Google.   April 2016)

PS:  Some eminent physicians watching even questioned the methods and qualifications of the medical staff carrying out the health checks.

‘Claimants abandon ‘helpline calls’ because of Benefits Answering Machine’

A Report says there was well over a million calls to the ‘Benefits Hotline’ which claimants abandoned because people found themselves on an ‘answer machine’ for five minutes or longer waiting to discuss their claim with an advisor.  It says only 12 percent of the calls were actually answered by an operator and advisor.  Which as Labour MP Jim McMahon says, ‘the sheer number of abandoned calls means that claimants are giving up on trying to get through to the helpline and not getting the support they needed as a result.’  Figures revealed at ‘Parliamentary Questions’ were that 1.3 million calls were abandoned between September 2016 and October 2017. 

‘Victimisation by Jobcentre – one man’s story’

In fact, there are many stories and accounts like this — Brighton Jobcentre came in for heavy criticism when claimant Peter Styles accused them of victimising him and making it harder for him to find work.  This happened after he was told to ‘sign on every day’ and he was sanctioned and had his benefits withheld.  Shortly after, he lodged an official complaint against the Jobcentre and the DWP.  Further to this he took to the Internet and started a blog which attracted thousands of hits, which came to the attention of The Guardian newspaper.  Mr Styles revealed that the jobcentre victimised him even though he had made 67 job searches in two weeks.  He was told that ‘he would be forced to attend the jobcentre and sign on every day’  One civil rights observer said this was’ a massive intrusion into Mr Styles personal freedom, and it also breached the Human Rights Act.’   (Nov 2014)   But the Tory Government ignore this, and have plans to scrap as much of it as they can. 

‘Jobseeker’s benefit cut because of attending dad’s funeral’

Provided by Scrapbook, an online political blog, revealed that a man in Manchester signing on at the Jobcentre for his jobseekers allowance had his benefits stopped because he could not sign in on that day, were both events clashed.  Ironically and rather spitefully of the jobcentre staff, they had already received notice in advance from the claimant.  He informed them that his father’s funeral was on the same day he signed on, and would have miss it.  But on his return to the Jobcentre to sign on, he found that he had been sanctioned by them.  Ministers called for these penalties to be ‘proportionate’ but no-one was listening? not the DWP anyway.

‘Ashton Jobcentre stonewalls claimant’

This case reveals the tactics, lies, and attempts by Jobcentre civil servants to hinder and obstruct claimants for reasons they only know.  The The report says ‘The unidentified claimant had been claiming ESA, but his medical records were said to be not received by staff, and they virtually accused him of lying.  He had the equivalent of a Mackenzie Friend’. an advisor present, but they in turn were more or less told not to interfere, and at one stage barred from entering the jobcentre.  The Jobcentre told the claimant he should now claim JSA, but the advisor told them he was too ill to qualify as he would not satisfy the conditions.  They then said he should wait for his appeal on the ESA benefit situation yet he had no money coming in.  The man asked if they could refer him for food parcels, but the jobcentre staff lied, as they turned to him and said they didn’t do referrals for this.  The whole interview was negative and obstructive said the advisor.

‘We have no time to care say the DWP staff’

Despite there being laws in place on public bodies ‘having a duty of care’ the DWP tell their staff ‘you have no time to care about the disabled or able-bodied jobseekers’ according to an item posted on the Interweb.  That explains in cold terms what a DWP spokesman thinks of their so-called customers.  He added  ‘It is important we provide an effective service to manage the scale of our business’  Yes, that’s how they see it, and they’re as ruthless as any other such Dictator in this field…. but they don’t have any money in it, all what they do and pay out is the tax payers money, which they spend at an alarming rate, looking after themselves.  One Jobcentre employee said ‘This kind of attitude to claimants will continue presumably until the government finally finds a way to end benefits entirely, at which point our sick and disabled will be left with nothing!’         (20/8/2016)

‘DWP officer diverts £1,400 into her own account’

BARBARA JOHNSTONE civil servant, worked in the Stockton Benefits Centre, where she handled the benefits and payments.  She appeared before Teeside Magistrates Court on charges of fraudulently obtaining the money from the benefits of nine claimants.  It was said that she made a full admission about her offence.  Sentencing was apparently adjourned to another date.  (December 2017)

‘DWP run scam to get cash not owed’

It now appears that the DWP have shown how dishonest they can be in full public view (or should that be well out of the way?).  Newspaper biggy The Telegraph, revealed that they have been asking households to repay loans claimants never took out, and had no proof it ever issued the loan in the first place.  This as all to do with the ‘Crisis Loans’ system they put into place to help struggling families who were unable to meet the essentials and other bills.  The report says that Telegraph Reporters talked to two families who were being unfairly targeted by the DWP and confirmed they had no loan agreement whatsoever.  The Telegraph say they have seen evidence of more such examples of this practice of demanding repayment of a ‘ghost loan’.    (31/5/2018)

‘DWP Play the Discrimination Game’

A report has exposed a particularly nasty side of the DWP, and something the Tory Government were supposed to have legislated against.  Yet, behind the scenes and the civil servants offices within those offices in Preston, Bristol, Newcastle, London etc, the DWP have instructed its ‘Disability Benefit Assessors’ to discriminate against people with mental health conditions compared to those with just physical problems.  It is suggested that this measure is so that they can reduce benefits by what is known as the component method, which if it is torn apart, can leave the claimant on the basic allowance — which suits the DWP, Treasury, and MP’s.  Charity MIND said this ‘labelling’ is an injustice and is very unfair to claimants just managing on what they get, losing some of their money is the last thing they want and in many cases they cannot get a loan or top up to make good the loss.  (14/3/2017)

‘Whistleblowers in the DWP remain quiet and fearful of colleagues’

At a time when we’re being told that whistleblowers are welcome in the workplace, this report shows that this is unlikely to be so, especially with civil servants in the DWP, HMRC and other Government Departments who often have a system of ‘gagging’ in operation.  This is a report of 2015, and one can see that its results are disappointing to say the least.  On looking into The Civil Service an ‘Open letter’ online by the former Cabinet Secretary and Head of The Civil Service, SIR JEREMY HEYWOOD, certainly reveals that he was quite aware that for every ‘whistleblower’ who speaks out, there must be others who, for various reasons, have remained silent.  He says they may have faced awful intimidation, ostracism, or even that they may have been ‘contractually gagged’ by departments in the DWP. He also went on to say that he realised that others may be fearful of dismissal or other sanctions, and may be totally unaware of what protections they have.  Some he said, ‘May see evidence of abuses, and prefer to turn a blind eye because they don’t know how to report it or who to trust in such circumstances which sadly prevents an investigation.’  

What he says here comes as no surprise to us, and sadly there are signs that whistleblowers are ‘thin on the ground’ and ‘rarely’visible!

‘DWP misleads The Select Committee’

Quite often really as we can testify to,……..  The subject of sanctions is rarely addressed truthfully, and the DWP made a claim to the Work and Pensions Select Committee that these sanctions were ‘applied as a last resort’.  M.Boyce in a blog dated 14th May 2015, says that this directly contradicts the information to the Public…..and we here can confirm that to be the case as we know one official representing the DWP was willing to enforce a sanction, threatening to use it (abuse it) in a first interview with a claimant without good reason.  The whole of this document should be seen by M.Bryce, and those interested should go to — mmm.whatdotheyknow.com/request/dwp_misleading_the_work_and_pensions_committee

‘Smell of ‘Cover-Up’ at DWP annoys the MP’s’

Work and Pensions Minister ESTHER McVEY is being called to answer questions by MP’s of both sides of the House who require a full explanation from the DWP in relation to WCA deaths cover-up.  Two opposition MP’s are writing to McVey while a third MP is demanding a full investigation into the matter and the ensuing possible cover-up over documents linking the ‘Fitness for Work’ test with the deaths of benefit claimants.   Jonathan Bartley of the Green Party said the failure to be clear about (remember Ms May and how many times she said ‘clear’) what happened with the documents, had all the Hallmarks of a deliberate cover-up, which needs investigating thoroughly.  The Report says there has been a ‘reluctance’ to co-operate and ‘refusals’ that cause alarm to those who see accountability being ignored. (19/7/2018)

‘Scots Lawyer sues the DWP’

There are many people online who are rooting for this solicitor to ‘hammer’ the DWP, so we thought you’d like to know more on this.  The little gem of an article was discovered in a ‘web fishing expedition’ so read on —  The Lawyer in question is a Mr Daniel Donaldson from Glasgow who claims benefits for a medical incapacity which affects his daily living.   The report goes on to say that in 2013 the DWP awarded him PIP but after an assessment in 2016, they stopped his benefits.  Mr Donaldson appealed to a Tribunal and on winning, they reinstated his benefit in October 2017.  But he declined this as it was unacceptable, partly because he feels the DWP ‘discriminated’ against him on account of the medical condition.  The Lawyer told the local Press that he’s suing the DWP for 4,000 pounds for disability discrimination.  Another 275 pounds in bank charges incurred due to the stop of his benefit, and a further 700 pounds in lost Passport benefits.  He has also named the Scottish Government in his claim, because powers over welfare payments were devolved under the Scotland Act 2016.     (30/4/2018)

‘Fines and Times of the DWP Agenda’

It’s a known fact by now that instead of being a welfare system, the DWP are more into intimidation, threats, sanctions and fines — so we’ve found out by looking at a DWP Outsourcing Company who carry out the DWP Capability Assessments.  A brave worker who looks non-too happy with what he is called to do, says the deal stinks, and that in his job he hasn’t time to be sympathetic with claimants, because he is called upon to assess 6 clients/claimants a day allowing approximately an hour each, and if the company fails to meet the assessment targets, it can be fined by the DWP.    (whistleblower 12/11/2016)

‘So called ‘error’ leads to calamity for disabled by the DWP’

This time they are calling it a ‘Major Error’ showing that they actually calibrate the error system within their own organisation.  The Report says the DWP error has left up to 70,000 disabled people out-of-pocket by as much as 20,000 pounds each?  This ‘error’ was mentioned in a Parliamentary Report, and says it will mean a payout of around 340 million pounds in arrears will have to be set aside to make things right.  It mentions that these ‘Underpayments’ go back as far as 2014 when they messed about with the Benefits Law in order to reduce benefit payouts in as many ways as they could to reduce spending on services.  Meg Hiller of The House of Commons Public Accounts Committee described the DWP’s response to its problem with employment and support allowance (ESA) as ‘blinkered’ and wholly inept.  She added, ‘It reveals weaknesses at the highest levels of management.’     (18/7/2018)

‘DWP to be investigated over Claimant’s Suicide’

This should be read by all who visit this site for reasons that will become obvious —  The Report says that this shows the conduct of the DWP Staff and Benefit Chiefs before and after the death of claimant Jodey Whiting.  The mother of nine had her payments stopped because she missed a Health Review appointment.  The seriousness of it cannot be worse as she suffered from constant pain due to a brain cyst and curved spine, which made walking very difficult.  Jodey of Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham.  Her family have been informed by the DWP that they will not only have to tend to the funeral, but will also have to wait almost 16 MONTHS for the investigation and the findings report will take around two and a half years to complete and be released.

It should also be noted that THE DWP INVESTIGATE THEMSELVES much like the Police, which many feel is wrong and often appears as a ‘whitewash’ or ‘Cover-Up’   You will not be entitled to know the name of the person who contributed to the incident or what happens to them, this is also protected by immunity….you also have no right to know of any disciplinary procedures…this is yet again held in secret, and any complaint is automatically referred to ‘The Pyramid system’ a tier system that can have 7 to 9 floors to finally reach an Ombudsman… and even at this stage you may find yourself cheated by this department that is ‘Untouchable’ and ‘Unaccountable’

‘The DWP Sanctions and Maladministration’

Misfeasance in Public Office certainly happens in the ‘sanctions’ section of the Civil Service in relation to DWP officers who misuse and abuse their position by using it as a weapon to disadvantage a claimant. They are not as rare as the DWP will claim in order to misdirect the public.  It is often claimed the sanction is never used in the first instance, and that it remains a last resort action…. but this isn’t true at all.  One lone parent case we came across tells us she made her situation clear when she signed on for JSA, making a point to have them aware of her need to be at certain times dropping off her children for school and collecting them later.  And in complete contrast the Jobcentre civil servant set about deliberately fixing her signing on time around the information the claimant had given.  This compromised her and she was late signing on, which resulted in a sanction followed by two more?  The first sanction was for 8 weeks, the second sanction 2 weeks more, and the third sanction another 8 weeks…which totals 18 weeks with no benefit.  She says she was actually advised to sign off and make a new claim.  This didn’t happen as she was now demoralised, in financial straits, and fearful of signing back on with this benefits office.  This we can tell you is not unusual (as the song goes) as we already know of another DWP officer who suggested to a new claimant of just 6 months, that they ought to take the offer of monetary help from a friend (while job searching) as it would get the DWP off their back and be the right solution for all concerned and have the benefit of not having to sign on or be accountable to the State.  (see Rightnet.org.Uk)

NB — Official figures revealed that 918,00 claimants were sanctioned by the DWP staff between April 2013 and March 2014, nearly 1 million?

‘Are the complaints to the DWP a ‘In-House’ Joke?’

This subject is hardly talked about even though it should be.  The DWP tell anyone with a complaint about them or an employee, should go online or see their Jobcentre first.  This may seem fair, but it isn’t, because it is ‘loaded’ against the claimant, the DWP investigate themselves much like the Police and other government departments, and these (because of protectionism) often lead to a ‘Cover-Up’ or ‘Whitewash’  However, if one begins the long journey to where? they are automatically facing a ‘list’ of people who will try to put them off and intentionally derail their complaint at every stage.  They will get several phone calls from different officials who will ask to go over your statement in order to see if they can debunk any part or trip you up (so keep your statement precise and remember what went on)…this is much like the Lawyer game of ‘destroying the credibility of a witness in court, not because their client is actually guilty, but picking out holes to discredit your version and make you look a fool or a liar wherever possible, which helps them get their guy off, and the Judges rather like this game being played out, because it has nothing to do with justice at all.  You will if you have not accepted a lame apology and stuck to your account, go all the way to the Independent Case Examiner, but do note, they cannot look at matters of Law or actual Government Policy, and they won’t look at benefit decisions either…. so by now you must be asking yourself — why are they there at all?  the simple answer is they can act as a ‘rubber stamp deal’ and confirm you had a chance?  the final door is The Ombudsman, but they don’t have a good track record of being on the claimants side.

What you get when embarking on a complaint is mostly a section officer, a section manager, the complaints resolution manager, a senior manager, the mystery ‘Decision Maker’ (and who knows what credentials they have?) the Independent Case Manager and then Ombudsman, all there to dissuade and make you back off at some stage….and even if you get all the way, they lock you out of the process by telling you that you are not entitled to know of any details of the outcome or whether the culprit has been disciplined…you just get another person or maybe letter saying they ‘apologise’……maybe you should have gone to the office and dropped your complaint in the basket marked ‘Drop all remarks and grievances in here on your way out’ — someone will attend to it later!

‘Denials by Jobcentre staff don’t cut it”

The DWP continually spin results and misrepresent the truth, using staff to cover-up the appalling mess that is failing claimants.  A Report reveals that some staff resign almost within a week or month of working at the Jobcentre because they don’t want to get used to lying to people who walk through the door and sit in front of them explaining their circumstances.  Interviews are expected to be completed in 25 minutes, which isn’t always possible (says the former Jobcentre woman).  Managers promise to make changes which never materialise and they put pressures on staff so that they in turn feel stress and lose patience or even bully a claimant who should get some respect, but one finds them easy targets and the managers just look the other way…and of course you can also find that they actually despise claimants and consider them as getting something for nothing.  She also said that you’re encouraged to think of them making up stories and suspect the claimant of fraud, and that is what one disillusioned worker revealed.   (July 17th 2017)

‘Many Councils are run for the benefit of those on the Payroll’

Something we’ve been saying for a long time, however, this gem has come from the often loathed MP DOUGLAS CARSWELL, who says Britain is lacking real leadership.  ‘The Prime Minister Mrs May ‘struggles to give straight answers to some of the most basic questions of the day.’   Local Government is full of ‘box-ticking’ officials’  Council leaders are more focused on ‘Compliance’ rather than delivering something their constituents need’  ‘Many local councils are run primarily for those on the council payroll, not local taxpayers’ ‘Policies are shielded from accountability to the public, at times it seemed to me as if every third-rate minister and ‘over-promoted’ council chief had a ready-made excuse to conceal their own inabilities.

PS: THIS COMES HAS NO SURPRISE TO ANYONE WHO HAS KEPT AN EYE AND BOOK ON WHAT THESE CIVIL SERVANTS GET UP TO.  SADLY HE MISSED ‘ROBBING THE PEOPLE BLIND’

‘Council Boss in £1 million Fraud’

At PRESTON CROWN COURT, not far from The Tax People, Council Boss STEPHEN CREWDSON was convicted of fraud and laundering money.  Crewdson was said to be in a privileged position at LANCASHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL where he was a Senior Officer.  It was said in Court that he used fake invoices and VAT returns, and went to great lengths to cover his tracks.  He arranged builders to bill the council for work that never existed, and this had gone on for a period of five years.  He was jailed for seven and a half years for his part in a contracts scam.   (Nov 2016)

‘Unlawful Tribunal Fees were okayed and passed by Lawyers for the Government’

It comes as no surprise to find that lawyers for the Government were behind something that was unlawful, and that they hoped it would not be challenged, and they almost succeeded in taking away the rights of ordinary workers.  And why did they do this?  it was similar to the legal aid situation, they wanted to deny as many people as they could from being able to use courts and tribunals.  These Government Lawyers knew all along what this did and said nothing about it, because it was yet again another Tory scheme to weaken the working class and poor.  A denial to justice was always on the cards, and the Conservatives were always the most likely of nasties to implement such a policy and pass it through the law while no one was taking much notice; just as they did with the benefits bill in 2013 which impoverished many claimants who needed help.  This Government favours ‘secret courts’ and restricted access by the public whilst at the time claiming that we are all governed by one Law?  That is how crass this lot are, but we will be coming back to secret courts and what effect they have on freedom later.  Charges for going to a Tribunal were introduced two years ago, 2013-15 which required ordinary workers to pay  fees to launch a claim, the current  government pretended this was to ‘halt vexatious’ cases against employers (and themselves really).  Many cases cost around £250 to launch, and under the Government’s rules and ‘qualifying system’ workers on the minimum wage had to pay the fee if a member of the family had savings of £3,000, which is incredibly low.  Employees wanting to sue had to pay an initial £160, and a further £230 for a hearing.  Unfair dismissal cases attracted an initial fee of £250, and a hearing cost of £950, which of course did exactly what the Government Lawyers were hoping for, claims plummeted.  Luckily, this illegal rouse was finally tested in The Supreme Court and The Ministry of Justice lost for the Government, and they were ordered to instigate £27 million pounds in refunds to claimants who had paid the unlawful fee.  These fees dated from 2013, the same time the Government implemented tight rules on Benefit claimants and amendments to that Law.  Nobody was ever dismissed for this act of lawlessness, not the Government or their Lawyers, they are technically immune to carry out such crimes, and they know it.

‘DWP spend £108 million of taxpayers money to silence claims against them’

ITS ACTUALLY DWP AND GOVERNMENT to be precise, they are spending a massive amount of money to fight claims from claimants who feel they have been wronged by the state.  Of course, let us be correct here and say that the State protects itself first above anything else and the citizen last.  The Report says that they spent some £108 million on fending off disability claims in the Tribunal Courts, a fact that came to light some years ago.  The report goes on to mention that The Ministry of Justice spends tens of millions annually on appeals , and around two-thirds of this has resulted in claimants winning their appeals.  It says in an F.O.I. that they spent £5.3 million on Mandatory Reconsiderations and appeals for PIP and ESA.   Neil Heslop, Chief Executive of the charity Leonard Cheshire Disability said ‘To spend this amount on admin fighting to uphold flawed decisions that shouldn’t have been made in the first place is staggering.’

‘Civil Servant of DWP is jailed for stealing’

ABIGAIL McCLELLAND was found guilty of stealing £55,000 from the taxpayer whilst working at the DWP in Lisahelly near Derry.  It was said in Court that she transferred benefit payments into her own bank account during 2009 and 2011.  The offence was discovered in an audit at the DWP Office where she worked as an Administrative Assistant on Benefit Claims.  The Judge at Derry Crown Court said the seriousness of the case developed when she went beyond her debts and spent the money on cars, white goods, decorating and general items.  The Judge jailed her for 15 months.  (1/2/2013)

‘FOIA Requests and DWP Resistance’

DWP respond to letter of 29th July 2016, and refused to provide the requested information sought.  The DWP cited Section 14 (2) and stated that a public body is ‘not obliged to comply with a request for information’     The Complainant had requested an Internal Review and requested to know all data the DWP had on him, and was being held.  In the next move after it looked likely that they would have to comply, it changed its mind, or Lawyers did?  and substituted the following response, and that was they were now using Section 14 (1) in a bid to close the request down knowing this could no longer be challenged or appealed against.   What they were doing here was and is downright unfair to common justice, because using (1) was a vexatious clause that has wide interpretation, which allows the DWP to get out of anything it does not want to answer, and it can use this even when no such state exists, all they have to do is use it to silence or intimidate investigations into its decisions. 

‘Jobcentre disclosure leads to discrimination case in court’

A Court ruled that a 44 year old woman was ‘discriminated’ against by staff at a Jobcentre who disclosed the former gender of a trans claimant who did not wish these personal facts to be known on the open public floor of the centre.  The woman found herself having to argue the point with Jobcentre staff who continued to brush this aside.  In The High Court, the Judge said it was irrelevant for the staff to know her former gender.  The Judge found that the DWP was in clear breach of her privacy rights, and they couldn’t and shouldn’t disclose such information without the consent of the claimant, despite the DWP claiming it held the right to demand all details on a claimant.   (July 2014)

‘DWP officer dishonestly diverts Benefit Payments’

CIVIL SERVANT EMILY NORMAN, who worked at The Wirral Jobcentre, appeared before the Wirral Magistrates for stealing £1,845 over four occasions and putting the money into her own bank account.  The benefit payments of JSA were taken in amounts ranging from £188 TO £735 at a time.  She was convicted of dishonesty and the fraudulent transfer of public funds.  Sentencing was adjourned.  (July 2014)

‘DWP go back on help for funeral costs for grieving couple’

The report says the DWP primarily agreed to help a couple, and then went back on it.  The official line from them is that they changed their decision to hepl the grieving couple with funeral costs for their baby who died shortly after birth.  Initially they had supported the couple and said they would be giving them £1,718 to cover the funeral costs because they were entitled to it.  Nadia Oldale and Josh Farrow of Holywell, Flintshire couldn’t believe that the DWP would renege on their word, and said they would now only offer £700, which left the couple to find £1,017.  County Councillor Peter Curtis described the DWP as ‘totally insensitive’  and MP David Hanson said he was not happy with what the DWP had done, and he would raise the matter with the Minister.    (Jan 2016)

‘The Sanctions that help nobody, but amuse the DWP’

We looked at one of many, and decided this would do —  Shaun was sanctioned for 6 months because he wouldn’t go on a ‘Work Programme’  He’s 48, and he gives up a lot of time to help a Children’s’ Charity as a shop manager to raise £1000’s for children with life-threatening illnesses.

Then we looked at this — THE GOVERNMENT’s U.J.M.  The Universal Jobmatch site for Jobseekers.  We discovered that this site was awarded with the ‘Wooden Nora’ prize for being the ‘WORST’ jobsite by the National Online Recruitment Awards who looked at 730 sites.

One has to question their motives, lack of knowledge, and the fact they never look at anything as it is, they act without any feelings at all for their clients, and actually believe sending people to wrong jobs and having them on programmes really improves things.

‘Tories upset by DWP Benefit sanctions defeat in European Court’

THE CONSERVATIVES as usual never accept they are wrong, and even in the face of a legal decision, try to ignore or get around it.  It is quite apparent they use their dodgy lawyers to interpret things in their favour and even risk being on the edge of legal, because lawyers for the crown can do this under ‘privilege’ and get away with it, mainly because the goal posts move with each try.  But as the report says, the Tory government lost the second round in trying to uphold a law that was in fact illegal.  The Supreme Court in 2013 found the scheme ‘Back-to-Work’ was flawed legally, but the government didn’t accept this and immediately introduced ’emergency legislation’ but this was challenged in the High Court the same year and ruled incompatible with European Law.                                                                                                                      But this wasn’t enough for the DWP and the Tory Government, and they moved to the Appeal Court to try and get their way, but yet again they were denied a victory as Appeal Judges, LORD JUSTICE UNDERHILL, LORD JUSTICE BURNETT and DAME JANET SMITH unanimously rejected the appeal by the Department of Work and Pensions.  It said that the government faced a bill of £130 million in repayments in the Supreme Court if they didn’t overturn this decision…proving again that they only like the laws that suit them.  But the story of this EVIL is not over as we had Ministers saying ‘they were only trying to protect the public purse’….pull the other one! as if!                                                          Ministers went onto said ‘the new laws were justified to stop jobseekers receiving undeserved payments!    Luckily the challenge to the law was brought by claimant Cait Riley a Birmingham University Graduate who wanted to work in the museum sector and was given voluntary work experience at the museum in Birmingham in 2010.  And on completing that she was ordered by the Jobcentre to work at a Pound land store for no pay or lose her £70 a week jobseeker allowance!  She rightly compared this to modern slavery and claimed it breached her human rights.  At this time she found a supporter who joined her in the legal battle to put right the wrong this government were doing. Daniel Hewstone had received a sanction when he stopped attending a work programme because he could not afford to wait for his travel expenses and felt the menial work offered would not find him long-term work.

‘DWP wrong to deny appeals over refused benefits’

JUDGES ruled that the DWP ‘unlawfully’ prevented claimants going to Tribunals to challenge the refusal of their benefits.  The Upper Tribunal said it was wrong for the DWP to refuse claimants the right to appeal if they took more than a month to ask for a review of a benefit decision.  This ruling came one week after the Supreme Court said that the Government was ‘unlawfully’ charging fees of up to £1,200 for access to the Employment Tribunals.   The Judges said ‘We find that many claimants will be vulnerable and there is a high risk that many of them will miss the time limits.  This risk has been exacerbated over recent years by changes in the scope of Legal aid and local authority and advice sector provision, and hence officers and others who are readily available to assist claimants with their benefit claims and appeals.                             We are concerned with the situation where a claimant sends the Secretary of State a request for a ‘mandatory reconsideration’ to which the Secretary of State responds by stating that the application is late and does not meet the criteria for extending the time.  We have concluded that as a matter of statutory interpretation, a claimant in such circumstances has a statutory right of appeal to the first-tier tribunal and should not be denied it.’              (4/8/2017)

‘DWP drop ‘overpaid benefits case’ without explanation’

A couple who spent an entire year worrying about a DWP demand for £3,140 overpaid benefit, are now making their own demand for an answer, when the DWP suddenly dropped the case.  Peter and Armanda Papworth want answers from the Government.  Armanda told a reporter, ‘It’s been constantly on my mind and eventually I went into hospital suffering from severe stress and depression.’                             The nightmare started when they (the DWP) said her husband had been overpaid in 2007 with income support, and they wanted £3,140 back.  The couple from Inverness had always stayed within the law and couldn’t really afford to pay the sum demanded.  They consulted the local CAB and a Tribunal Hearing was set up.  But the DWP didn’t turn up, and the Tribunal ruled in favour of the couple, striking out the DWP’s claim.  On making enquiries, a DWP spokesperson refused to comment on why the matter took a year, or why they didn’t proceed with the case?     (6/10/2011)

‘The confessions of a former DWP Jobcentre Worker’

Scouring the Web as we do, we often come across something we didn’t expect, and here it is — An Ex DWP employee states that ‘In truth benefit claimants are being deliberately set up to fail in order to achieve SANCTION QUOTAS without regard for natural justice or their welfare.  Staff are being used by the managers to behave in a manner that is against the department’s values of integrity and honesty!

‘Jobcentre Advisor turns Whistleblower’

A former DWP Civil Servant and advisor at the Jobcentre, Angela Neville, decided to expose the workings and policies being carried out by the bosses who set the targets on claimants.  She told of how they were given lists of claimants (otherwise known as customers) to call immediately, and get them on a work programme.  She said her boss didn’t really care whether some of them were ill or not in good health, ‘You’ve got to put this to them and they maybe sanctioned.’  She actually refused, which is a rare thing and this was at the Braintree Jobcentre, Essex.  She said there was even a sort of game in the office called ‘sanction of the month’ and staff were not encouraged to be compassionate with claimants.  (4/2/2015)

‘Jobcentre tactics revealed by what the DWP call rogue staff’

This little gem fits nicely with the above article, and it deals with those sanctions  — Three civil servants who worked at the Jobcentre observed over quite a period of time what was going on, and they didn’t like it.  Obviously more brave than many others in the DWP they took them on.  They decided enough was enough, they said that staff are instructed to veto a set proportion of claims….and of course the DWP deny that as expected!  The three ex-jobcentre workers set up a website to help badly treated claimants and in one day alone it got 200 messages.  The site was called  www.jobseekersanctionadvice.com  which went viral.  One of the three women said she was completely disillusioned by the treatment meted out to some claimants during her final years at the jobcentre in the Northeast region, alleging that staff were pressurised to sanction needy people for the smallest mistake in their claim.  She said ‘I decided one Sunday to resign and I never went back.  In the last three years I could see the way things were going and it wasn’t good.  Everything is designed to trip people up, and they are asked to do things that are unsuitable.’   In a PCS UNION SERVICE Survey of Jobcentre Staff, it found two thirds said they had experienced pressure to refer claimants for a sanction inappropriately.’    (3/8/2014)

NB:  What we see here is in line with the research we have done and what they have said is repeated over and over, as you can see on both of these above articles and claimant cases we have.  The DWP denied it all and they are fond of pulling out the lies and misleading quotes to hide the truth.  We have much more on all of this and if you just read a bunch you’ll discover something quite awful about the DWP without a doubt.

‘Appeal Judge rules that the JSA Agreement is Unlawful’

Unfortunately we don’t have the Judge’s name, but that a court challenge was made against the DWP over this particular agreement that claimants are expected to sign.  The Applicants Legal Advisor said that the presiding judge came to this conclusion when he dismissed the DWP’s defence.  ‘The ‘conditionality’ imposed on a Jobseeker was unreasonable and that the Benefit Sanction (immediate stoppage) used to ‘punish’ the supposed miscreant was therefore unlawful too.’                                                                                                                                         The Jobseekers Legal Advisor went onto say that the Judge made things clear by saying ‘There is nothing in the Act or Regulations requiring that a claimant must comply with everything in the agreement.  The reverse is the case.  The Agreement must comply with the Law.  A Jobseekers Agreement must comply ‘with the prescribed regulations in force, Section 9(1) of the Act.  The pattern of legislation is that a jobseekers agreement must comply with the test of ‘actively seeking work’ in Sections 1(2)(c) and 7 of the Act and Regulations 18 of the Regulations and not the other way round.’

NB  The Advisor said we ought to inform the jobseekers of this case and law that helped her win damages from the DWP, so here it is.

‘The true role of the Claimant Agreement is exposed’

Persecution is what many call it, and beyond that it is not legally binding, but the DWP ignore this routinely in order to deliver more sanctions on claimants.  It required much more from the Jobseeker and demanded that they account more clearly for their efforts to find work, and they will be given a weekly timetable of tasks to complete.  It is also highly intrusive and breaks the Human Rights Act.  A student body think-tank studying the contract said it not only appears to be ‘one-sided’ but has no mention of the responsibilities of the Jobcentre in respect of their commitment to the claimant, or what penalties they face if they fail.  They were alarmed at the number of times it mentions penalties and stopping benefits if the claimant steps out of line or can’t seem to find a job.  The Student group came to the conclusion that the ‘Claimant Commitment’ is a contract of sorts, or an attempt to make a contract so that the DWP unfairly uses or abuses its power and authority over these claimants to inflict unwarranted cruelties upon them.’   (August 2013)

‘Yet another Tory unlawful Acted overturned by the Court of Appeal’

There have been several to date, and some of these acts passed by Parliament (The Tories) have been continued without question until someone challenged them in the Appeal Court.  Before going into this, we must first look at the Lawyers acting for the Government and accepting they know the ins and outs of law, actually approve these unlawful conditions.  Did they know they were doing this, or were they incompetent?  they would deny this, so one can only arrive that they sought to deceive (just as they do in the withholding of evidence in CPS prosecutions, not telling, and winning by default).  This new piece of unlawfulness has been played out at the Appeal Court, and it was another challenge to The Data Surveillance Act passed by the Tories and Legal Establishment in 2014, si it has been running for 6 years as law, when it was wrong.  The Court of Appeal ruled that ‘The Data Retention and Investigatory Powers Act 2014 infringed Civil Rights.  The three Appeal Judges said the Act was inconsistent with EU Law because it allowed data retention where its use was ‘not restricted solely to fighting serious crime.’   Yet during the last five years the authorities were allowed to snoop, and access website and phone records.

‘ High Court rules that Disability PIP regulations breached human rights’

In yet another challenge to Tory Laws on Benefit changes, they have been found guilty of ‘Discrimination’ something we have pointed out for some time on this site.  The High Court ruled that alterations to DWP Regulations and Act on benefit entitlement to PIP, was limiting the amount of support people with mental health conditions could receive, and by doing so amounted to Discrimination.  It now means that at least 1.6 million disability benefit claims must be re-examined of around 220,000 people, who will now expect to receive more money because they were refused help initially under the unlawful condition imposed.  The report says that the new DWP Minister ESTHER McVEY has said that the government will not appeal against the judgement.  But Disabled Groups are already saying this will take a long time to sort out, even years before those who were treated unfairly get compensation or benefit from this change in the law.

‘More Court Action in the High Court over DWP Benefits’

Yet another challenge to the Tory changes to benefits looms as The High Court is set to hear a case lodged against the Government over the ‘Two Child Limit’ rule imposed by them in relation to welfare payments introduced by the DWP in 2017 restricting child tax credits and Universal Credit  to the first two children in a family only.  Lawyers representing three families have said that this rule is detrimental to all children, and are urging the Appeal Judge Mr Justice Ouseley to find it ‘Irrational and Unlawfully Discriminately’   QC Richard Dribble said the policy created by the Welfare Reform and Work Act 2016 ‘is incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights and the UN Convention on the Rights of a Child’  He told the Court ‘This Rule fails to have regard for the individual rights of children and is predicted on the proposition that those unable to support themselves solely through work should make choices about intimate behaviour’   The hearing is still continuing.    (Feb 2018)

‘Jobless claimants find support is hard to access’

The latest report on the jobless and jobseekers is yet again gloomy as this government, the policy-makers have a relaxed attitude to the gap in funding and support for those desperately in need of it.  About 300,000 unemployed people and those on low incomes are missing out on financial support they are entitled to, but scared to ask for in the current climate of assessments and qualifying hurdles set up by the government.  The Resolution Foundation say these people are the ‘forgotten unemployed’ who are mainly older people especially between the ages of 55 and 64.  It said that it had found a huge number of these people were not claiming at all, many of such fear the regime of not being welcome and going through a barrage of questions about their private life, home and financial details which are picked over by staff in jobcentres with an eye on refusing as many as they could to bolster up government propaganda on employment figures.  Even though these people are entitled to this support which they do need, they back away from the Jobcentres after hearing the things that claimants faced on signing up.  David Finch a senior economic analyst for the Foundation said ‘Over the last 20 years , a growing number of unemployed people are not claiming benefits of Universal Credit or Jobseekers Allowance.’      (Dec 2017)

‘Diabetic Claimant wins in benefit Appeal’

This is a terrible case, and it started with the sanctions given out by the Jobcentre on behalf of the DWP.  It concerns the immoral Jobcentre rules and welfare sanctions they’re so fond of handing out to jobseekers.  Campaigners connected with this ‘horrific case’ came out to support David Boyce, whose tragic case turned so because of the DWP.  They campaigned outside the Jobcentre in Salford and yet again on the steps of the Tribunal.  The DWP had stopped his benefits for 5 months.  David Boyce suffered from diabetes and took insulin to control it,  he was unable to afford the strict diet prescribed due to lack of money, and he eventually could not control his insulin intake and his condition spiralled out of control to such a danger point that he had to have one of his legs amputated due to complications.  David from Weaste, said his benefits had been frozen 14 times because of issues with his paperwork, and because he got into a disagreement about the jobseekers agreement, he was sanctioned numerous times.                                                                                                                                                               The stopped cash was eventually returned to David after he won his appeal at the Tribunal, with every sanction overturned by the Judge.  Now, since that, the campaigners ‘Salford’s Unemployed and Community Resource Centre’ are seeking compensation from the DWP for David’s amputation, which according to legal consideration, could cost the DWP millions.  The DWP made no comment?  (7/9/2016)                                                                                                    

‘Civil Servants involved in missing Government Archive ‘controversial’ documents of dark activities’

A report that could easily be overlooked as surfaced and casts doubt on the integrity of Civil Servants.  It says that civil servants ‘removed’ over a 1000 files from public view at Kew, West London, and took them back to Whitehall.  It is said that each file contains dozens of papers covering sensitive events such as when MI6 Officers apparently conspired to bring down the first labour government etc, the killing of a journalist, dubious activities by Special Branch and much more.  It was also revealed that Foreign Office officials had had removed a small number of documents and some are said to have been ‘misplaced?  and others ‘on loan to a government department’  and some have been reported as ‘lost’  John Trickett a minister said ‘the loss of documents about controversial periods in history is unacceptable.  The British people deserve to know what the government has done in their name and the loss or misplaced excuses will only fuel accusations of a ‘cover-up’ and confirm to many that they want to hide anything that shows them acting unlawful or despicable.’  (Dec 2017)

‘Tories in yet more secrecy surrounding Brexit’

It’s often very difficult to find or ascertain how many civil servants take part in a cover-up, but we can be certain they actually do when it is necessary for them to deny and obstruct investigation by Press.  This new one concerns a Report by the Tories who refused to publish the full details of a ‘leaked’ analysis, which indicates that the economy of the UK will be badly hit by Brexit no matter what deal is finally agreed to by PM May and Europe.  MP Chris Leslie of Labour called it ‘a cover-up’ while 50 MP’s signed a cross-party letter calling on the Report to be published in full.

‘Taxpayers to pay for Civil Servants Caribbean resort Bill of £18,000’

A report says that Border staff of three government officials stayed at a luxury hotel ‘the Sugar Ridge Hotel’ on a Caribbean island at a cost of £18,000 for 64 nights.  The team made the trip in 2016 supposedly to advise the local authorities on drug-trafficking, and it has taken almost a year to get this information which otherwise would not have been available.  Apparently, The Mail Online investigators obtained it through a FOI.  Apparently, the response by Government officials explained that this cost might raise concerns, but they believe it was the most suitable option available in terms of balancing costs and security?     (the taxpayers might just think otherwise)        (Dec 2017)

THIS NEXT CASE COULD AND SHOULD BE KNOWN AS A SCANDAL AGAINST HUMAN RIGHTS:

‘DWP trials ‘prisoner type’ regulations regime on claimants’

There are some areas which one shouldn’t go, but this Tory Government are tearing up the book on decency, and however many of you out there think this is fair, then this site is after investigating you and your past, and making that public. 

Proving that they don’t give a damn about human rights or respect for a person, the Tory Government and DWP went a step further in their ‘Big Brother’ 1984 scenario……..’Look for work from 9am to 5pm or lose your benefits’ was their slogan as they trialled out a new regime at Bradford to test out this outrageous policy.  Ministers who will now not own up to their support for this (in case they are rightly booted out) suppressed the following.  1) Jobseekers are to sign on each day (like a school register) and spend the whole day on job applications, such as fabricating those CV’s etc.  And the Draconian sanctions are: A) The claimant will have their  benefits removed for 3 months if they fail to hunt for jobs 35 hours each week. B) A first breach and they will lose 4 weeks benefit, and a second breach means that they will forfeit 3 weeks money! …… this happened in (3/9/2014) under that coward Osborne, Duncan-Smith and David Cameron.

NB: The above should have been challenged in the courts under ARTICLE 3 of The Human Rights Act, as it contains elements of that Act which can be interpreted as the following — PROHIBITION OF TORTURE.  Freedom from torture, inhuman treatment, degrading treatment/ degrading punishment.  The Act says that the ‘Protections’ cannot be derogated (discredited) from, in any circumstances, even during war or a public emergency.  This Article places a negative duty on the State not to inflict this suffering on human beings, as well as a positive duty to see that these forms of suffering are not carried out within its borders.  Further to that, ARTICLE 4 states that 1) No one shall be held in slavery or servitude 2) No-one shall be required to perform forced or compulsory labour!

PS: There is one rub to this, and its called the ECHR  and that means the EUROPEAN CONVENTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS, an Article that was thought up by those who wanted to opt out of protections in case it messed up with their plans or gave people the upper hand.  In 1998 Britain’s Labour Party did this and chose to opt out or water down certain obligations of the HUMAN RIGHTS ACT, and deny its citizens rights enjoyed by other countries that had signed up to the whole deal.  As to why this was done is obvious if you study the Human Rights Act particularly about Government Rights and how the People could bring them to account for any misdeeds.  It is clear however, that the UK government wanted to pick and choose which laws they were willing to uphold.  The ECHR was considered and roughly interpreted as a ‘Living Instrument’ adapting to changing needs?  This Government was able to, under Article 15. Opt out and derogate from their obligations under the Convention, which by any standard disregards and destroys the intention and concept of a law that was for all the signatories to adhere to.  Britain decided to opt out and only pick the ones they liked, several protocols have not been ratified by the U.K. Government.

One thing the UK government didn’t want was the State to pay damages to a person or party who had suffered a breach of ECHR, despite the intention of the ECHR which was to protect the individual against a misuse of power by the State.  The UK Government was not happy that the ECHR included public authorities and the misuse of power, and argued strongly against action being brought against them, so much so, that they applied for amendments and another review of this.

SO WHEN YOU HEAR THE UK TELLING OTHERS ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS, COME BACK TO THIS ARTICLE AND THE HYPOCRISY OF THE UK.

‘Bullying Jobcentre Staff put claimants through hell’

A report revealed that companies are often ‘cold called’ by jobseekers having to phone as many numbers as possible as part of a policy dreamt up by the DWP.  Industry bosses admitted to shredding the letters from the Jobcentre Work Programmes as soon as they get them, and that they are frustrated with the calls too; as many of them have no jobs to offer.  We know from research that the cold-call phoning is absolutely true, and was carried out on a large scale in the 1980’s.  The report states that people on the ‘Welfare to Work’ scheme are forced into sitting in open plan phone booths and banks, for several hours cold-calling from telephone books.  Claimants gave evidence to the MSP’s Committee, and many said they’d been put down on many occasions and some broke down in tears at the lack of respect shown.  (27/10/2015)

‘Jobcentre Staff in Scandal’

A damaging report has revealed that two Jobcentre staff were sacked in 2013 for misusing the ‘Flexible Support Funds’  — which they used when they took jobseekers off JSA, only to slip them cash from another fund to plug the gap.  The two Civil Servants involved said they were encouraged by managers to meet targets, including ‘falsely signing claimants off benefits’ so that they could be regarded as employed for the statistics or just not on the JSA list, which helped the DWP to massage the figures in public statements.  The report showed that 8 out of 66 staff at the Plaistow Jobcentre claimed they were under pressure to meet targets any way they could.   (8/7/2016)

‘Almost 5 DWP staff breach the data protection Act’

Due to a ‘Despatches’ TV Programme, it was revealed that around five civil servants working at the DWP were disciplined for data offences.  It revealed that in 2011 there were approximately 13 cases of data breaches each month concerning the ‘unlawful access’ to medical records reported to the Department of Health.   Under a Freedom of Information request  the investigators on the TV programme asked them how many times had staff been disciplined for data offences in one year as an example.  They confirmed there had been 992 in ten months.  When pointing out that breaching the Data Act was a criminal offence, the DWP refused to comment on that side of things, but admitted it was a huge database that many departments had access to within government, and that it was the biggest collection of personal data throughout Europe!

‘DWP send ‘near retirement JSA claimants on career and pc courses’

A report reveals that Jobcentres are sending people near retirement age with no interest in computers, on a computer course to get them ‘career opportunities’   Several such claimants who’d turned 60 at the North Kensington Jobcentre found themselves being ordered to go on courses, often called ‘career opportunities’….and most of this age group were likely to leave any job they got in around five or six years, which cannot be seen as a career move….a career was meant to be a working lifetime thing when one was young.  However, despite this the staff treated them as if they’re looking for a career.  Some of this staff need training in what ‘career’ means.

PS:  a recent 2017 report says that three out of every four report age discrimination at work.  According to the site that many jobseekers are told to register with, CV-Library, a third of workers say they have been rejected for a job because of their age, and more than half of workers over the age of 55 say they have been discriminated against because of their age.  Founder of CV-Library Lee Biggins said ‘Discrimination around age is not only rife in workplaces, but also during the hiring process.  But, while employers may think their pickiness will secure them the very best workers, they’re actually limiting themselves even further.’

‘Cuts to benefits and Social care hits the Elderly’

Their are two types of elderly, or OAP’s, and those are the well off, and the others the poor.  In a Welfare Report it says that the elderly are paying the price for social care cuts…..and cuts to other services too.  Politicians in both local councils and Government play the game of blame and still the needy suffer.  The report says there have been 6 years of consecutive cuts to care and services, and access to it depends on where they live, and how much money they have rather than their needs.  The stark truth of austerity and cuts by the Conservative MP’s has created a social care system increasingly unable to meet the needs of an ageing population.  The Report by the Independent Charities The King’s Fund and Nuffield Trust said that older people just about managing are being forgotten and routinely ignored because there is no council who can afford to maintain services that responded to individuals, especially as cuts in fees paid by local authorities and other cost pressures, such as the National Living Wage, are squeezing the incomes of residential and home-care providers.

‘The DWP – A Blight on Humanity’

We have been systematically going from case to case in our own files and on the Internet concerning the Government’s DWP and Staff, the backroom civil servants etc, and what we are seeing and reading is truly degrading, with Tory MP’s in the frontline as the uncaring lot they are.  The rot seems to start with Iain Duncan-Smith, onto Chris Grayling, then to Stephen Crabb and Justin Tomlinson…plus the Captain of the ship, David Cameron.  We see many cases of DWP Advisors ‘stitching up claimants’, Sanctions that forfeit a claimants benefits, benefits removed for three months, and assessments that almost carry ‘Penal Sentences’.  We also have several suicides because of benefit changes all implemented since 2013, and thought of a couple of years earlier!  We have staff who make claimants suffer, lying denials by managers and Ministers and much much more.                                                                                                                                                                                             Go visit – https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=2725807           Because we don’t want to upset you by showing how awful this situation is from this Tory Government.  It’s a scandal that that should not be happening in 2018, but it still goes on because the people of the UK couldn’t care less!  They’ve swallowed the Tory lies and like the Tories themselves, believe them to be true.

‘DWP withholds benefit to Carer for 4 years’

In THE COURT OF APPEALS, The DWP were found to have acted ‘unlawfully’ when they deliberately delayed paying a carer benefits to which she was entitled, for 4 years?  The Judge dismissed The Secretary of State’s appeal in this case of delays in paying social security benefits, because it was an important case that had to be tried in order to show fairness to the claimant and any other claimants going through a similar situation.  He ordered the DWP to quickly act on this and see that it was made right.   the case is:   Secretary of State for Work and Pensions v Filecca       (2017)

‘DWP waste £140 million on Universal Credit Project’

This report comes as no surprise, as even in 2017 things were not going to plan. and even today the system is rather ‘broke’ and needs more than just a fix.  A DWP employee who wished to remain anonymous says that the IT strategy is hampered by employees worrying about whether the Press will approve their actions? and so they should be!….and so should the Tory Government.   The DWP IT Consultant admitted that he’s seen the destructive nature of the DWP’s IT strategy first hand.  He even revealed the role of the DWP Lawyers who would write up a contract without even consulting the IT people who would be responsible for overseeing it.  He told of the day he was at a meeting with a Supplier who said they’d have to charge the DWP a considerable amount of money to do a PoC.  He asked them what this would mean in what they would get at the DWP, and the Supplier replied, ‘They were not sure what we’re going to deliver, but we need this amount of money’ and the DWP paid up!   He further revealed that the DWP had paid out tens of millions in failed projects, and one of those big suppliers was Fujitsu who were dropped because they failed to deliver.       The DWP refused to recognise any of this?      (25/11/2013)

‘Jobcentre woman suspended for lewd activities’

At a Hull Jobcentre, an unknown un-named female DWP civil servant was caught on camera by neighbours in the building next door having full sex with a G4S male officer in full view of the flats next door to the centre.  It was officially stated that both workers in the civil service were suspended after a witness video was presented to the boss of the Jobcentre.  The DWP said that they were now carrying out a full investigation into this matter.  (26/10/2017)

‘DWP artificially inflate number of jobs’

The Report says that the DWP have been accused of a ‘cover-up’ after ‘clearing one of its specialist welfare-to-work’ providers of fraudulent allegations.  This situation was exposed when two DWP whistleblowers, Perveen Sud and Reena Gour came forward in 2013 to describe how the Work Choice Provider SWEETEC had been artificially inflating the number of jobs it said it was finding for disabled people.  They said Sweetec offered Work Choice clients as ‘free labour’ to charities and other host organisations, and then paid their wages for the next six months while allegedly pretending to the DWP that their salaries were instead being paid by the host organisations.  Three organisations said how they had accepted disabled jobseekers for six month placements, even though it was made clear to Sweetec that they were just volunteer roles, they would not be paid, and there would be no jobs available at the end of the six months.                                                      Despite this, Sweetec, which carried out the Work Choice service in North and West London having around 800 employees, is alleged to have logged the ‘placements’ as ‘job outcomes’ claiming payments from the government both at the beginning and end of the six month periods.  Sweetec was able to make a profit because the amount it received from the DWP (thousands of pounds for every client who completed six months in a job) was hundreds of pounds a month more than it paid the clients who only had to work 20 hours a week at the minimum wage to qualify for a ‘job outcome’   Both ‘whistleblowers’ said they had positive evidence, but they were never called in for an interview on the inquiry.  The DWP said they hadn’t found any fraud having taken place, but without the evidence of the whistleblowers, that conclusion is obvious and it calls into question that perhaps this was the outcome they wanted in this sensitive area, and accountability had to be pushed away under the carpet of secrecy.     (5/5/2014)

‘Fit-to-Work’ decisions worry the tribunals’

This 1Oth of March Report in 2016 says that more than half of the DWP ‘assessed’ decisions are not only wrong, but also flawed, and that over a third of ESA claims decisions go to appeal.  The Tribunals found that most of those people who claimed they were ill at the interview, were in fact, ill, as they claimed.  Despite civil servants taking the view that these people were either lying or feigning illness without any real proof of it being so.  Figures obtained from the DWP Tribunals show that 52 percent of cases were overturned in favour of the claimants.

‘Civil Servant Data Breaches Revealed’

The Document reveals that the HM COURTS SERVICE staff breached the government database of personal information.  Local Authorities dismissed 26 employees in 2009 who snooped on data at the DWP CIS (Customer Information System) which has 90 million records stored.  An F.O.I. exposed that 124 Council Employees breached the Data Protection Act in 2010.  The Ministry of Justice confirmed that Courts Service Staff had unlawfully accessed the CIS Database on 23 occasions in 2008, and it revealed that 200,000 Public Sector Staff have regular access to the Public Citizens Database.   (16/7/2010)

‘DWP Tribunal not fit for purpose!’

When attending the first ‘tier’ tribunal, Mrs Kennedy said that she could see that one member of the Tribunal was sound asleep when she was reading from her statement.  She also noted that the Tribunal adopted an ‘Openly Sceptical’ and ‘Hostile’ stand against her.  She claims yet they repeatedly interrupted her when she attempted to answer their questions, and there was also ‘facial expressions’ of contemptuous disbelief as a follow up.  Angela Kennedy is disabled, and it was the errors that now forced her to seek a Judicial Review in the High Court.  Angela is on the PIP benefit, and it was at an assessment where she encountered the ATOS paramedic whose report failed badly to see how unwell she actually was.   She said ‘he was guilty of serious omissions and errors of fact, and reasoning’  She said her condition was ‘played down, which included several falls of a serious nature, yet he failed to acknowledge or report on this.   She was denied access to the Upper Tribunal, so it left her with no other choice but to take her case to the High Court.   The DWP wouldn’t comment?        (2/3/2017)

‘DWP Minister misleads The House of Commons’

Yes, here we have it again ‘Misleads’ a cover-up for saying something untrue, and sorry seems to have worked again in the Political World of game play and falsehoods.  MP ESTHER McVEY issued an apology to her friends in The House of Commons after categorically and calmly misrepresenting a National Audit Report on ‘UNIVERSAL CREDITS’.  She issued a quote saying that they had called for the rollout of Universal Credit to be accelerated to all districts of the UK.  Sir Amyas Morse, the Head of The National Audit Office replied immediately by issuing an open letter to Ms McVey saying that elements of her statement to Parliament on the Report were incorrect and unproven.  And he found it odd that she had done this when the truth of the report had been fully agreed by senior officials at the DWP a few days earlier.   (15/6/2018)

NB  McVey amazingly said she had ‘Inadvertently’ misled The House of Commons?

‘Trail of destruction left by Universal Credits’

It appears that Civil Servant McVey doesn’t consult much at all when on the same day a report was issued by the NAO saying that the scheme was unlikely to ever deliver value for money.  The report went onto say that it was costing four times more to administer each claim it handled, and was failing to deliver the promises by Ministers that it will result in increased employment.  And we shall be showing you a case of how sometimes they go about creating that false employment by deceit and bullying……. so watch this space!

‘THE LOCAL SERVICE COMPLIANCE TELEPHONE INTERVIEW’  (a.k.a Abuse of Trust and Power)

This incident contains the ingredients of ‘the conspiracy to take advantage of a vulnerable pensioner (third party) accompanied by threats to sanction if the claimant failed to take advantage of this position.  Having said that, we will now go into the story……

‘Woman given the ‘runaround’ by DWP and the Benefits Staff’

In our trawl of the Web, we came across this case…..A woman only just known by her ‘handle’ ek82 tells the story of how her benefits were stopped after an ‘error’ that she was blamed for?  They also could not, and would not, tell her how another address was lodged onto her claim without her knowledge.  With her claim suspended, staff ignored her financial loss and sat back to see what happened, whereas in fact they ignored her saying she had no grounds for a complaint against them.  They continued to make her life hell which affected her health.  She lives in Sheffield, so it musty be a Sheffield Job Centre.  The bogus address was ‘Newcastle’ uploaded by a mystery element no-one was interested in following up.  She spent a week of stress and emotional upset, yet, as usual, these culprits of heavyhandedness and jobsworth continued to pretend they were not to blame.  There was no sign of an apology in this case, which is a typical factor in DWP matters.  We could not find a resolution…..so we will provide a link —  consumeractiongroup.co.uk

‘Severely disabled man has benefits stopped’

Sadly, there are no exceptions when it comes to the DWP as we see here — Cerebral Palsey sufferer STEVE EVANS of Newport found himself in dire straits with his benefits cut by the DWP staff in a case that hit the BBC News…. which exposed the civil servants and DWP for its awful actions concerning his benefits claim.  Steve, a wheelchair user told the News Team it all started with a letter from the DWP telling him to apply for PIP, the replacement benefit for the Disability Living Allowance.  His first application got lost in the post?  So he was put under severe pressure to do another one ASAP, which he has to have help with doing.  The DWP said they’d sent three letters to him, but Steve couldn’t open them due to his illness.  Shortly after his benefit was stopped and things went downhill, his doctor said they should have referred to his medical notes, because what staff did was unethical.  As a result of this and the BBC getting involved, an investigation is being launched.  In the time length of non-payment to Steve, he racked up debts of three thousand five hundred pounds.   The BBC said the DWP had now paid him and realised things had gone wrong!!  (18/5/2018)

‘DWP Officials ‘not worried’ over Universal Credits’

A report says that the hardship concerns created by Universal Credits does not concern them or cause worry, as they firmly believe someone somewhere will think they did good?  Apparently, Politicians and local councillors aired their concerns over the rolling out of Universal Credit in the Cleveland and Redcar areas.  It said that local ‘surgeries’ for MP’s and council visitors were experiencing problems with benefit claims arising out of the new Universal Credit, and that some could not log on and were left to visit the Jobcentre or Citizens Advice to get to know what they could do because they were worried about delays in payments and unsure what benefits they were entitled to. (12/7/2018)

‘Cuts to disabled man’s benefit lefty him in a suicidal state’

CLAIMANT Charlie Evans was yet another victim of the DWP and Jobcentre, one of the many this Conservative Government cares very little about.  In this case they took away his adapted car due to changes in disability benefits it is stated.  Charlie from Wales, is paralysed down one side of his body following brain injuries.  The shock was bad enough, let alone the callous civil servants actions.  This situation obviously led to severe depression, and he didn’t talk to anyone for weeks he says.  They told him if he still needed and wanted use of the car he could buy it?  They suggested a figure of ten thousand pounds, but he had used up what savings he had, and as we know, this lot don’t like you to have savings unless you live on them and don’t bother signing on.  So how they could ask for that sum only shows how they think and you can see how they assess savings in their rules of 2013.   Unfortunately we have no outcome on this matter, only that Ian Duncan-Smith is one of the perpetrators of this modern evil.   (12/12/2017)

Good News on Appeals — 8,000 claimants have won over ‘unnecessary benefit cuts’ at the Tribunals.  This mainly applies to disabled claimants across Wales in 2017.

‘Two High Court Actions against DWP prove that claimants were unlawfully discriminated against’

Two severely handicapped claimants have won against the DWP and proved that they had been ‘Unlawfully Discriminated Against’.  Although the Judge rejected a challenge against the legality of the new scheme, he did rule that both men , who both suffered  a ‘dramatic drop’ in benefits as a result of the scheme when they moved to a different local authority area and were required to claim Universal credit, they were discriminated against under Human Rights Laws.  It was said that both men suffered a drop of nearly two hundred pounds each of monthly income, which was having a serious detrimental impact on their health and well-being; and they were now unable to meet many of their basic needs.  The barrister for one of the men said this roll-out should be halted and halted now so that no-one else suffered hardship and having to take court action to get what they should be getting.  (15/6/2018)

‘DWP and Government refuse to listen say Charities’

A spokesman for a major charity said that the Government were no longer listening to the plight of the claimants because they were too busy trying to prove that Universal Credit was working when it was clearly not.  Citizens Advice Bureau said that many claimants were struggling to survive as a result of these changes, and that many of them were seeking advice from the CAB.  Volunteers at the Food Banks also warned that they had an everyday increase in people, single and families queuing up for boxes and bags of food.  Sue White, a co-ordinator at a local Foodbank said that the need for their service had gone up 52 percent in recent months, and showed no signs of a slowdown.   It’s going up by 15 per cent a year throughout the country and this is very worrying.  ‘It’s a race on to fill our shelves and we can only hope the supermarkets will continue to give us stuff while the need continues’ she said.

Computer and It system for UC is causing errors say operators’

It has been revealed in a report that the computer programme running Universal Credit, that Service Engineers said the system is now contaminated with errors and glitches, in what they describe ‘cobbled together.  Centre workers operating the system say that their are flaws in the programme that are highly likely to generate mistakes which could lead to hardship for claimants if it isn’t sorted out in time.  It’s already known that benefit payments are being delayed for weeks or wrongly reduced by hundreds of pounds.

‘Benefit changes the DWP don’t want you to know’

This report although five years old still has some mileage left and worth a visit, and it was put up onto the Internet by THE NEW STATESMAN with an apt photo of Iain Duncan-Smith attached dubbed the 5 years of evil….which is more or less correct.  It leads with a sub-heading of ‘FIVE BENEFIT CHANGES THE GOVERNMENT DOESN’T WANT YOU TO KNOW ABOUT.     They start with the most evil measure, which is the reduction in the Appeal Channel Process which means the claimant must ask the DWP to reconsider a decision before lodging an ‘official appeal’, and they the claimant, RECEIVE NO MONEY in the meantime.  This process known throughout the DWP and HMRC is called the ‘Mandatory Reconsideration’ designed to stall and slow down the amount of appeals lodged by claimants.  There is a whole lot more to this, so we are going to give you the link to that because it is worth reading and quite long!  And if you’re on benefits then you probably want to know.  

https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/welfare/2013/11/five-benefit-changes-government-doesnt-want-you-know-about

‘DWP Ministers Gauke and Couling face Committee Questioning’

DWP Minister David Gauke and Civil Servant Director Neil Couling faced MP’s over the subject of the ‘Universal Credit Fiasco’ — Chairman FRANK FIELD of the Work and Pensions Committee said ‘ Given everything we have heard, I was surprised that David Gauke opted to proceed with the accelerated Roll Out.  I strongly suspect his decision, together with the failure to tell us anything, reflects a culture at the DWP of those most invested in Universal Credit not telling anyone, including their Ministers, bad news’      Tory MP DAVID GAUKE  The Work and Pensions Secretary along with Civil Servant NEIL COULING the Director General of Universal Credit were appearing before a special committee of MP’s to answer questions about the problems of Universal Credit, especially the excessive delays.  Couling is rumoured to apparently resent any criticism of the Universal Credit Scheme.      (18/10/2017)

‘A lying Lawyer? heavens to Betsy, it’s a Labour MP’

Yes, there are plenty of lying and thieving Lawyers around, and in this case it is a Labour MP FIONA ONASANYA a former Lawyer, one of those civil servants we’re meant to trust.  MP’s of course do lie frequently and this is turned into ‘error’ or ‘misleading’ instead of what it is.  And how do these interpretations come about, well there’s no secret there, it’s the Lawyers who play word monopoly and take huge fees for doing so.  In this case Labour MP Fiona found herself facing two charges 1) Perverting the course of justice 2) Conspiracy to deceive.  She apparently with her brother tried to pass on ‘speeding points’ to her brother so that she wouldn’t be found out.  (this will appear in featured lawyers too)  July 2018.

And whilst we’re on the subject of former Lawyers, here’s another one below (Labour Party again)

‘ BLAIR’S PURGE ON CORRUPTION IN TOWN HALLS ‘

This appeared many moons ago, an anti-sleaze commission was to be formed.  ‘ Open Government ‘ and all that guff, it was another lie.  It was supposed to be a purge on 20,000 councillors and senior executives, it was to investigate serious allegations of malpractice and have proper standards of behaviour.  It was to be overseen by Lawyers? oh dear, ( see them in the other files go to index). 

A list appeared naming Labour Councils – Birmingham, Coventry, Doncaster, Glasgow, Hull, Tyneside, Hackney in London, Paisley, South Tyneside etc, it should have included Torbay, Waltham Forest, Havant and Hastings.

‘BLAIR’S LIES’ — Amazingly, this man can lie very competently, and being a qualified Lawyer, it certainly rings true….you can seek his lawyer background in Durham.  And I’ve met a man who knew him there!  But most recently, he declared that a report on him in a book by Michael Wolff was not true and never had been, and even in front of the cameras said it was made up and dismissed it in his usual arrogant sneaky way. It concerned an item in which he warned Donald Trump’s aides that British Intelligence had spied on the US President’ which Blair said was ‘a complete fabrication from beginning to end’….the book which looks at Donald Trump’s administration.  Before we return to this, one has to remember ‘Blair’s lie on The Weapons of Mass Destruction in the Arak War when Britain was pulled into a conflict by Prime Minister Blair who later ducked and dived to dodge questions on it.  He was called to account for his actions and the misleading statements several times but slithered away, and event some British People tried to bring him to court, but failed due to ‘Parliamentary Privilege’ which can be used in a multitude of sins…like it did with Nixon and Watergate in the USA, he walked away while some of his team went to jail….and yes folks, Nixon was a Lawyer.   Coming back to Blair, a rebuttal of his claim has now emerged, ‘BLAIR’S SECRET WHITEHOUSE SUMMIT’ and he denied ever being involved in a Whitehouse meeting or phone call about the spy thing.   Michael Wolff says the former UK PM may have made the claim to gain favour with Donald Trump having once been so close to The Clintons when Bill Clinton was the President.  The Mail said they categorically know that Blair had secretly visited the White House in a bid to win a new role as a Middle East Advisor (and his Middle East connections are well known about) to the President.  Blair has already been an ex-envoy to the Middle East, another one of his lucrative jobs since leaving office.  Wolff says that Blair held talks with the President’s senior advisor, Jared Kushner, and had met Donald Trump in person.  Blair was always a ‘Conservative’ Labour man, and that becomes clearer everyday as he follows the money every time.

THE ‘UNACCOUNTABLE’ BLAIR who fooled most of the people for a long time still persists he doesn’t lie while all those that were victims of his schemes certainly would testify that he did and still continues to do so.  This multi- millionaire crossover Labour/Conservative in sheep’s clothing rejects that he lied in the White House Book that claims he did.  Michael Wolff said he himself had witnessed Blair ‘sucking up’ to Donald Trump’s son-in-law/senior advisor Jared Kushner, and he branded Mr Blair, ‘A complete liar’  For Mr Blair to be so ‘untouchable’ as he is now and was, clearly points to unseen others who are able to wield enough power to manipulate the law and political arena, and as to the law side, don’t forget he has a wife who is in the top corridors of law and he himself trained to be a lawyer in Durham, so the connection is there on that already, and politically he has allies in the Labour movement who consider him worthy of their support.  Many people cannot understand how he got away with what he did on the ‘Iraq War’ thing, but he’s not the first politician to walk away from something that went wrong without any penalty, Cameron did this too, immediately after the Referendum.

‘Cameron questioned over links to off-shore tax havens’

PRIME MINISTER DAVID CAMERON faced yet another inquiry into his connections, and that of his family as a second firm is revealed in the scandal of off-shore investments that avoid tax.  Investigations revealed that Ian Cameron was investing in an off-shore tax haven in Jersey, and that he was a Director of the Jersey-based Close International Equity Growth Fund, and held 6,000 shares himself.  Cameron’s denial of benefitting from such family interests have been a series of such statements coming from No 10.  But one Labour MP said ‘he refuses to put the matter straight’  and by way of an additional item GEORGE OSBORNE the Chancellor completely dodged all questions to whether he had any off-shore investments?

‘Tory Donor Jailed over Ponzi Scheme’

They say you can be characterised by the friends you keep, and this could well be true of the Tory politicians as news breaks that a major Donor of the Conservative Party, FORMER BANKER FREDDY DAVID who ran HBFS Financial Services was jailed by Southwark Crown Court for swindling victims out of Fourteen million pounds plus in a Ponzi Scheme where he held on to investors money in a high-interest account and spent it on a life of luxury.  It is stated that he gave thousands to the Conservative Party said to be eighteen thousand plus, and even though questions were asked his wife seemed to believe there was ‘no wrongdoing’ attached to him or herself.  Interestingly, it is also stated that his wife is currently listed as a director of the Conservative Party Policy Exchange, and that wife Hannah was a Conservative Councillor in Hertfordshire, later stepping down to run as a Parliamentary candidate for Harrow West in 2015 t0 2017.  Freddy David was jailed for 6 years for the fraud….he was said to be ‘a well respected member of the community’…….isn’t that just the case?    (July 2018)

‘Government okay spending bill of £10 million on pro-EU leaflets’

CAMERON called the EU Referendum almost sure he would win it, but he edged his bets by spending almost £10 million of the taxpayers money on trying to used propaganda to win his argument in the shape of leaflets decidedly pro-EU.  He ordered that the nation’s households should receive this ‘spam’ no matter what.  Leave campaigners described this move as ‘disgraceful’   It was a 16 page glossy leaflet that was full of praise for the EU laced with the usual lamentations about what horrors would happen…..the only horror here is the Conservatives.

‘Cameron charges £12,000 for a dinner date with possible client’

Yes, this is ‘Call me Dave’ the man who didn’t show much concern for a young jobseekers death (David Clapson) when questioned by Andrew Marr on his Sunday BBC Political show.  Here he is ‘on sale for £12,000’  Another typical Tory where money comes first, the report says you can have your photo taken with him and dinner for this staggering amount.  (see case ‘Claimant contacts Police about DWP Harassment’ for the awful case of David Clapson who died without a penny)

PS. Apparently it only costs £330,000 if you book Tony Blair for a speech…….he’s another conservative hiding in a Labour jacket.

‘Osborne says — the Civil Servants were to blame for Carillion Collapse’

The former Chancellor to David Cameron, a man who jumped ship and took on six other lucrative jobs including the Editorship of The Standard in London, attacked civil servants for their role in the scandal that brought down the massive company of CARILLION, one that was brimming with government contracts.  He said it was their ‘outsourcing of deals’ that were to blame for risking taxpayers cash.  And laughingly excused Ministers…yet he was the minister who oversaw outsourcing increase by £64 billion to £120 billion during his first five years as the Chancellor in the Conservative Party.  The number of government contracts given to Carillion went from 526 in 2010, to 1,185 in 2015 – as he signed off the deals?  Apparently he was praising the firm and the deals brokered and some like Dubai were a staggering £75 million, and he once said ‘it’s great to see such successful companies like Carillion winning contracts around the world’   A report says this man is being paid £650,000 a year from working one day a week for the world’s largest fund management company ‘Blackrock’, which is thought to have accrued £40 million in profits by betting on the collapse of Carillion.   Jeremy Corbin challenged Prime Minister May over the contacts, saying that Labour handed the firm a third of those contracts when Blair was in Office…….but that leaves two-thirds of the deals being done by the Tory governments and that’s twice as much, but she obviously hopes nobody in the public domain has noticed!

In addition, the bosses of the failed firm are to get their bonuses.  Ex-Chief Richard Howson was given a bonus of £591,000 in 2016, before quitting last year, and he’s still on a salary of £660,000, which he will still get until October 2018.

1000’s of workers have a depleted pension pot that still has no guarantees of being secured, many will lose their jobs, and hundreds of little firms will probably not get paid.    

It was also revealed that the Chairman of Carillion was Philip Green an Advisor at N0 10 Downing Street…The PM’s residence and Cabinet. And he was dealing with Corporate Responsibility?  apparently he got a CBE in 2014.

The Tory Government deny being at fault, and still pretend to care!

Osbourne, a man who we don’t care for, is a treasure seeker and multi-millionaire who’s words on this matter are tainted and insincere.  It was the fault of the government and the civil servants, and that is the true picture for the taxpayer who will now have to pay for this scandal.         (January 2016)

‘Labour MP on Speeding Charge’

LABOUR MP FIONA ONASANYA appeared at The Old Bailey accused of ‘Lying’ about who was driving her car when she was caught speeding on a camera.  She was also charged with ‘Perverting the course of justice’ after misinforming the police about who was actually driving the vehicle at the time.  The Peterborough MP denies any ‘wrongdoing’ and is due to appear in court again in October 2018.

‘Civil Servants upset by accusations to an already tarnished reputation’

This report begins with item 1, ‘MINISTER ACCUSED OF MALIGNING CIVIL SERVICE’ something we say here, cannot be achieved because they have no real reputation to consider.   Apparently, Brexit Minister Steve Baker spoke out in the House of Commons, saying that ‘civil servants were attempting to orchestrate a softer Brexit’  He said ‘they were distorting  the forecasts and he also said their forecasts were always wrong.’   The FDA Union for civil servants said his comments were irresponsible.  But alas. there was more from the Cabinet Secretary Tory Lord Gus O’Donnell who made a comparison of ‘snake oil’.  He said ‘the civil service seemed to be facing  ‘one of the most sustained attacks on its integrity in living memory by serving ministers.’   TORY MP JACOB REES-MOGG hit out at the Civil Service (Feb 2018).  He says ‘that they are manipulating figures to discourage the government from Brexit.  I do think they’re manipulating the figures’ he said publicly on the BBC Radio 4 programme with Nick Robinson.

‘Multimillionaire Rees-Mogg Tory MP puts cash in a off-shore tax haven’

The Tory MP JACOB REES-MOGG has been finally exposed to be one of those who are benefitting from super returns on their money in the off shore tax haven scenario.  A report says that he made $680,000 dollars from a deal in 2011 while working for an off-shore investment firm.  Investigators looked into his company called SALISTON, that once belonged to his father, and that holds his stake in the firm SOMERSET MANAGEMENT, a markets fund he co-founded in 2007.  It revealed that Somerset is managed by subsidiaries in the tax havens of The Cayman Islands and SINGAPORE.  He quickly retorted by saying there was nothing illegal in this, but one must consider that his name appears in the PARADISE PAPERS, a scandal that some are trying to suppress.

‘More Tory MP’s in extra high earning activities deny wrongdoing?’

There seems to be something iffy about the way MP’s caught out immediately run to the Government handbook and say ‘we did no wrong’ but remain steadfast around the money pot with its fumes of capital allurance.  We now have a report that highlights Tory ex-ministers selling advice on the Brexit issue.  Three former ministers, Health Secretary, Lord Lansley, Senior Tory MP Andrew Mitchell and Peter Lilley were secretly recorded on camera with ‘a Chinese firm’ (Channel 4’s Investigators with Dispatches) offering their services for cash about the Uk Government’s approach to Brexit.  Lansley said he could offer ‘intelligence info’ for £4,400 a day suggesting they employ him through his wife’s company to avoid scrutiny or anybody getting the wrong idea.  All three were quick to point out that their actions did not breach the ‘Nolan’ Principles and guidelines for those in public office.  So there you are, three ex-Cabinet Ministers doing what comes naturally!

‘Former Tory Culture Secretary faces scrutiny over £3,000 flight’

CAMERON’S former CULTURE SECRETARY JOHN WHITTINGDALE has raised the alarm bells in political circles over his visits to meet up with the controvercial Ukrainian oligarch wanted by the USA on suspicion of corruption. The report says that Whittingdale accepted the offer of flights to Vienna worth £3,000 from the oligarch Dmitry Firtash, who is unable to leave the country  because he is fighting a US extradition request to face trial in the USA.  Mr Whittingdale and his spokesperson declined to comment on why the flights were so expensive and whether they were made by private jet. Comments from his own Party do not exactly favour his connection with the oligarch, and one said it was in bad judgement.

‘Tory Spending in election investigated by 12 Police Forces’

The 2015 election was as some put it, fought under a cloud of unusual spending, which was not properly declared according to investigators looking into the ‘Tory Battle Bus’ campaign.  The Report says that Police from twelve forces have passed on files to The Crown Prosecution Service as part of an inquiry into the ‘Conservatives Campaign’ expenses for the 2015 General Election.  There were suggestions and a number of accusations saying that strict spending limits were breached by the Tory Party.  Colchester MP Will Quince was interviewed by the police, and a second Tory MP had been questioned about expenses.  A CPS spokesperson said that all the files they had been sent were now all under consideration.

‘MP Danczuk is banned from Labour Party’

THE DISGRACED LABOUR MP SIMON DANCZUK is no longer wanted in the Labour Party and why is this?  Well, he was suspended for sending explicit text messages to a 17 year old girl…..in 2015 by all accounts, and his party have unanimously voted that he should not be able to stand as a Labour candidate.  And apparently his wife, Karen, failed in her bid to stand for election as a Labour candidate in Bury North.  Danczuk was a Rochdale MP…for those who wish to know.

‘ Boris Johnson – Monster, Manipulator? or what’

TORY MP BORIS JOHNSON does many irritating things they say, some suggest he creates havoc and switches whenever he needs public support like the recent NHS criticism he threw at his own party at a time when he had made several previous gaffs in office as Foreign Secretary to the Cabinet.  A recent report said that Johnson sidestepped questions put to him about resigning?  after hinting that he might resign if The UK failed to make free trade deals in the Brexit situation in Europe. And  in another article they accused Johnson of leading a charge for a Liberal Brexit, which was said to be a most deceitful theme.  In the midst of this one must acknowledge that he was on the day of the Referendum one of the main figureheads of the ‘Leave Campaign’  It was also a fact that he endangered a woman held prisoner in Iran by the remarks he made, which could have got Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe a longer sentence. There are many people trying to get her freed and he was asked to correct his serious mistake.  But if that isn’t enough to wonder about the ‘real Boris Johnson’ the next article will, and this is an article that came out in 2013 with the Press headline — ‘YOU’RE A NASTY PIECE OF WORK, AREN’T YOU BORIS’  something probably not remembered now, and the Tories will have thought it gone….well, it hasn’t, we need that here.                                                                                   It all happened on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show when he interviewed the then Mayor of London, Boris Johnson.  The BBC interviewer Eddie Mair accused him of ‘a bare-faced lie’ and went onto saying ‘You’re a nasty piece of work, aren’t you Boris’ as the show revealed that Johnson became flustered and struggled to answer several questions about his past which included notorious incidents including his ‘sacking’ from the Times newspaper in the late 1980’s for making up a quote before moving on to the then Tory leader Michael Howard’s decision to sack Johnson from his front bench team in 2004 for failing to tell the truth about his affair with the journalist Petronella Wyatt. But Eddie Mair did not finish there, he went onto reveal a notorious incident in 1990 when Boris Johnson was recorded in secret telling old Etonian fraudster Darius Guppy that he would help him obtain the address of a journalist that Mr Guppy wanted to have ‘beaten-up’.  Johnson continued to duck most of the questions and later denied doing any wrong.  As someone recently suggested, well, Andrew Neil, ‘Boris could well have been using the NHS good guy stand for his own ends and political strategy’- so you’ll have to make up your own mind on Johnson?

‘Minister Jo Johnson is accused of ‘reneging’ on rail pledge’

Another member of the Johnson clan here, and a recent report says ‘The Rail Minister’ has reneged on a promise he made to the people. But we shouldn’t be surprised because pledges are rarely kept by politicians and History shows this to be true.  It is said that he told the House and Ministers that the Trans-Pennine route upgrade would be made later in the year, pending consideration of a Network Rail Report.  He also announced to Ministers that the huge 2.9billion pound project would include ‘major civil engineering projects and electrification’  but stopped short of guaranteeing the latter.  But it appears his commitments after failing to confirm plans to fully electrify the Manchester to Leeds route now leaves the whole thing in doubt and has had a nasty blow for the people in the North.

‘Can the Government be trusted?  as Department keeps ‘mum’ over Oxfam Incident’

Secrets of course, are a Governments games, and they go to great lengths to hide certain facts from the public….so it isn’t a surprise to learn that the Tory Government knew of the ‘sex abuse story in relation to aid workers’ some months before.  A report tells us that Senior Officials in Government were already aware of certain activities, but did nothing about them.  The main attack against civil servants goes to the Dept for International Development.  Secretary for State Priti Patel says that’ Civil Servants knew about widespread sex abuse in the aid sector.’

‘THE KETTLE CALLING THE POT BLACK’ — It’s quite rich for the Tory Government to announce that OXFAM are more interested in covering their backs rather than coming clean over the scandal.  The Tory Government and previous governments have always done the same in every event when they are called to own up and they never do.  The Tories talk of transparency and accountability whilst consulting their lawyers about ‘damage limitation’ and hiding as much as they can from the public and official inquiries, it’s second nature to these civil servants to run and hide whilst claiming immunity and other such protections they awarded themselves.  There are many scandals about to surface and ones that have done, and they all have an element of local services and government civil servants attached, but Brexit is being used as a shield while the scandals conveniently drop out of the news.

The Current Scandals — ‘THE CARILLION SAGA’ — ‘THE NORTHERN POWERHOUSE SCANDAL’ — ‘THE WINDRUSH SITUATION’ — ‘BRITAIN’S SHAME OVER BURMA GENOCIDE’ — ‘TURNING A BLIND EYE TO TORTURE OF SUSPECTS’ — ‘THE GOSPORT HOSPITAL SCANDAL’ —  ‘MI5’S COLLUSION WITH USA’ — and most recent,  ‘THE ASTON HOSPITAL ABUSE SCANDAL’ (now almost forgotten) ….these are the matters that the Tories are not coming clean about, and it becomes obvious why.

NB  However, have no fear, we shall mention them all here, each one, so they’ll not be brushed under the Whitehall carpet.

‘UK Government sells £4.6 billion worth of arms to regimes with awful humanity records’

THE TORY GOVERNMENT are not too happy to talk about arms deals, yet a recent report shows us that they sold £4.6 billion of arms to some countries which still have the Death Penalty.  Shocking?  not really, the Tories have been doing ‘Quiet’ deals in the shadows of Whitehall for many years.  Their defence which plays like a worn record is either ‘economic’ or ‘if we don’t somebody else will’ or they quote jobs as being a great incentive to keep the arms industry pumping out ‘Weapons of mass destruction’….a phrase they rather liked at one time, especially by the Labour MP Tony Blair, a conservative in Labour costume.  Statistic-wise, the government backed Industry shows they sell arms to more than two-thirds of 58 countries who currently execute people, despite the hypocrisy at the Heart of UK Foreign Policy, and their biggest consumer or client for UK arms is Saudi Arabia which had £2.8 billion of export licences granted in 2015.

‘GAGGING ORDERS by Government cost the taxpayer millions’

Some of you reading this might be quite happy with this Tory Government and prefer not to hinder them as they continue to deceive the Nation.  They are currently spending millions to hide facts and reports amid their ludicrous claims of being  ‘clear’ and ‘providing information if asked for’  As we have already shown, the Information Minister turns down quite a substantial number of enquiries, as do the councils on quite a huge amount of issues.  In this recent report it says that 53 workers have left the House of Commons over ‘Gagging Orders’ during a period of five years; 2013 to 2017 according to The Freedom of Information Act.  And it has paid out 2.4 million.  Apparently and to us here, obvious, these orders all contained ‘confidentiality clauses’ restraining the person who put the matter forward from discussing anything that had gone on or agreed to..  The House of Commons said this was not a significant amount of money to be paid and likened itself to other organisations in Industry? 

‘MP’s approach Google seeking to hide Web links to certain events and personal history’

Not entirely unexpected from Politicians who want past events erased and history retold in a fabricated warped way.  They are asking to be included in the ludicrous ‘right to be forgotten’ law issued in Italy if we’re correct, and in some cases European Law.  It is common knowledge that TV and Music celebrities are also keen to be in the same game for much the same reason, to stop journalists and case compilers from finding anything that these people may have forgotten in their childhood, teenage and earlier years.  The report says there have been 100’s of Politicians and firms demanding that Search Engine Giants Google, remove links that list certain activities entirely on those seeking to look quite ‘angelic’ and honest in every way.  Whilst it is a fact Google are not entirely clean themselves, they have received 400 requests under the European Right to Forget’ Law since January 2016, and another 597 in 2017.  Google say they have received requests to remove some 267,283 links and delete them so that they cannot be found or traced through the Internet on their search engine!  In the case of politicians this flies in the face of ‘accountability’ ‘being clear’ and ‘transparency’ but as we can see they still look sleazy and untrustworthy, otherwise why would they want items being deleted and past events ‘airbrushed’ from history?  The only reason one can logically see for these requests is they don’t want something iffy seen or used against them that might bring up other questions.  (17/3/2018)

‘The peculiar case of MP Keith Vaz’

One wouldn’t be surprised if Mr Vaz applies to Google when he emerges out of his own troubles.   However, let us start with the Report that says ‘He’s too ill to be investigated’…..and then go back to 2001 when Mr Vaz faced a misconduct inquiry, to which he promptly went on sick leave after collapsing whilst doing a TV interview?  The inquiry centred around his links to certain people and donations to the Labour Party- Hindu billionaires and a passport situation involving two brothers who applied for them.  He was also big friends with disgraced cop Scotland Yard Chief Ali Dazael who went to jail for ‘framing’ an innocent man; using his power and authority to get the man prosecuted and jailed.  MP Vaz it is said is too ill to be investigated over his present inquiry that to date has lasted two years; it began in December 2016.  He apparently quit his position on the very important ‘Commons Home Affairs Committee’ strangely at a time when it was reviewing new vice laws, when he was named as being a man involved with male prostitutes and rent boys.  The formal investigation was halted midway by Kathryn Hudson, the Standards Commissioner when she cited her reasons for doing so was medical and that Mr Vaz was too ill.  Yet remarkably, Mr Vaz has attended many official functions and went on a trip to Saudi Arabia.  Apparently, his office prefer not to answer any questions, and there’s been no move to continue with the investigation so far?    (10/2’2018)

‘Parents claim damages payout from Northamptonshire County Council’

Under the Human Rights Act, Judge Francis said that senior bosses at the Council were responsible for a catalogue of council failures, and they had not fulfilled their duties towards a young boy and his parents.  Delays were commonplace and almost instigated since 2013.  He went onto say ‘that staff failed to carry out full and adequate family assessments or adequate care planning, and it was just over two years before the council began legal proceedingsand 10 different social workers had been involved.  ‘There was an extraordinary delay and dereliction of duty’ and that the council had been ‘ in egregious breach of its duties.’  The Judge chose not to have the family and child identified in this case.  He urged the council lawyers to negotiate settlements of the damages claims, but said he would rule if they failed to reach an agreement.  It was revealed that council staff had placed the 4 yr old boy in care, and that he was in serious doubt about the legality of that placement.

‘Payout for mother after they take her son into care’

Yet another case like the previous one — A mother who had to be admitted into hospital because of mental stress needed someone to look after her young son.  But she found out that the boy had been placed in care by the social workers.  She said that they had failed to get her consent to this or get a court order, in fact they just did it without consulting a judge.  She had to track him down later when she was discharged from hospital.  Judge Judith Rowe ruled that the workers from BRENT COUNCIL in London had removed the young boy unlawfully, and had the council pay £3,000 in damages for the upset they had caused.

‘The Ever-Growing business of Secret Justice and Closed Court Hearings’

THE TORY GOVERNMENT in particular go for this type of justice, a justice that isn’t, and it is very reminiscent of countries that are police states and republics, where justice is absolutely controlled by the Government and laws are set to prohibit free speech and protect the Government actions under a blanket of ‘Security of State, which is widely used in Singapore and the Philippines.  This case here in the UK should have you annoyed, but the public being as they are, will turn a blind eye to this.  This started with a sacking, and he was a Government employee.  The man was told that he was a ‘National Security’ risk, but was never arrested despite the label being placed upon him.  Even though he put up a 7 year fight against the government to find out why he had been sacked, his lawyers could not get past the fact the Home Office said the proof against him was so sensitive ‘IT MUST REMAIN A SECRET’.  his lawyers made attempts for him and argued against the the government’s controversial use of secret evidence.  However, the man’s hopes were dashed as The Court of Appeal upheld the decision to deny him any details or explanation of the Government’s case against him.  It used to be thought that one wasn’t guilty until the evidence proved otherwise in an open court.  But this smashes the concept of British Justice and shows that it is a sham and disgrace.  Secret Courts are becoming regular, and is also used in the Family Courts to disadvantage mothers and families, and this is corruption.  This Secrecy thing is used in ‘Hearings’ especially when people are being subject to ‘control orders’, and complaints against the Intelligence Agencies at the investigatory powers tribunal, and civil damages cases where the government are being sued for complicity in dirty activities including torture and rendition.  As the defence lawyer said ‘they are wholly without scrutiny and challenge’ and this sends out a message to public authorities that they can rely on secret hearings to get out of trouble, and prevent the public from knowing what they did.

‘Money, money, money, and it’s all about the government Levy’

A report of the little known kind tells us that the Tories have a cache with a ‘training levy fund’ of 1 billion that is not being used; they have been urged to try harder to see if it could be well spent!  It says there is 1.28 billion pounds paid into an apprenticeship levy ‘languishing’ in accounts held by the Treasury.  Despite this being given by hundreds of companies, only 108 million as been withdrawn from the account according to The Open University.  The Government got this money by imposing a levy on companies to encourage apprenticeships topped up by government to finance training!  And whilst we’re talking about a government making money lets go to ‘ COUNCILS MAKING A MINT OFF GREEN WASTE LEVY’ yes, another levy!  a report says that local authorities are making 74 million pounds a year from garden waste collection, a service once covered by council tax.  The BBC who acquired the official data for their consumer series ‘RIP OFF BRITAIN’ showed that 53 percent of UK councils now charge to collect green waste at an average price per house of 42.50 pounds.  Presenter Gloria Hunniford said ‘As more councils introduce fees (levy) more of us will have to get used to paying to have our grass clippings taken away’ despite paying more council tax which we will move onto in the next article below.

‘Councils impose biggest council tax rise in 14 years’

Not the best news for taxpayers, but being a Tory government you can’t expect better.  The Charted Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy issued a report saying households in England face the largest rise in council tax for 14 years, adding an extra 81 pounds to the annual bill of every house.  Average Band D. bills are set to rise by 5.1 percent from 1,591 pounds in 2017-18 to 1,672 in 2018-2019.  I Wales it is a 72 pound rise from 1,420 pounds to 1,492 pounds.  Much to the annoyance of ratepayers the words coming from the authorities yet again despite reality, say they are trying to keep bills down and that local government has made by far the biggest efficiencies in the public sector since 2010, but now feels it has to put up the bills.  It’s interesting to see that they make no mention of the cuts in services and the fees they are charging for things that used to be in that bill they are now raising.

Little do they talk of the rise of fuel bills when more than 863 million pounds of taxpayers money is being handed over to the big six energy companies as councils fail to switch to smaller providers.  9 out of 10 local authorities in the UK are supplied by one of the major energy or oil firms according to a Freedom of Information request.  It seems to be the situation of councillors urge residents to switch to cheaper environment friendly alternatives while ignoring following their own advice.

It was also discovered that Ministers spent 5 million pounds of taxpayers cash preparing a policy that just affected 90 people?  And after just a year the whole thing was scrapped. 

Another ‘boob’ in policies costing a great deal of money caused Pensions Secretary Esther McVey to announce a U-Turn on the policy to remove automatic entitlement to housing benefit for 18-21 year olds , which was introduced in April 2017.  Around 10,000 young people were expected to be affected by the change initially, which was announced by the deadly two, PM David Cameron and George Osborne in 2014 to save 95 million pounds.

‘Nick Clegg regrets getting into bed with The Conservatives’

LIBDEM Leader Nick Clegg said he went into the coalition with the Tories to make sure they served the people well, but he failed to see that Cameron was leading him by the nose and had no interest in Liberal values whatsoever.  Nick Clegg the one time Deputy Prime Minister is now saying that it was ‘Nasty politics to blame for the crisis in the Home Office’  He went onto blame the Tories for ‘silly policies and nasty politics’ pursued by the Conservatives due to their obsession with immigration that fuelled the crisis in the Home Office.   Clegg got burnt and doomed his party to staying on the outside for years to come, and he will be known for that in the History books provided the Conservatives don’t mess around with it and airbrush their sordid acts and plans so no-one will realise just what they did for this country!

‘ COUNCIL’S COVER-UP OWN FIDDLES ‘

A report which highlighted fraud within councils.  It estimated that £600 million was lost each year through staff, yes, civil servants, and councillors, again over allowances to a greater extent (this is before the Expenses Scandal of Parliament).  140 authorities investigated showed that 1 in 4 had housing benefit fraud being done by the staff and councillors.  Fewer than half of the councils investigated employees nor were they set up to, which resulted in it being largely ignored  — they had enough claimants to go after.

‘Councils are preparing for large tax rises to plug funding gaps’

A 2017 Report has said that councils across England and Wales are already planning to pass on huge tax bills to residents in order to bolster their reduced funding from central government.  94 percent of council leaders said they were being forced to put up bills for services even though they will have to cutback on other services they’ve marked for closure.  They say households will face a 5 percent rise on the bills.  The Local Government Information Unit says it should be only 1.5 percent in actual terms, but they would, that’s the Tories for you.  The report says that many councils are in dire straits and over-stretched beyond belief due to reduced funding after a decade of cuts from both the Labour and Conservative governments, and at the moment they cannot see this being relaxed by the Tories with their Brexit costs yet to explained to the British People.  One particular area hit badly is the Home Care for elderly pensioners, and this has been put at risk because councils are failing to pay enough towards it. The UK Homecare Association approached some 208 councils and said over 873,500 people of 65 and over were experiencing less help and providers are handing back their contracts because of inadequate council fees.

‘The lowdown on the real DWP’

Since the 2013 amendments to Benefit Law, we have seen many changes for the worse, despite propaganda by the government taking a pop at the jobless with spurious headlines and falsehoods issued by a ‘protected’ House of Commons.  They claim all jobless can have jobs, and there’s no reason why they should remain on benefits, but they don’t ever say what jobs, or whether these supposed jobs can lift a family out of debt.  Their new measures have done far worse, and we start with the DELAYS AND ERRORS IN BENEFIT PAYOUTS that put claimants at risk.  The Work and Pensions Select Committee openly admitted that families and other recipients were being forced to choose between paying the rent or going hungry because of payment delays.  Then we have the report that accused the DWP of rewarding failure in Benefit Contracts to outside companies such as CAPITA and ATOS who were paid a staggering £700 million for their 5 year contracts, which was to carry out assessments for personal independence payments…and we all know what damage they did there.  And what about that situation where ‘OFFICIALS MADE UP HAPPY CLAIMANTS FOR DWP LEAFLET’ yes a complete forgery and fabrication okayed again by DWP Lawyers who often hide in the background.  It was discovered that these success stories they had published were in fact made up for the leaflet to deceive.   This was issued to trash out the other claims of the ‘Brutal Sanctions Treatment’ and the DWP didn’t want this to be ‘centre stage’ so they concocted the phoney leaflet.  The sanctions thing is more serious, and it has been going on for a number of years, and it was criticised for causing extreme hardship and being operated in an unfair and arbitrary way.  The Select Committee said there was real evidence that these sanctions were geared towards punishing the unemployed, and we also found this was the case.  The Headline ‘BENEFIT SANCTIONS FORCING PEOPLE TO SLEEP ROUGH’ was accurate in every way, even though the DWP denied it in their usual off-hand fashion. CRISIS the homeless charity said that a survey they conducted with the homeless revealed that  out of a 1,000 asked, almost four in ten said they were sanctioned.  Some 77 percent had skipped meals , six in ten said they had found it harder to look for work and around seventy-five percent of them were beginning to suffer health and mental problems due to sanctioning by Jobcentres. This is the true evil of the DWP and the Civil Servants who help run it.  We now move onto the ‘BENEFIT FREEZE COSTS FAMILIES £300 A YEAR’ and this is not surprising at the current time when the government are playing games with JSA and UNIVERSAL CREDITS, which don’t work for all claimants, even the phone applications turn down some people in a ‘Universal Credit Area’ and steer them to JSA.  The Resolution Think Tank Foundation said around 7 million children will be affected and a further 800,000 people seeking work, with an additional 2-4 million disabled will be hit by a freeze on their benefits…and its all a move to save The Treasury £3.7billion by 2020, and that’s the Tory Government’s objective, ‘Rob from the poor and give to the rich’  ‘LIVING STANDARDS STAND STILL FOR THOSE ON LOW PAY’ yet another affect that the government and DWP toss aside as ‘unfortunate’ saying these people will eventually rise out of this, but they don’t say how.  The Joseph Rowntree Foundation reported that low income families with just one main earner are likely to see their living standards stagnate or fall significantly in the coming years.  ‘DWP TOLD TO STOP BUNGLING INFORMATION ON PENSIONS’ yet another area the DWP started to ‘re-arrange’ in their 2013 legislation changes, which calls itself the Pensions Act 2014, replaced the basic and additional pensions conditions.  An investigation by the Commons Committee has confirmed that confusion over what people will receive from the new state pension, and when they will receive it, is rife.  And of course there was that BENEFITS HELPLINE COSTS CLAIMANTS 55 PENCE PER MINUTE, that was yet again a Tory and DWP idea, which again passed on the cost to the poor exactly as Mrs May intended.  After an outcry by the public this has now gone, and its a pity that she and her cronies are not gone as yet.  And Finally, we have the JUDGE SLAMS CASH DELAYS FOR THE DISABLED.  The Judge said the delays were ‘UNLAWFUL’ and at the least unacceptable.  So there you have it, the real DWP and who is behind those acts of nastiness. Sadly they ignore most of the criticism and carry on doing their dirty deeds come what may!

‘DWP spokesman plays down the Food Banks Scandal’

Amid the rising need of the food bank in 2017, a DWP ‘mouthpiece’ has had the effrontery to publically say in the face of 1.2 million people were at food banks queuing for food, ‘The reasons for food bank use are complex, so it’s misleading to link it to one issue’  As for using the word ‘Misleading’ the government do this time and time again, just read the DWP Pensions Robbery’ for a start.  Food banks didn’t exist until the Labour Government crashed the financial system and the Tories took advantage of it, and squeezed the system dry.  The Trussell Trust provided 1.182,954 people with 3-day food supplies to people in crisis, and 440,000 children received emergency help.  Mr David McAuley Head of the Trust said ‘Changes to Universal Credit Benefits have had unforeseen consequences’…..and that’s the DWP.  

NB: instead of making crass statements, the DWP Spokesman should look at the DWP Pensions Robbery and the Ombudsman’s summing up at the end of the inquiry — ‘The Government is once again refusing to accept responsibility’

‘The DWP Lie’

Yes, there are many lies told by the DWP, but a recent one came to our attention that needs to be seen.  The Department of Work and Pensions had the audacity to say that ‘it’s research showed that 83 percent of people on benefits were satisfied with the Jobseekers allowance of £73.30 a week’   There are three such lies here as their research is totally inaccurate and shouldn’t be trusted by anybody reading this claim.  Firstly, the payment of £73.30 isn’t paid to every jobseeker, because we have proof that some get lower and our proof shows that one we have seen gets just £70.30, and they cannot explain or won’t explain why.  Their policy on payments have introduced several ways of reducing the benefit.  So that is lie 1.  Other research groups do not agree with this wildly exaggerated figure, and our research shows this to be not only ridiculous but a downright lie.  So that is Lie 2.  and the Disability Benefits Consortium said recently that in its survey, one done more thoroughly than the DWP, showed that 60 percent of people claiming benefit said it was not enough to live on…Lie 3. by the DWP.  This Department are inveterate liars at the best of times, and the so-called DWP research is flawed by the fact they manipulate and manufacture these figures to support the propaganda they want the working public to swallow.    (2018 January)

‘The DWP Appeal Tribunal Scandal’

This report goes back to 2012 when a claimant discovered that an appeal can be cancelled or withdrawn by a member of the DWP staff, and that a civil servant in the ‘guise’ of a ‘Decision Maker’ can notify the Tribunal Clerk without providing any evidence or having the authority of the claimant.  And this is said to have been recently introduced by the Department of Work and Pensions in order to reduce the backlog of claims made against them.  A solicitor online suggested that this is a case of interference with the law, and could be seen as perverting the course of justice!

‘Claimant sues the DWP in Court Action’

Disabled claimant Mark Lucas says the DWP are breaching ‘Disability Legislation’ and he has successfully secured Legal Aid and took on a Lawyer to fight his case in the court against the DWP.  He says they have refused to let him use e-mails to claim his PIP benefits or do it by post.  Mr Lucas from Staffordshire, says that he did not trust the DWP to deal fairly with his benefits because it previously ‘ALTERED’ a written statement he submitted in 2013 as part of a JSA Jobseekers claim while he was attending University.  He also says they actually accused him of fraud, and they fined him £2,500?      (17/1/2017)

‘High Court Review of DWP Universal Credit is granted by Judge’

THE HIGH COURT has granted a review into the highly controversial Universal Credits rolled out by the DWP (and Iain Duncan-Smith).  The Lawyers for a terminally ill man said that their client, now put on this one fits all payment has lost £178 per month.  The 52 year old man who suffers from ‘non-Hodgkins Lymphoma and Castleman’s  Disease, used to be in receipt of the ‘Severe Disability Premium and Enhanced Disability Premium, and despite the new Minister for the DWP DAVID GAUKE MP saying that ‘no-one will experience a reduction in the benefit’  the man has less than he did before.  The DWP refused to comment while the legal action was in force. 

PS:  It says that the man is being represented by Lawyers LEIGH DAY — and our information on our legal info shows that this firm was up before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal on the 13th of November 2017 – when several solicitors including Martyn Jeremy Day were being quizzed?

‘The Tory DWP hammer hits out again in 2015’

On winning the 2015 election for another period, the DWP and Tory Government were out again to re-enforce their determined effort to destroy the benefits system and make the poor on Welfare suffer as much as possible.  And what they used next after Iain Duncan-Smith and his terror campaign, was a ‘benefits cap’ on more than 60,000 households, making it £20,000 in the rest of the UK and £23,000 in London for any family on welfare support.  They had already ‘frozen’ benefits such as JSA, and Tory Minister of the DWP, DAVID GAUKE was proud to be the bad guy who implemented more misery on claimants, mind you to do this, they used the workers in good paid jobs to despise the poor at every turn, actively portraying jobseekers and the disabled as vermin who lived off the system.  They even upset ‘some fair-minded’ Judges, but that never bothered the Tories!

‘Victims of Council Tax Demands’

ARAN WAITE killed himself after he was threatened with bailiffs over an unpaid council tax bill.  BLACKPOOL COUNCIL were the ones behind this, and in their attempts to get back this tax they failed to see that he was ill and unable to cope with debt that finally drove him to suicide.  PETER WILLIAMS killed himself after years of stress over a non-payment of council tax.  And he was about to be evicted by THE CENTRAL BEDFORDSHIRE COUNCIL who did nothing and couldn’t see that this man was in need of desperate help, but none was available to him.  MALCOLM BURGE lost his benefits, his housing benefit was slashed in half all because of an overpayment he was unaware of until they wrote and said they were halving his current benefit to claw the money back (similar to The HMRC). He was so worried that he sent letters to the council saying ‘I’ve got no assets or savings, I’m trying not to live, I’m trying to survive’ — The council ignored his letters — they are NEWHAM COUNCIL so don’t forget that if you’re doing a bit of research.  The council like the others thought they were completely free of liability.  FRANCES McCORMACK, a mother, committed suicide over demands for bedroom tax issued by ROTHERHAM COUNCIL.  She killed herself where her young teenage son died, and he was just 16.  She had also been threatened with eviction.  She had written a final letter before the suicide to ex-PM David Cameron, but as anybody knows, it was never read by him, and nor did he care.

In all off this one should not forget the wealthy MP IAIN DUNCAN-SMITH, the man who had a hand in benefit cuts and changes to the Welfare System.  Like Cameron, he merely walked away, and is now pretending to be a caring person, and non of us are fooled by this at all.

‘ MURDERED BY THE DWP AND GOVERNMENT’ — PAUL DONNACHIE’S sister said her brother died after his benefits were stopped by the Jobcentre Staff and DWP.  She said that he had been murdered by the Tory Government who couldn’t care less.  His body was discovered by bailiffs who had been sent by the council to evict him.  Apparently, he missed four ‘work capability Assessments’ by the DWP and Jobcentre, afterwhich, the DWP without any real knowledge, informed GLASGOW CITY COUNCIL that Mr Donnachie was capable of working.  The council were advised to cancel his housing benefit and council tax all benefits should be stopped, and this was a 50yr old man.  It was assessed by these Civil Servants that he could work, but the following inquest said ‘He must have had severe mental problems’  Apparently, he applied for a ‘Welfare Crisis Grant’ and this was turned down, and he was told to go to the food banks.  The DWP were unrepentant and accepted no blame?  (11/2/2016)

Strangely, today I saw  a piece in the news about the Homeless on the streets, and a crass Bournemouth Councillor acted much in the same way as the Glasgow people.  ‘There’s plenty of help provided out there for these people’ he said (and got away with it.  Try telling that to the sister of Paul Donnachie…….what frequently happens is these Civil Servants live in a make-believe uncompassionate world, one run by them.

DEMORALISED YOUNG JOBSEEKER COMMITS SUICIDE — MARTIN HADFIELD 20, committed suicide just 24 hours after an appointment at his local Jobcentre, and he was only twenty years of age.  He fought hard against the depression that was taking a tight grip on his well being.  He was tired of the continual disappointments as he clocked on at the Jobcentre time and time again.  He was also tired of the lack of quality pf advice and support, which fell far below of his expectations as he went yet again to the Jobcentre in BURY, near Manchester.  His father said his son ‘hated’ the place and the experience he had there.  ‘He would often say that you go in with a sense of self-worth and really want a job, but come out feeling demoralised and ‘put down’ by the ones who hold your life in their hands’  (21/5/2014)

THE CASE OF MICHAEL O’SULLIVAN – Deceased, and the DWP’s ‘unknown’ doctor who got it wrong?  This is an alarming case in many ways because of the ‘unobtainable facts and denied transparency’ of Government.  Michael O’Sullivan died shortly after the DWP assessed him ‘fit to work’ under IAIN DUNCAN-SMITH’S Welfare Regime.  He was in fact disabled with mental health problems that were exacerbated by the Jobcentre, and he found himself being hounded back into work by the DWP.  He was 60, and receiving Income Support for a number of years until they did an ‘assessment’ which turned his benefit status into the Jobseekers Allowance.  The Inquest coroner said the man’s suicide was directly linked to a decision that was made by the Jobcentre and DWP.  The Inquest was also informed that the Assessing Doctor was from the DWP’s ATOS contract, and that he went against the opinion of several other doctors who said Mr O’Sullivan was not fit for work.  It turned out that the DWP did not co-operate or tell anyone the name of the doctor, despite being asked by a ‘Disabled Group’ who wanted to take this case up with the GMC.  They said they could not proceed without a name, a name that the Government would not release?  The Group are calling for an Inquiry. 

NB  So there you have it, just a few of the victims these Civil Servants bury, just as they do with data and information.  We have more to come.

DWP RELUCTANTLY INVESTIGATE 60 BENEFIT RELATED DEATHS — Since 20121 — The Report says that the DWP ‘secretly reviewed’ their own methods and influence into sixty benefit related suicides.  It is said that they reviewed the deaths of ‘sixty customers’ which were linked to the Employment and Support Allowance claim process, or the refusal or removal of ESA and other benefits, which included now deceased claimants, Paul Reekie, Nicholas Barker, Jacqueline Harris, and Brian McArdle.  But as expected, the DWP consistently denies any connection with welfare cuts and the deaths of claimants.      (14/11/2014)

‘Manager with DWP is exposed as a cheat’

GINA DUANE, a Civil Servant with the DWP committed fraud and was found guilty at BLACKPOOL MAGISTRATES COURT (5/10/2015).  She held a £26,000 a year post with the DWP whilst claiming a Carer’s Allowance.  She was claiming that she needed a carer day and night.  It was said she didn’t inform her colleagues how much better she was (and the claim said she could hardly walk or sleep properly), and she continued claiming the allowance.  As a result, she had received an overpayment of £7,415 over an 18 month period.  It was discovered that she went on a £25,000 spending spree and was declared a bankrupt.  She received a supervision order and costs set at £1,000.

‘Un-named DWP Benefits Officer in Theft Case’

Yet another secrecy case here — as a female Benefits Officer and son were arrested on suspicion of tampering with benefit claims in order to steal.  The sketchy info is as follows — The 48 year old woman was arrested for an offence under ‘The Misuse of Computers Act’ and ‘Theft Act’ when she and her son were taken to Basildon Police Station for questioning.  It indicated that the son was primarily facing theft, but that was it.  There was mention of a Jobcentre in the Gore, Basildon, which might make it easier to follow the case.  (6/7/2016)

‘Review demanded over 18yr old Jobseeker’s suicide’

Yet another death at the hands of the DWP — JOBCENTRE ‘Belittled him’ says the report on a young jobseeker DAVID BROWN who took his own life.  The Coroner was told that the young man was under ‘immense pressure’ from the DWP, especially when they told him that he would have his benefits stopped unless he did more to find employment.  David had told his sister Grace, that he was having a hard time from a woman at the dole, and said she was very rude, and belittled him every chance she got.  This case was brought up in Parliament, and nicely convenient Teresa May PM was away that day for PMQ’s, and Tory Minister David Lidington stood in for her.  There was an half-hearted sort of apology, and another chance for the Tories to say the system was ‘working’   The Jobcentre civil servant who belittled David was never brought to account, she was protected by ‘Crown Immunity’ given automatically to government staff.    (7/12/2016)

NB: The DWP previously battled to stop the release of 49 Peer Reviews of people who died while caught up in the Benefits System!

‘Claimant contacts the Police about DWP Harassment’

A disabled woman became so terrified by a ‘barrage’ of texts and calls from the DWP’s Jobcentre, that she lodged a complaint with the Police as she felt her life was at risk.  The woman, with type 1 diabetes got threatening phone calls from the DWP saying they were going to remove her benefits if she failed to attend a ‘Work focused Interview’    She said she was subjected to an ‘aggressive’ stream of communication from the DWP — 6 phone calls, 2 texts, and four letters in just 7 weeks.  Because they became too intimidating, she called the Northamptonshire Police, and they still have the complaint on file.  This case has a stark similarity to the case involving claimant David Clapson, he had diabetes and he died two weeks after his benefits were sanctioned (2013).                                                                                                                                   The following piece concerning DAVID CAMERON  Ex Tory PM is truly shocking, he was questioned about the case on the ANDREW MARR SHOW on the BBC (19th April) about the death of David Clapson and the DWP, but Cameron casually dismissed his case with the usual Tory attitude, showing no care whatsoever.  Clapson was found dead in his flat without any money, without food and his fridge with his medicine was cut off due to no electricity.  Now you know what a shit Cameron is, and his friends!     (24/4/2015)

‘Jobcentre Officer suspended over outrageous comments to claimant’

DWP CIVIL SERVANT DAWN MARIE-SANDERS was suspended over messages she posted and sent via her Facebook Account.  She told claimant, Mr Scott Bignell, a father of three children, that he was a drain on society, besides the outrageous comment ‘Start paying taxes or hang yourself’   Mrs Sanders from Farnborough, Hampshire claimed she hadn’t sent the e-mail messages?  Her Facebook account has been closed and removed.  The DWP would not admit or discuss the situation…..so nothing new there!  (15/1/2014)

‘Benefits Fraud Officer un-named yet again’

At least this will give other civil service rogues a boost of confidence as a colleague has been given a shield to hide behind — this case is that of a COUNCIL OFFICER who worked at the BARNSLEY COUNCIL.  She has been dismissed for committing benefit fraud (8/12/2017).  It states that she was a Taxation and Incomes Officer, and that she had failed to inform the council of her change of circumstances, which resulted in a overpayment of £3,798 in housing benefit and £761.55 in council tax.  It tells us that this matter has been handed to the DWP for investigation, which in turn will be given to the CPS for a possible criminal prosecution?

‘Jobcentre staff investigated over discrimination’

Two Gay men, Mellor and Pearson, said they were both branded as ‘Gay Boys’ in the Jobcentre where they signed on.  They were both JSA Jobseeker claimants, and what they experienced they say, was appalling.  They accused the jobcentre staff of verbal abuse and they claimed the staff gave them less help due to their sexual orientation.  They said that staff pointed at them as they left or arrived and made remarks that were offensive.  This all happened at the Jobcentre in the coastal town of Weston-Super-Mare in Somerset.  Of course, as a routine move, the DWP denied their claims, but had to investigate the case.  So far nothing has come of this…which could be a cover-up?    (29/12/2010)

‘Rude DWP Officer heard in voicemail conversation’

This case is rather alarming and follows the above one quite well — ANNE GOODE a Civil Servant with the DWP is under investigation after recorded voicemails at a claimant’s house exposed outrageous comments made by Goode and other staff present who hadn’t realised that the phone was still ‘live’ and not put down correctly in their office.  When claimant Cecilia Garcia played back her ansaphone she was utterly amazed to hear comments about her being spoken by her advisor at the Jobcentre. She could clearly hear Anne Goode saying ‘She was a scrounging bastard’ and more obscenely, ‘Popping out kids like pigs’     The Bromley Jobcentre Officer had called her to discuss her claim for benefits.  Mrs Garcia like many others, said she was struggling to pay the rent and asked what support could she get.   However, on picking up the phone, she did get an answer, and as she was about to put her phone down she became aware that at the other end in the jobcentre the conversation hadn’t finished, it was about her and the claim.  The comments were nasty, rude and hurtful to say the least and as a result she has now put this evidence on the Internet so that you can hear the conversation yourselves in case you doubt it.  So go to the following link – https://www.0845-numbers.uk/benefits/dwp-staff-caught-moaning-about-mum-of-3-on-voicemail/

The DWP claimed they were now looking into the incident.  (July 7th 2015)

‘Senior DWP Investigator/Ex-Cop/ commits Fraud’

IAN HARRISON, a Senior Government Benefit Fraud Investigator (and Former Police Officer) had been secretly fiddling the DWP who he worked for.  His job was to investigate ‘Dole Fiddlers and Fraud’ and ironically, he was the biggest one!  It was said that he left the Lancashire Police Force and joined the DWP Fraud Unit investigating false claims.  In court it was said’ He knew the system well when he began defrauding the DWP and expected to get away with it.  He was finally arrested for fraudulently claiming a higher rate disability allowance, and srealing £10,672.  BLACKPOOL MAGISTRATES convicted him of theft and he was given a suspended sentence.  (May 2012)

‘DWP Officer diverts benefits into own account’

Civil servant SAMANTHA DOUGLAS at the Benefits Office administered transactions into her own bank account the report says.  It went onto say she took around £24,000 which should have been paid to claimants on Income Support.  Douglas used her knowledge of the system to track down benefit payments which had been processed, but not paid out because of ‘errors’  Previous history revealed that she had forged her partner’s signature in order to obtain a mortgage.  She was given a suspended sentence at MOLD CROWN COURT.

‘Benefits Officer in cash Fraud Case’

It was said that DWP CIVIL SERVANT SANA SHAHEEN diverted benefit cash into her friend’s bank account, which amounted to £3,500 while working at the DWP OFFICE in LEEDS.  She appeared before Leeds Crown Court where she was given a suspended six month prison sentence and a 150 hours community service order.  She admitted making changes on the DWP office computer on eleven occasions using a smart card which allowed her into the system.   (17/7/2013)

‘Benefit Claimants go to social media for a voice’

A Jobseeker said ‘ We need to vote in order to get a chance to survive the future onslaught on our human rights’ and on that he is so right, the Tories have ‘behind the scenes’ made many changes to lessen those rights by not ratifying the charter and are on a course to taking welfare out altogether.  And they do need voting out in the next election, solidly and cripplingly so that they cannot get back into power for years.  The choice of a Labour Party isn’t that appealing, as Blair and his cronies fooled the people and acted like Tories, which must never happen again.  The majority of promises politicians make are not true, they are just used for voting speeches.  Back to our subject, hundreds of claimants tell of the hell and abuse mounted by civil servants and the Government.  One woman, a claimant of benefit, who was a victim of killer nurse Beverley Allitt, suffered sheer hell at the hands of the DWP who demanded £23,000 from Kayley Asher who was awarded compensation at the time.  They said she had failed to declare the cash, therefore she must pay back her benefits to the tune of £23,000.  Her father said they suffered for almost 18 months of torment and sleepless nights worrying about what would happen.  Intervention by the BBC coverage of her case changed the DWP’s stand, and they said they’d revised their decision!       (4/5/2017)

‘The Jobcentre ‘Recording’ that is unavailable online’

This piece seemed rather good, especially as they claimed to have a recording of an interview at the Jobcentre, and it says the lady who recorded it was very ‘clued up’   The DWP gave a Freedom of Information response to what their policy was on recordings by claimants in secret or privately, and that is on view at the site we visited for this, and to listen to the interview or watch a video.  You can read it all for yourselves, which in their answer says you can record, but?   We found the recording ‘unavailable’ and without an explanation on the site one wonders why?  Did the DWP remove it? go to –  https://welfaretales.wordpress.com/2014/03/16/what-happened-when-she-recorded-her-jobcentre-interview/

‘DWP get big support from the Twins of Evil’

And there are no prizes for guessing who are the twins of evil — they are David Cameron and Iain Duncan-Smith, the two who went rushing away when they made a mess of things.  Duncan-Smith has convinced himself he’s a good guy and thinks no one will remember the misery that he’s caused (that’s usual Tory practise), and Ex PM David Cameron and his millions who lives far away in his mansion.  Back in 2014, Cameron said ‘A key part of our plan is to move to full employment making sure that everyone who can work is in work’   His faithful lap dog and buddy, Duncan-Smith said ‘Claimants who have been unemployed for a number of years will be able to benefit from the improving jobs market and growing economy.’   Many economists told Cameron that unemployment would never be zero, it was an impossible task and mostly based on a fairy tale.  Duncan-Smith ignored social welfare groups who told him that he was doing harm to the poorest in society, but what did he care… these two Tories are rich, and all they ever believed in was power and ego….not people!

‘DWP GUILTY OF MALADMINISTRATION’

The Parliament Ombudsman’s Office found JOBCENTREPLUS guilty of maladministration.  They ordered the Chief Executive to issue an apology and pay compensation of £10,000 to Mr K. who had been treated with outrageous unfairness throughout his claim for justice from the DWP.  They even refused to implement the Tribunal’s decision.  It was heard that they wrongly withheld his benefits for almost a year without any consideration for his well-being.  They stopped his housing benefit without any warning whatsoever, refused him any kind of payment and failed to explain any of the decisions they had taken in relation to his claim or case.  Even in the face of him winning his appeal, they continued to make life very awkward for him and ignored orders that should have terminated their aggressive behaviour towards him.  The fact that no civil servant at the Jobcentre were brought to book, suspended or dismissed was a scandal.  (27/11/2009)

‘The DWP with ease, how they aim to lie and deceive’

DISCRIMINATION is said to be unlawful in UK society, but it has been seen to be okay for the DWP to practise this albeit under another disguise.  A report says that Benefit Assessors have been told to discriminate against claimants with mental health conditions.  It was discovered that Tory Ministers suggested that people with anxiety and mental issues do not really need help?                                                 New guidelines in the DWP with Assessors for PIP benefit, appear to explicitly single out those with mental health conditions who suffer identical impacts as those with physical conditions.  Assessors were told that people whose mobility is limited to mental health conditions should not be entitled to receive the mobility component of PIP.  Their doctrine says ‘that mobility impairments caused by psychological issues are not relevant’                                                                                                                                                                                                       T  The DWP climbed all around this in the usual ‘wriggle’ insisting that this was the original intention of PIP and that it gives mental health the same recognition?    And by way of a footnote,  The Upper Tribunal ruled that ‘People who need help due to psychological issues should be entitled to the same help’       (14/3/2017)

‘Councils pay huge sums on suspended staff each week’

A new Report has revealed that councils in the UK are spending a £1million a week to suspended staff.  The Times says that some 10,000 local government civil servants have been sent home on full pay over a number of allegations from the petty to the serious.  Some 418 city, town, district and borough councils had a rise in their suspension figures.  One Derbyshire case quoted says the council has put that person on paid leave for 3 years so far, after suspending them in 2014.  A Monmouthshire social services worker on £42,000 has been suspended on full pay for 2 years for ‘management irregularities’  (Dec 2017)

‘New Expenses Scandal by Peers is derailed by subterfuge’

Politicians? yes, the ones in The House Of Lords this time, The Peers, and its having a bit of a rough time surfacing due to certain factors like Teresa May, and other Government Departments eager to bury this….because they have learnt a few tricks since the House Of Commons Expenses Scandal, and that is? get it hushed up quickly and destroy as much evidence as possible before the Press get their hands on it.  And what is this new expenses scandal? well, its been reported that some 16 Peers have claimed around £400,000 in expenses without speaking in any debates or submitting any questions for an entire year!   The Press refers to them as being ‘The Silent Peers’ which make up 1 in 10 of the 799-strong upper chamber.  They have been accused of ‘gaming the system’  and pocketing thousands of pounds in expenses and daily allowances.  The report says that during 2016 to 2017, sixteen members claimed more than £10,000 each in expenses according to figures supplied by the Electoral Reform Society. Labour’s LORD KIRKHILL claimed £43,896, and Labour’s BARONESS ADAMS claimed the amount of £41,287.  This all came out when an inquiry revealed that 115 Peers claimed more than £1.3 million from the taxpayer despite failing to speak for a full year….and all these peers can collect a cool £300 for each sitting.  In 2010 – 2015, thirty Peers claimed more than £750,000 between them over the course of the last Parliament.  And incidentally, the last Prime Minister, David Cameron, says ‘He now regrets not reforming the second house in the last Parliament?, yes, he probably regrets nothing but his downfall in the Brexit thing, and boy oh boy, you couldn’t see him for dust, he scarpered as they say at breakneck speed without any sanctions whatsoever.                                                            The Report ‘House of Lords’ – Fact v Fiction’ revealed that the Prime Ministers plans to ‘increase’ the House of Lords by an additional FIFTY MEMBERS , of whom most will be CONSERVATIVES, will cost around £1.3 million per year to the taxpayer, and they will be able to turn up  at the House without any obligations and claim £300 a day.                                                                                                                                                  The CPS say in relation to the expenses Saga, that their decision on whether or not to charge Conservatives will remain unaffected?  over the claims that they broke election expenses rules in the 2015 General Election.  Some 14 Police Forces sent files to the CPS which is understood to involve some 30 individuals in the Tory corner.  And it appears that the Conservative Party were fined £70,000 by the Electoral Commission and its former Treasurer was reported to the police concerning the matter.                                                                                                                Scotland’s Nicola Surgeon suggested that the Teresa May called the Election to muddy the waters of the scandal so that the 2015 Tory Expenses Fraud would not be centre stage and ‘catch up with her’  — She said that the Tories should not be allowed to escape accountability  for any ‘misdemeanours’ when she addressed the Scottish Trade Union Congress in Aviemore.   Further to this we have more devious action from former Scottish Secretary ALISTAIR CARMICHAEL MP, and the report says that he has admitted ‘lying’ about leaking a memo to damage the SNP Leader Nicola Sturgeon.  And just to make you realise just what kind of politicians you are dealing with, this matter was raised and suggested for a Parliamentary Standards investigation.  And the former Liberal Democrat Sir Malcolm Bruce  suggested the Commons would be cleared out if every MP who told a lie had to quit!                                                                                                                                                        And to end this, we have the Peer who was charged with ‘False Accounting’ — LORD HANNINGFIELD has been charged with false accounting ‘in relation to claims for daily allowance at The House of Lords, after clocking in for no more than 40 minutes per visit?  The former Tory  Council leader was ‘very disappointed’ at the decision to charge him.

A further 23 MP’s were revealed in this scandal of expenses, so we shall take the above subject further and name more of them.  And we begin with ANNA SOUBRY, as it states that the Nottinghamshire police force are looking into her expenses claims during the election, along with several others who may have deliberately breached the spending limits.  The news came just as The Communities Minister Secretary GREG CLARK would only say he had ‘every reason to suppose ‘ the Tories properly reported their 2015 General Election Expenses?  But following this assumption by Greg Clark, The Tory Party blamed ‘an administration error’ for failing to register some accommodation costs?

Labour MP SIMON DANCZUK was ordered to repay £11,500 in wrongly claimed expenses.  The Rochdale MP had been suspended from the Labour Party in relation to another matter the report says.  It says he faces investigations on several fronts including sexual harassment besides the expenses he claimed for parking charges in Manchester airport while he was away on holiday in Spain. 

And in an extra bonus, we have Minister AMBER RUDD in a spot of trouble over not declaring ‘lobbyist’ brother.  The report says she failed to comply with the new rules requiring Mp’s to disclose their links to lobbyists in official Parliamentary Records.   This rule was brought in after the Election.  Website ‘Total politics’ unearthed this and revealed that the lobbyist concerned was her brother Roland Rudd.                            RUDD accused of ‘Stitch-up’ over the Orgreave inquiry. — She’s here again, a true blue Conservative, The Home Secretary Amber Rudd has been accused of an ‘establishment stitch-up’ after she rejected calls for an official inquiry into the violent clashes between the police and strikers at Orgreave during the 1984 miners’ dispute.  Her announcement provoked anger from campaigners who said she had misled them into believing she would order a review into the so-called ‘Battle of Orgreave’ on June the 18th 1984.  They claim that police officers directed by the South Yorkshire Police conspired to fabricate evidence at the inquiry similar to the Hillsborough findings which took 25 years.

PS: It is obvious to anyone reading this, that the Politicians, especially the Tories, have trouble with ‘Declarations’ and ‘Compliance’ but they expect the public to do this when they crack the whip, and enforce penalties for not doing so…..but with them it’s a mistake or oversight, anything but the truth really!

NB: 2017 has gone, and there are no charges being brought in relation to the Pre-Election Peers Scandal, or the Tory Election Expenses thing, so it seems that Teresa May might have kicked the whole thing into the long grass as she intended, and Both Houses will certainly be pleased to have got away with fooling the country again!…….they are certainly learning from their mistakes!

‘DWP refuse to disclose reports on Universal Credits despite being ordered to do so’

It’s not really unusual to find this Tory Government selecting not to obey something they set up, they’ve done this time and time again as you can see on this site.  John Slater sent in a request through the Governments own Freedom of Information Act, with a Commissioner to see that the FOI act fairly.  Mr Slater wanted information on the Universal Credit system and the five reports that had been commissioned by the government.  It was a controversial subject, but they refused to hand any of the information over.  He then decided to use the complaints procedure which went through the ICO — Information Commissioners Office.  The Commissioner ruled that the five assessment reviews (PAR’s) should be disclosed as they fell within the right of the public to know.                                                                                                             But the DWP didn’t budge or comply with the Commissioner’s binding decision, they absolutely refused to cooperate with the Commissioner.  The DWP said they were appealing the decision, AND THAT CASE IS SUPPOSED TO BE HEARD AT A FIRST TIER TRIBUNAL IN APRIL 2018.  On hearing this and knowing they had to say something to Mr Slater in the way of an apology, The ICO sent Mr Slater; setting out the DWP’s reasons for not wanting to disclose the information.  The DWP said ‘The INFORMATION in THE REVIEWS WAS EXEMPT FROM DISCLOSURE’ because it could ‘Inhibit the free and frank provision of advice, or inhibit the free and frank exchange of views of the purposes of deliberation and another reason was, ‘that it could prejudice – the effective conduct of Public Affairs.’                                                                                           But clearly, the only one inhibiting anything here is the Government and the DWP who pick and choose what rulings they want to abide by, In this case The Information Commissioner said it was in the Public Interest, and what we have here is a Tory Government blatantly being very obstructive and wilful, and most definitely ‘NOT TRANSPARENT OR ACCOUNTABLE’   (2/11/2017)

PS:  They have done this several times, and some we have listed in cases here, so we’re going to go looking for all of the cases they have not complied with their own laws and let you know the total and the cases they have concealed information from the public.  In fact as a taster, we will give you a case where they have been sued for failing in their duty, their statutory duty no less.

‘GOVERNMENT SUED OVER POLLUTION BY ENVIRONMENTAL LAWYERS’  — CLIENT EARTH an Environmental Group has already won two court cases against government ministers over their failure to meet legal limits for nitrogen dioxide, and having studied the latest plans to tackle the problem which will still fall short of what is needed. They have now instructed their lawyers to launch another legal action against the government over ‘its stubborn failure’ to tackle illegal air pollution.  The government said it could not comment on ongoing legal proceedings.

‘DWP Computer glitch causes benefits scandal’

It is reported that up to 4,000 families in the Crewe and Nantwich area may have to return cash from overpaid tax credit payments that the DWP computers caused.  It says that some of the families could be stripped of regular childcare and living allowance payments, and be forced to refund the Inland Revenue at its discretion, with NO RIGHT OF APPEAL.  The DWP revealed that £3.9 million was overpaid involving 4,000 families, and that the DWP gave one family just 30 days to pay up!   Local CAB manager, Wendy Tozer said ‘This is an official error by the DWP and it’s now causing real harm and claimants are struggling to cope on income which puts them below the poverty line.’    (29/6/2015)

‘Tory Minister accepts £4,000 donation for Lobbying and then bans it’

Hypocrites, yes, that’s the mild word for MP’s like MATTHEW HANCOCK a staunch Conservative Minister who is into, ‘don’t do as I do, but do as I say’  The Cabinet Office Minister accepted £4,000 from the chairman of the Institute for Economic Affairs several weeks before telling the house there was to be a ban and clampdown on lobbying by charities promoted by the right-wing think tank.  Neil Record, City Currency manager donated £22,000 to Mr Hancock and the Tories since 2010.  It’s true to say that the Tories are a ‘shifty’ bunch of politicians.

NOTE:  Would you believe that the above MP is now a Cabinet Minister in Teresa May’s Tory Government of 2018?

‘4 Years jail for expenses fraud Labour MEP’

These reports are getting regular, and this one is featuring LABOUR MEP PETER SKINNER, who was on that Expenses gravy train, this new one of 2015.  It ios stated that he fraudulently claimed £100,000 in expenses which should have been used for support staff when he was representing the South East of England in the European Parliament.  He appeared before Southwark Crown Court on one count of fraud, one count of false accounting and one count of making a false instrument (forgery).  It says he spent the money on luxury items, his divorce and a Rover Discovery 4X4 vehicle.  Skinner lived in Rochester, Kent, and he was jailed for 4 years.  Amusingly, the Judge said that this kind of behaviour made the public distrustful of Parliament and the Institution itself!   That’s already quite common to the public these days, and the Politicians look away when its said in programmes like ‘Question Time’ but they still go on thinking it will just brush over.  One other point in this trial was that the Judge said ‘To suggest as you did at trial that everybody was doing the same or that it was too complicated a system to manage properly is an insult to the public’  ‘You have a cynical disregard for others.’   (30/4/2016)

‘Tory Bully MP in Voicemail rants’

Another delightful Conservative MP show us how nice they are, It is reported that MP LUCY ALLEN is already involved in a controversy because she ‘doctored’ an e-mail sent to her by a constituent, to make it appear to include a death threat and posted it online.  Her other issue pending is that she made a series of ranting telephone calls to a party member when she was off sick.  In the article it mentions that she suggested that her 26 year old constituency case worker ‘had alcohol problems’ and that she had stolen a computer from the MP’s office.

”MP in assault on opponent’

Politics, …. It is reported that a Labour MP lashed out at a woman by kicking her.  LABOUR MP MARIE RIMMER for the constituency of St Helens South and Whiston, appeared in court denying she had assaulted Patricia McLeish in 2014 during the referendum campaign.  She said that the labour MP approached her while she was handing out leaflets, and was acting in an aggressive manner.  The Sheriff’s court in Glasgow adjourned the case to a trial date in July.

‘The Jeremy Hunt MP conundrum?’

TORY MP’s come and go and return yet again like a crooner doing his 88th Comeback Retirement show in the World of Music that contains the same sleaze and business ethic of Politicians.  Here’s a man who took on the National Health Service and faced a lot of criticism for many of the decisions he made.  This is the same Jeremy Hunt that time and time again avoided questions on a Channel 4 programme when he was about to be asked about sugar in relation to children’s health.   Hunt dodged Hugh a celebrity chef throughout the programme promising to set up a meet.  Here we have him admitting to the breach of money laundering rules, and the MP’S Watchdog seeking to get answers in the House of Commons.  The report says The Health Secretary has a personal fortune of 14 million pounds, and that he failed to declare his ownership of a company he set up to buy seven luxury flats. It says he had a 50 percent stake in the venture.  It then goes on about the meaningless ‘offence of failing to declare such information carrying a penalty of a fine and up to 2 years in prison’…. but as we have told you before, this doesn’t apply to MP’s of his calibre, he’s more or less exempt from such action, and of course as you would expect by now, he made an ‘error’ as they say quite frequently.  he later corrected both errors and said that it was a ‘mistake’ by his accountant.   All we can say here is – you make such a mistake with HMRC and see the arrest warrants arriving to say that you lied?  Millionaires like Hunt have power and wealth.

‘Drugs found in Home Office toilet’

Considering The Home Office deals with all matters of Law, this report on ‘A’ Class drugs being found in a toilet on Government premises staffed by civil servants should amaze one, but think again, drugs are used by the rich and powerful besides the ‘ordinary’ folk.  It is stated that they were found in a ‘Disabled users toilet’ which yet again puts a new slant on things.  So who put them there remains a mystery but I think you can rule out the general public seeing as it was in the London headquarters in its Westminster Office, and that leaves it fairly and squarely with the civil servants.

‘Former Council leader lied in Cyril Smith Inquiry’

A recent report looking back into the ‘Cyril Smith Historic Abuse Case’ has revealed that the former leader of Rochdale Council could face a police investigation .  RICHARD FARNELL then head of the council has tweaked the Abuse Inquiry’s radar.  They say that it defies belief that Farnell who was the Council Labour leader from 1986 to 1992 was unaware of the abuse at the council run KNOWL VIEW SCHOOL.  They also remarked that it was shameful that he refused to take responsibility and blamed education and social services officials at the council.  The Inquiry found that he lied in evidence about the school being linked to MP Cyril Smith.   Farnell was shocked at the findings of the Inquiry?

(there is more of this if you wish to scroll down for the larger detailed inquiry into the Child Abuse Scandal)

‘Parliamentary Civil Servant arrested over bar brawl’

An ‘un-named’ Parliament officer was arrested on the suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm at a bar in the Houses of Parliament.  It says that a 57 year old member of staff remained in custody following the incident.  Apparently, a fight broke out between to male members of Parliament in the Sports and Social Club bar, which has a ‘rowdy’ reputation it is said.  Amazingly, this was the same bar in which another fight was mounted between MP Eric Joyce and another person?  (he was not charged with any offence)

‘MP’s Aide accused of groping’

Civil Servant RICHARD HOLDEN, aide to the Defence Secretary SIR MICHAEL FALLON appeared at the Westminster Magistrates Court accused of groping a female victim during a party at his house at Christmas.  It is reported that he denied the allegations and that the matter has been referred to Southwark Crown Court for trial.  It was also mentioned that he stood for election unsuccessfully as a Tory candidate in Preston in 2015.  We also see that Sir Michael Fallon himself quit his Cabinet post after allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards women who reported him. 

‘MP’s turn ‘blind eye’ on serious misconduct allegations’

Although we’ve heard lots of rhetoric from MP’s over the many sexual impropriety revelations, and publicly announcing that it had no place in politics, then this next item will not please you, because NO action was taken when a House of Commons staff member  reported being sexually assaulted, and MP’s were told about the matter.  Plaid Cymru’s leader at Westminster, Liz Saville Roberts, was among a number of politicians who raised the matter of a ‘blind eye’ attitude being taken in matters that were of a very serious nature.  She said she had the case but nothing was done, and she had reported it to the correct authorities,  She said ‘I am deeply disappointed and distrustful…and the distrust among some was now becoming endemic.’  She said her report had gone to an Officer of Parliament, and after that she heard nothing.

‘A Case of double-standards for MP Eric Pickles’

PERSISTENT HYPOCRISY, AND DOUBLE STANDARDS!  that has been levelled at Sir Eric Pickles, especially as he was appointed as the national anti-corruption champion…he apparently threw himself vigorously into looking into alleged fraud by Muslims in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, examining everything in fine detail.  But, as the report says, there is a double-standard at work here.  On the one hand, Sir Eric comes down like a ton of bricks on Pakistani and Bangladeshi heritage Muslims who allegedly cheated at local elections.  Yet he appears to have cleared, without a second glance, the group of white -public school educated Tory Politicians caught up in the 2015 General Election Expenses Scandal.  This is deeply unfair, and brings British National Politics into disrepute.

‘MP in ‘male escort case’ stands down from Ministerial Position’

KEITH VAZ – LABOUR MP, was once here there and everywhere rising through the ranks of the Labour Party, he was also regularly seen on THE HOME AFFAIRS SELECT COMMITTEE, righting wrongs and quizzing government departments on their honesty and openness, and he was also the former Europe Minister.  But now, he is none of those, because it was discovered that he’d been watched by a Sunday Newspaper who announced in a ‘scoop’ that Mr Vaz had met two Eastern European men at a flat and paid them cash for their services.  Other information that came out was incidents such as 2002 when he was suspended for a month by Parliament for making false allegations against a former policewoman over a complaint against his wife.  He was also criticised for failing to fully co-operate with an earlier inquiry in 2001.

‘Tory MP faces rape allegation’

FORMER GOVERNMENT WHIP CHARLIE ELPHICKE was suspended last November over ‘unidentified serious allegations; the report said, having been accused of rape by a female member of staff.  He instantly claimed he had not committed any ‘wrongdoing’ — a familiar theme often put forward by politicians.  The report said that he was interviewed under caution by police officers in Deal, Kent; Mr Elphicke is the MP for Dover it says.   Two women were interviewed over alleged sexual offences and the investigation continues.

‘Labour MP in ‘sexual comments’ row’

A Shadow Minister for the Labour Party, KARL TURNER MP, was accused of acting inappropriately by a party member in his constituency office in 2015.  The Labour MP for Kingston Upon Hull East, denies he used offensive remarks and touched the woman’s buttocks, or that he acted in a misogynistic manner on the day in question.  The report says that the Party are investigating the matter further.

‘Labour accused of burying rape report of activist aged 19’

On a more serious note we have a report of an alleged cover-up by the Labour Party dated November the 1st 2017.  The new report says that the hierarchy are now under pressure to reveal the report they are so anxious to bury.  It was and investigation into sexual harassment inside the Party, and specially related to the rape of an activist who was aged nineteen.   A probe was launched into the rape of activist Bex Bailey who said she’d been raped during a party, and that she was urged to keep quiet about the incident by a senior figure in the Labour Party who told her she could damage her career prospects.   Miss Bailey who was a former member of the National Executive had been allowed to see selective bits of the report, the published article had no plans to surface in the public domain!

‘Tory MP quizzed by police in expenses forgery claim’

We now head back into that furore over expenses that almost brought the Government down, but failed alas!   The report says that Tory MP CHRIS DAVIES was interviewed by police over a claim of expenses that amounted to 700 pounds.  It is said that he faked invoices to that amount for furniture and photos for his Constituency Office in Radnorshire, Wales.  It has mentioned that he claims there was ‘an honest mistake’ in connection with the matter but nothing on the paperwork.  The fabrication eludes to two motes being made, one for 450 and the other 250.  Other submissions about the furniture and photos were also suspect according to the report.  Forgery is defined as making a false instrument with the intention that it should be accepted as genuine to the prejudice of the other person, the 1981 Act states that someone doing this could expect to be jailed on summary conviction to 6 months and/or a fine of a thousand pounds, if sent to trial the jail time could be up to ten years.  But have no worry, he’s a politician and it’s highly unlikely any of this will go his way, power is influence and they’ll use it.

‘Tory Mayor quits of dubious activity involving Web Links’

Conservative Mayor PETER LUCEY admitted to ‘unacceptable behaviour’ when it was discovered he had web links to an Islamophobic website and other far-right groups.  It was said in the report that this embarrassed the local council in Wokingham in Berkshire.  It was also said he had social media connections with the Gatestone Institute, a right wing anti-Muslim thinktank.  Mr Lucey resigned.

MP’S WARNED OVER USING ‘MISLEADING’ SOCIAL MEDIA CLIPS  — House of Commons Directive.

‘Cuts by Tory Council puts lives in danger’

The Conservatives can’t help being what they are, and despite protestations their true colours of greed, manipulation and deceit always gets the better of them.  Apparently, the councils are the same as we see in this next report.  To the Tories AUSTERITY is just a word they can profit by, and imposing cuts helps their cause to serve themselves.  UNISON found that 79 percent of local workers in councils have no confidence in the future of services that at one time belonged to the people as part of a promise by politicians, only to arrive at 2018 and find that many services don’t exist and others are being cut.  The most annoying thing is that some of these vital services were put together by a legal requirement that they should be carried out, but now you see this government not only break promises but the law too, and they do this knowing they cannot be brought before a court because they have ‘immunity’ and can merely say the funds have run out even when they actually cut them.  The Public don’t seem to be aware that previous administrations going back years put certain responsibilities out of the laws way and made other laws and regulations that had opt out and immune clauses any government could rely on when needed, that’s how government operates.  Even now the elderly and vulnerable are becoming victims of these cuts and it is common knowledge that the local authorities having cut services are putting the public at risk.   The National Audit Office recently announced in a report that in real terms the Government funding for town halls in England fell by almost 49 percent from 2010-11 to 2017-18.

‘Public beginning to question all this council waste’

STOP WASTING OUR CASH is their call to councils, and some outraged taxpayers have voiced their opinion and looked at some of this waste.  Irene of Manchester is appalled on finding out that the Conservative Council of Bournemouth spent £3 million on a failed surfing reef along with a huge pay-off for the council officer in charge of it.     George of London reckons these wasted costly council ideas that fail should not be allowed to  be passed on to the taxpayer ‘They never really learn the value of money when it’s not theirs, they just squander it and keep on doing it time and time again.’  Billy of Sutton says ‘We have all seen council schemes being propped up with taxpayers money, especially these computer ideas that in the end don’t work and the taxpayer ends up footing the cancellation bill besides the initial contract fee and installation.  Jenny says, ‘Our councils are cutting services and many other things despite having money to go onto schemes that are trialled and often find they’re not cost effective after spending thousands on just looking at them, they begin to forget whose paying.’

‘DWP Payout £20 million in Benefits ‘Mistake’ to prisoners’

The DWP admitted that the blunder had gone on for years, a scandal costing taxpayers £20 million.  The DWP wrongly paid out millions in benefit to prisoners in jail without ascertaining where these people were.  Under the rules, prisoners behind bars are not entitled to benefit payments, yet the system of paying out went on for two decades before being discovered.  The DWP said this happened because they have no central register or lists to cross-check, but they announced that the loophole has now been closed.  The fraud which cost millions has still not answered how considering claimants sign on, still got paid without ever being seen once they went to jail, and there’s the matter of a ‘change in circumstances’ — but none of this has been answered.    (16/12/2012)

‘The Kirklees DWP Disc Blunder security risk’

This item goes several years back, and the report says – the government disc blunder is set to cost Kirklees Taxpayers around £18,000 in costs.  The disc is said to have contained data about the residents on benefits, some 45,000 people whose personal info and details have now been ‘lost’   Council Chiefs with DWP Officials are looking into the matter and have ordered a review of the situation, and imposed a freeze on sending discs by private courier or the regular postal system.  After a meeting it was decided that they would write to all of the 45,000 claimants to expain the matter and where they stood.

‘Freemasons said to be operating secretly in Westminster’

We’ve covered the Mason’s several times, and it’s not unusual to find them in Government at all, they’re in the Police and Lawyers, and have been for many years.  This new report suggests they are or have been subverting political agendas, and there is a call for them to be forced to register their memberships in the Westminster bubble.  It tells us there are primarily two Lodges for MP’s, and the New Welcome Lodge has 30 to 40 members, whereas the Gallery Lodge has 45 members.  Another Lodge, The Alfred Robbins Lodge has just 18 members.  The secret mystery has always surrounded this particular group, just as the Templar’s in the dark halls of the Legal profession, no-one is quite sure of the power they have or what influence they use, but it is a fact that some nasty tales have emerged by this lot, and it cannot be dismissed by the scoffers who want you to believe they ‘do no wrong’

‘ PORTSMOUTH COUNCIL RELUCTANTLY PAY OUT OVER ABUSE AT KIDS HOME ‘

PORTSMOUTH CITY COUNCIL has agreed to pay out compensation to 19 claimants who were abused at the Cosham Children’s Cottage Homes from 1947 to 1971.  A leaked memo gave city solicitor Michael Lawther permission to pay the group up to £92,000 – £3,000 each plus £35,000 legal fees.  The solicitor Anne Bevan for the council said the payout does not mean they accept liability for what happened.  The campaigners only wanted an apology, but ended up with a two year battle to get Portsmouth council to recognise what Council Care had done in the past, how it ignored the situation, and it was trying to ignore the abused yet again………Incidentally, the Lawyers in this affair made sure the payout would mean that the claimants sign away their rights to any further legal action……………..here is more on this story, a story that Portsmouth would rather go away.

‘ JUDGE HELPS PORTSMOUTH COUNCIL AVOID ITS DIRTY PAST’  — What comes next is a scandal in which the Crown helps a council to cloud the issues and have a selected judge sidestep child abuse in favour of a libel case and CPS orchestrated involvement to suppress ‘Portsmouth Child Abuse’    In the 1950’s when Portsmouth was being praised as a place of great Historical importance as a Navy City…another piece of History was being denied and covered up by members of the council.  The abuse of children at ‘Cottage Home’ run by the council and it’s investigation revealed that no-one was going to be charged!   The case of ‘Councillor Hancock and Cummings’ (libel case) helped that tight wedge to be opened despite the judge trying to take the emphasis away from that evil….Cummings wanted justice for that abuse, he’d been one of those children and he wanted justice which the judge was anxious to deny him throughout the hearing….which was at the expense of the past…the judge preferred not to have the details or reports of sexual abuse presented even though they figured in the case….it was not to be discussed as far as Judge Callaway was concerned….even when a council was up to its neck in the sordid affair that ruined children’s lives.  The council during those years were receiving pleas and reports of council officials hindering and dismissing reports of abuse…some were engaged in it too.  21 men and women who were children at the time say they were abused and some others just vanished at night, never to be seen again.  Carers and staff would take boys out of the rooms to use for their own gratification, to hurt them with punishment or sexual acts. Certain un-named council figures would turn up and chose a boy or girl and they had to go with the so called ‘important visitor’ said one of the survivors who is still campaigning for an apology from the council.  Because some of the perpetrators were in their 90’s the law allowed them to go free…with the CPS approval….and this included one individual  who had been arrested, (now in her 70’s and living in Wales).  The Legal Department at Portsmouth actually advised the council that there should be ‘no apology given’ for what had happened to the children at the ‘Home’  This was to limit the compensation, which you can see at the beginning of the article (solicitor Anne Bevan for the council was quick to explain paying out meant they were not sorry or liable)…they wanted to pay out as little as they could ….or nothing.  The case went against Cummings…but not unexpected…it’s not unknown for the right judge to be picked for a case!     So we are presenting the case they dearly want to bury.

In connection with the above we found this item — ‘PORTSMOUTH COUNCIL CENSURE VOTE ‘ — Councillor Mike Hancock was arrested on allegations of indecent assault – Oct 2010 — Portsmouth solicitor Michael Lawther warned councillors of contempt if anyone prejudiced a trial. The Internet features several pages on the Mike Hancock affair which have not been challenged — and Portsmouth council do not come out smelling of roses!

THE MIKE HANCOCK CASE RE-EMERGES AS WOMAN LAUNCHES CIVIL ACTION — HAMPSHIRE was yet again thrown into turmoil, and Portsmouth MP Mike Hancock seems unable to shake off his past…..although the allegations of assault were more or less thrown aside by?  May 2013 has now brought him accusations of    sexual misbehaviour and an interview he said he wouldn’t attend, and did so, with the Lib Dem leader and Chief Whip…. in his TV appearance he accused others of waging a war against him and said he would not be bullied out of his job.  The matter arises from the 2009/10 allegations that he groped a woman and exposed himself…but he was never charged.  However, despite this, the woman has now launched an action for damages against him in the High Court.  She was recently interviewed and told her side of things, those being ‘that Mike Hancock was ‘arrogant’ and that she was not his girlfriend and never felt good with him even though he bought her, and her 12yr old son, presents……she said she never wanted a relationship with him…it was him that pursued it’

THE MIKE HANCOCK CASE —  Update, Twists and turns in this long running saga that has gone on for a period of two years……. It now appears that the Lib Dems have suspended Hancock, and the Portsmouth Authority also decided to ‘hide’ a report and not publish a document commissioned by the Portsmouth City Council.  And not do so until the High Court Case was over, but the woman has now requested this leaked document for her case and rightly so.  Nigel Pascoe QC said the woman’s version of events were ‘credible’ and that there was evidence of  ‘Serious and unwelcome sexual behaviour by the MP’

ASSAULT ON REPORTER – MIKE HANCOCK’S SON — The son of Mike Hancock was arrested for assault on a local reporter outside Mike Hancock’s house in Fareham.

Update: Mike Hancock’s son was found guilty of assault — he was given a 200 hour community service order and was told to pay £3,000 in compensation to the journalist he attacked.

THE MIKE HANCOCK CASE: Since losing his seat in the 2014 elections, Mike Hancock has apologised to his victim and admitted making her feel abused.  The news said he confessed to ‘a inappropriate relationship with a female constituent’  It stated that in regard to the court case, he had made an ‘out of court settlement’

‘ PORTSMOUTH COUNCIL IS FINED AFTER FAILING THE ELDERLY ‘

PORTSMOUTH COUNCIL was fined around £15,000 by the local NHS Trust for failing to find enough beds for elderly patients in need of care.  The council came up with various excuses for their failure to meet the problem including blaming families. 

‘ Portsmouth Councillor bailed over bribery and corruption faces police investigation ‘

PORTSMOUTH COUNCILLOR JEZZ BAKER faced a 27 hour investigation by police from the serious and organized crime unit over corruption allegations.  He was arrested after he took money to support a planning application. The City Council Planning Officer was arrested for corruption following accusations of dishonesty within the council’s planning committee — it soon became apparent that council staff and the Council Legal Department began a cover-up that would distance themselves from Jezz Baker — it went so far as to the Hampshire Police making pretence of the fact they had arrested the 45 year old for corruption in public office and declining to say who it was? when it had already been established.  The Chief Executive of the Council rolled out the usual denials and said they were assisting the police but could not comment further.  Councillor Steve Wemyss  gave out ‘the innocent statement’ much expected by this council.

JEREMY JEZZ BAKER was jailed by the court for 12 months for taking a £500 bribe…obviously innocent?

‘ FIRM TAKES COUNCIL TO THE HIGH COURT ‘

PORTSMOUTH CITY COUNCIL was served with proceedings for money owed to them.  Social Housing Co. Mears is suing for £151,858 concerning repairs and decorating.  Lawyer for the council Michael Lawther said ‘   It will not assist the process of our ongoing discussions for the council to comment on matters that are the subject of negotiation.  Steve Wemyss, councillor was demanding for more transparency when dealing with public money.

That word ‘TRANSPARENCY’ — Lawyers don’t believe in it and neither does the Government.

‘ Portsmouth Council found guilty of Maladministration ‘

MALADMINISTRATION — Failure of carrying out a required duty, a misfeasance in public office — for those who don’t really understand the word.  The Local Government Ombudsman was alerted to the following case against the council and after due consideration found them guilty…the party affected by council misbehaviour was offered the meagre compensation of £200 which they refused.   Indira Chudasama wrote many letters to the City Council, many requesting information under the Freedom of Information Act.  She was being harassed by noise, late parties and anti-social behaviour.  The council replied by trying to belittle her in her attempt to have things clarified saying that certain fees would have to be paid for administration in order for them to answer questions put by her…so mail went back and forth with no end in sight — they were playing the game of ‘ignorance and wasting time’   She sent in reports of the ant–social behaviour which the law advises to be kept and written about — these were all ignored. She made an official complaint in 2009….which got her nowhere.  In desperation she contacted the Ombudsman who had no hesitation in finding the council guilty of outrageous behaviour (much of this perpetrated by managers and staff at the council).

The Council replied to the findings later admitting there had been a wrong done, James Hill the Portsmouth Council Housing Manager said they had identified the problems? (the council being the first one) — Miss Chudasama turned down the £200 compensation and said the council needed to learn a lesson from the awful treatment they had showed — that’s all she wanted.  The council never learned a thing from this!!

‘ COUNCIL IN MORE SECRECY ‘

PORTSMOUTH CITY COUNCIL tried to suppress news that its own social club for employees was worse than any low cafe, it was lacking the basic sense of hygiene.  The council is supposed to uphold standards, but instead it tried to prevent the information coming out.  It revealed dirty floors, rotten shelving and freezers not being monitored that contained risk food.  Out of date bottled beers, cracked utensils, and a fridge.

(See ‘secrecy over Porchester Community Centre’)

‘ Portsmouth Council uses Benefits Fraud cases to suppress own Cover-Up’

The council has been ‘congratulating itself’ for being at one with the DWP and Benefit Fraud Agency misleading its residents into believing it plays on a straight bat.  The council says it will not hesitate to take action in order to protect public funds!  Rather laughable really, and it stinks of corruption — corruption they say does not exist in Portsmouth Council.  We can prove otherwise — we had one of our team go undercover to obtain information posing as a resident. They were told to contact Freedom of Information and state in the request what they were looking for.  The request for info on how many people on staff had been sacked for misconduct and any other similar offences more serious was suddenly passed to the Legal Department. They denied that such information existed, but were eager to point out that ‘ if such information was available they wanted to know what it would be used for before handing it over (at a cost) and there was another fact — they could refuse to supply the supposed information and they still wanted total control so that they could have it stopped being used under their ruling of ‘confidential and subject to approval’ — which rather defeats the access of such information when they can deny use of it, which means a Cover-Up and not an ounce of transparency from this cynical council. The Freedom of Information Act said that accountability was assured but it left out the bit about ‘ Only some bits are available’

‘ FIGHTING CORRUPTION IN PORTSMOUTH CITY COUNCIL ‘

We came across this dedicated site who were publicising corruption cases in the council at Portsmouth, and thought it only right we should feature it.  PO12BG Fighting Corruption in Portsmouth City Council has expired according to a notice (the domain fee has not been renewed or something worse)  We would like to access the information that it had so we appeal for the owner of the site to contact us — so if you are the owner of that site, please contact us via our Investigator Richard at his e-mail address on our home page.

‘Portsmouth Council accused of ‘Ripping-off’ Charity Shops ‘

Councils across the UK have been accused of scandalous behaviour — one is Portsmouth Council (plus Gosport) by the Association of Charity Shops who say Hampshire is a major contributor to this state of affairs. They say Portsmouth Council is acting against the law by making charity shops pay waste disposal costs, and goes onto accusing them of ‘overcharging’  A Spokesperson said ‘it is wrong for these councils to take money away from these needy causes and it is utterly deplorable to act in this way’  Portsmouth were accused of using ‘delay tactics’ rather than scrapping the fees.

‘ Residents ‘betrayed’ by Portsmouth Council over new houses ‘

PORTSMOUTH RESIDENTS VENTED THEIR ANGER with Portsmouth Council after new homes in Warwick Crescent, Somers Town, were allocated to other people!  The residents said they had not been considered saying the ‘wrong people’ had been given the homes.  They met with Councillor Steve Wylie at a meeting. Some of the residents said they had been waiting up to 12 years for new homes, and they were just as needy!

‘ Was Portsmouth Council and Ombudsman in Cover-up over Land Development?’

Keith Edmunds feels strongly enough to point out that the Local Government Ombudsman system covered-up and assisted Portsmouth City Council in a ‘Maladministration’ case (the second one so far).  It began in 1993 when a wealthy developer with all the ‘financial appeal’ that the council liked, applied to develop an area of land in West St/Broad St. The application was eagerly supported by Portsmouth Council — which had two High Court cases pending in 2008 against them concerning ‘planning corruption’ and irregularities — according to Keith who researched this information well.  He also managed to see an Architect’s report on file about the site which stated that the development did not meet the ‘light requirements’ of the BRE — and in order to meet it would mean that the whole development would have to be scaled down.  He applied for a copy but staff turned this down, but with persistency he finally obtained that and entered it into ‘evidence’ with his complaint to the Ombudsman.  What followed this was countermoves by the council, subterfuge and mind games — application denied, application granted in a seesaw battle until the council pushed it through, yet nothing had changed in regard to the light requirements, they were determined to get the developer’s plans implemented….Mr Edmunds officially complained and accused them of committing perjury and the Ombudsman of aiding and abetting the council….the council still refuses to admit their wrongdoing almost saying ‘come and prove it’ knowing that they can shield the necessary partners in crime and withhold paperwork by claiming Crown Privilege knowing they have a solicitor who is handsomely paid by the taxpayer to do the dirty work that is necessary.

NB:  Full details can be seen on Keith Edmunds web pages; and if you type in Portsmouth Council Corruption.

‘ STUDENTS UNION ACCUSE PORTSMOUTH COUNCIL OF DISCRIMINATION’

THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL STUDENTS UNION has accused the council of outright discrimination against students.  Union President Godfrey Atuahene says their new policy is unfair and is actively being used to discriminate students by limiting the number of students in shared accommodation in an area to ten percent which will have a massive impact on where students coming into the area will be able to stay economically.

‘Portsmouth Council try to use the law to cut the vital services to the needy ‘

Redefining the law so they can save on money, Portsmouth council chose to cut services to the less well off in society as they were easy targets and complaints from them would be easily tossed aside if challenged.  But this didn’t go according to plan when the Council made an application to the court to terminate help for those in sheltered housing.  The judge turned down their application despite the council offering the explanation that the changes would not have an adverse effect on those who needed it.   Judge Jarman QC ruled that they had a duty to provide the service under the 1995 Act, and to maintain the services at the present standard. He said the failings in the council case presented were serious enough to quash the application and told them to reconsider their position.  This council makes big claims of caring for the vulnerable…..but apparently not in this case!

‘Portsmouth Council staff waste public money (sat accessing Facebook) ‘

A REPORT has revealed that council staff were sat at their desks going onto facebook when they should have been attending to council business.  It was said that more than 400 hours a month were snatched out of the work timetable.  A spokesperson for the council said that it has now been banned from the workplace.

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL said 46 employees had been discovered spending more than an hour on the Facebook site each day…..but they had no plans to ban it as yet!

£4.2 MILLION WAS SPENT ON CONSULTANTS WHICH LED TO £10 MILLION OF CUTS IN PORTSMOUTH — Lynne Stagg of Portsmouth City Council attacked the spending of £4.2m on consultants who in the main did little for the situation in the area and the roll on only forced the council to put through £10m cuts in services to residents…see the case below.

‘Portsmouth Councillor in Consultancy Secrecy ‘

COUNCILLOR CHERYL BUGGY – Senior LibDem — just happened to forget? or not mention that she was being paid as a consultant whilst chairing a commission to scrutinize the spiralling bill of consultants for the council with the intention of cutting the bill to the taxpayer.  Authority spending had gone from £4million to over £5million in just two years — the Tories on the council accused her of acting in ‘ a conflict of interests’ and said she should have declared this fact before heading the commission and stood down. (not surprisingly, the council came to her defence with the usual rhetoric ‘ she done no wrong’ ) — none of them ever seem to do wrong so I guess the expenses scandal was just a myth, rumour and a figment of the nation’s imagination?

‘Investigation into Portsmouth Council Misconduct’

2014 council defeated in elections — newly elected council boss Conservative Donna Jones has requested an investigation into previous misconduct by councillors in the ousted LibDem council, which included Mike Hancock who lost his seat…..at the time of this he was still facing a court case which had been delayed by his reported illness…..however, it has been established that he made an admission and settled out of court.  Donna Jones has vowed to make Portsmouth Council ‘transparent’ and accountable to the people (June 2014), but that remains to be seen?

‘ Bad behaviour by Portsmouth-Fareham Councillor angers residents ‘

COUNCILLOR SEAN WOODWARD of Fareham Borough Council, Hampshire, was accused of showing disrespect at a meeting at Porchester Community Centre.  Stella Bell one of those at the meeting made a formal complaint concerning his conduct saying it had breached the code.  Woodward showed no signs of being bothered by this and claimed he had shown consideration by attending the meeting.

THE ABOVE FOLLOWED ‘ THE U-TURN OVER SECRECY OF WHO RUNS THE NEW COMMUNITY CENTRE ‘ and therefore sheds more light on Woodward’s attitude at that meeting.  The running of the new £2million centre was originally going to be kept secret — and councillors at Portsmouth City Council claimed it ‘ was financially sensitive and confidential ‘ — despite being bought with taxpayers money!  The Porchester Community Centre in Fareham was to be discussed behind closed doors, and that changed at the last minute, hence a possible reason that Sean Woodward showed little interest in the meeting he originally opposed.

‘ COUNCIL OFFICER IS SUSPENDED ‘

PORTSMOUTH CITY COUNCIL OFFICER WENDY COUCH was suspended after police started an investigation into an overnight stay on a yacht during Cowes Week.  She was suspended over ‘ the gifts claim ‘ by chief executive David Williams.  The investigation was centred on whether there had been any misconduct in public office.

‘ Portsmouth Council — The North End Injustice Scandal ‘

Yet another bit of ‘ dark history’ involving  the Portsmouth Council — Searching yet again into Portsmouth Council dealings and archives, there appears to be ‘The concealment of past crimes the council wishes to forget’ as we arrived at ‘The Vaughn Street Urban Renewal Project of the late 60’s ‘ when the council literally threw people out of their homes in order to pass through a financial project they could profit by.  Joey Cresta ran an article that suggested the council ‘atone’ for the injustice it perpetrated — Violation of the City Code was done, and that greed among City of Portsmouth Politicians was responsible.  It was also stated ‘ not only were the city and council officials culpable — so was the newspaper ‘ The Portsmouth Herald’ who colluded with them.

‘ PORTSMOUTH COUNCIL CONCEAL RISK TO COMMUNITY ‘

For many years Portsmouth City Council along with neighbouring Havant, have been taking risks with visitors on holiday and residents who had no idea that deals were being made with other councils to have their bad tenants move into such places as Southsea, Portsmouth and Hayling Island and Hampshire in general. This is all being done on the quiet (one  council worker we spoke to said ‘they can’t tell the public or there would be hell to pay.)  In one case, they allowed Bristol to send their ‘unwanted trouble makers’ to the region. Another factor which has gone on since 2000 is the ‘St James Hospital Scenario’ — this hospital feeds pills to the ‘unstable’ ‘drug addicts’ and mental risk offenders who either stay there voluntarily or are sent by the courts.  After a period they are released, and some just walk out and back into the community when they feel like returning to the place where they got arrested for an assault.  One such spot they congregate is in The Crescent on Hayling Island (you can read that account in Related Topics). Many of these people have been sanctioned under the mental health act, and despite this, the council quietly imports this danger and lets it loose among ‘the so called rational citizens’ who have no idea of the risks they may be taking.

‘ Portsmouth Council try to impose fines and suffer defeat ‘

PORTSMOUTH COUNCIL made desperate attempts to have people fined up to £80 for anyone flouting the barbecue free zones on Southsea Common — and were reliant on the Government coming to its rescue by introducing legislation that would curb public activities.  But a delay has occurred in the passing of this ‘restriction of freedom’ law which meant that Portsmouth council had to back down and admit defeat — as it was powerless to go ahead without the relevant by-law powers it needed.  (one in the eye for the council eh?)

‘International visitors conned by Portsmouth Council ‘

Portsmouth Council has staff printing up fancy brochures for visitors urging them to visit their so called many features of historical interest?  One dire experiment in this area is The Dickens Centre on the East side of the city towards North End…nothing of Dickens can be found except a sign…there is no centre stocked with things on Dickens….his original birthplace address is as dull as it sounds in a pokey little area and nothing much to look at…..the Mary Rose exhibits are overcharged as people see water running down over unrecognisable bits of rotting timber through glass panels…..expecting the visitor to imagine much more than what is shown.  The Galleon of Trafalgar looks more like a plastic set up with fibre-glass construction meant to imitate wood….and the Spinnaker Tower is pathetic and most unimpressive as one looks up at it…most of it was hype…..and the Gun Wharf is a tourist trap meant to fleece the visitor out of as much cash as possible….and the small museum tea room at the Naval display more or less gives the game away….all in all Portsmouth has very little of interest to offer except parking tickets, football louts and yobs who spit on pavements and use ‘ F ‘ and ‘ C ‘ in almost every sentence……..of course, if you are attracted to lying, fiddling, incompetent council staff and boozy football fans, then this is the place for you.

‘ COUNCIL ON THE BRINK OF COLLAPSE ‘

SOUTHSEA TOWN COUNCIL have been experiencing difficulties and look to closure after years of political arguments.  Suggestions of Portsmouth City Council riding rough shod over Southsea were made by Councillor Symes.  The people are being invited into a public consultation on whether the council should continue.

‘ Portsmouth Medical Services suspends Paramedic Involved with boy ‘

The City’s Medical Services suspended Paramedic David Oliver after finding that he had been engaged in sending sexually motivated conversions to a fifteen year old boy (online) on a social networking site. The case came to the attention of the Health Professions Council in 2010, and they sacked Mr Oliver.

‘ Registered Social worker with Portsmouth Council was sex offender ‘

DESPITE their claims of vetting, Portsmouth council approved sex offender Mudassar Khan  who had over 6,000 indecent images of children…… he pleaded guilty to 17 charges at Winchester Crown Court, where he was jailed for a period of 2 years and 8 months.  It was later revealed that two police forces in the UK knew about him and even America’s FBI had him on their radar.

‘Portsmouth City Council publish confidential data of citizens’

PORTSMOUTH YET AGAIN, a spokesperson said this was ‘accidental’ and an ‘error’ was to blame for this happening on a website.  It took the council fifteen hours to take down the massive amount of information released in February.  ‘It was a breach’ they admitted, ‘but it will only affect a few’ said the spokesperson, assuming that not many looked at the site in question1

‘ COUNCIL TARGETS DRIVERS AND PARKING ‘

FAREHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL came under attack for fleecing the motorist because of the huge profit they were making from the beleaguered motorist.  It collected in one scoop, £48,285 in fines, with more due.  Portsmouth Council pockets more than a £1 million a year doing the same thing.  Fareham came under attack later when they were taken to court over speed cameras and a court found they had acted illegally and were required to pay compensation to many drivers.

‘Council and foster care blamed over child’s death ‘

PORTSMOUTH COUNCIL and it’s Foster Care system was blamed for the untimely death of toddler Anna Hider by her mother. Due to several circumstances the child was placed with more affluent adults by Portsmouth Council, but due to either a lack of care or otherwise, during a party at the new foster parents home, she made her way to the pool and was found drowned.  Anna’s mother says Portsmouth Council were culpable, and there were still questions to be answered over the incident.

NB: THE MAIL by coincidence uncovered details of how many councils are offered bonuses of up to £2million; over a three year period to meet adoption targets if they raise adoption rates by fifty-per-cent!

‘ Portsmouth Council pay Kinetic £500,000 ‘

New Council leader Donna Jones says that the payout of £500,000 to Kinetic was a result of the previous council administration who made many mistakes while they were in office.  Apparently £125,000 was already paid out as part of the settlement to Kinetic in 2010.  The award concerns the matter of a beach, rare birds etc, and a wrangle that has gone on for 9 years…..concerning a plan that never happened.

MORE THAN £1 MILLION HAS BEEN PAID TO EMPLOYEES BY PORTSMOUTH CITY COUNCIL TO PREVENT LEGAL ACTION — THE PAYOUTS COME IN THE FORM OF SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTS.

‘Unfair Parking fine issued by Portsmouth Council’

And not the first either, Patrick Barry got a £50 parking ticket because it said, he was two minutes in the parking area run by NCP, which runs a scheme whereby there is a ten minute limit for drivers, who must leave in that time.   Mr Barry said he was stuck behind other drivers, and he got out as soon as he could make it to the gates.  Yet, a month later he received a penalty notice demanding £50 for spending 12 minutes in the Car Park.  Luckily he had photographic evidence of the day, and the penalty was eventually cancelled.  Patrick Barry from Gosport, said the penalty was outrageous.  And so were the council who allowed this to happen…civil servants!

‘ HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL IN ALLOWANCES SECRECY ‘

An Independent Watchdog revealed that more than £4m in allowances were being claimed without having to account for the money spent.  Expenses were yet again being hyped for travel and other things needed for them to carry out their duties.  The arrogant councillors rubbished the report immediately.  Suggestions to reform the expenses system were said to be unpopular with those involved the Chairman Peter Humphrey’s said.

SALARIES KEPT SECRET – Hampshire Council leader says he is caught between trying to abide by the Freedom of Information Act while paying respect to the Data Protection Act.  Hampshire refused to answer a request for Information on Salaries under the Act when The Taxpayer’s Allowance applied for the information.  Policy analyst Ben Ferrugia said of Hampshire – ‘ Everyone else who  works in the public sector has to produce this information.  It just makes us wonder what it’s trying to hide.

‘HAMPSHIRE COUNCILLOR RESIGNS OVER COVER-UP’

SOUTHAMPTON CITY COUNCIL LEADER RICHARD WILLIAMS shocked fellow members at an extra-ordinary meeting called in connection with inquiry into the departure of Cabinet member Councillor Keith Morrell.  It was discovered that Williams persuaded Keith Morrell to pretend he was resigning on health grounds when in fact, it was over a disagreement of policy.  Williams abruptly resigned and told the Press it was for a number of reasons.

‘ HAMPSHIRE EURO MP IN FRAUD ‘

DISGRACED MP ASHLEY MOTE was found guilty and jailed over benefit fraud.  He was not required to pay back money to the Chichester District Council and the Department of Work and Pensions.  But he was ordered to pay back £67,000 he took out of the public purse.  He was convicted of 21 benefit offences, let out of jail early and went straight into a well paid job despite the conviction. He was allowed to keep his £60,000 Euro MP job?

‘ HAMPSHIRE COUNCIL FEATHERS ITS NEST VERY NICELY ‘

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL really did nicely for its headquarters when it came to furnishing it with quality fittings — they spent £12,000 on designer taps, £141,000 every year on bottled water and some £1.25 million on furniture —desks and chairs.  Renovations to the Headquarters cost around £40 million.  The taxpayer is so generous, but they never really know it.

‘Hampshire Council payout £800 damages’

AFTER BEING CHALLENGED SUCCESSFULLY, HAMPSHIRE COUNCIL PAID £800 to ratepayer Howard Floyd who took on the Highways Department and won.  He compiled a report making sure it was properly detailed over ‘pothole damage’ caused to a vehicle and lodged a claim for compensation.  He said most people don’t do this and the council’s get away with it, but I used the 2000 Freedom of Information Act and pursued them by using the information to make my case water-tight.  The County Council’s Legal team didn’t contest it and I was paid the compensation.  He received £825.26 in September 2012.

‘ Hampshire Council delayed invoice payments — just usual business? ‘

While others struggle to recover outstanding monies for goods and services supplied, we note that Hampshire Council’s new initiative is to put several departments together, for simplifying procedures….which in turn caused an increase in delays to people being paid and invoices being put on the back burner….which included the police, and The Police Federation said their members have overwhelmed them with complaints.  A council boss more or less said this was inevitable really because with any new system the dust has to settle!  strangely on the opposite side of the spectrum, the public are never allowed to delay payments to the council without those threats of legal action from their power mad lawyers.

‘Havant Councillor in vote-rigging is jailed ‘

In 2002 RAY RACE a councillor with Havant Council was arrested and charged in connection with vote rigging — fixing ballot papers.  He was found guilty and sentenced to four months in prison.  He was subsequently arrested a year later for threatening a witness who appeared for the prosecution at his trial and helped convict him.

‘ COUNCIL SLAMMED OVER PARKING CONTRACTOR ‘

HAVANT COUNCIL was criticised over the behaviour of Alan Page  described as a villain, who holds a contract to pursue motorists in the district.  Page’s henchman Chris March is said to engage in criminal activities by many of the victims.  Havant Council seemed unworried about this and would not comment on the way this contractor threatens and bullies the motorist.  They are obviously happy with his methods and those probably reflect their own.

‘ Hampshire County Council no insurance contingency ‘

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL faced a huge payout of up to £12million after its fire brigade was sued for tackling a blaze.  The brigade turned off a sprinkler system which could have minimized the damage at Capital and Counties Plc.  The giant digital computer firm took the council to court seeking the payout.  Hampshire County Council which funds the fire brigade admitted they had no insurance to pay compensation.  It estimated its liability was up to £5m and were considering an appeal while legal representatives try to agree a figure.

‘ A Council where transparency is a word not to be taken seriously ‘

HAVANT COUNCIL is run by the Tories, you might think they would be open and accountable after the expenses scandal of 2009, but no, despite playing ‘we shall have transparency in government card’ they actually dismiss it as being of no consequence.  Tory councillor Tony Biggs agreed to having the public barred at a meeting with Capita and for the session to be in private.  There was no sensitive information to be discussed said Mr.Hart – leader of the Havant Labour Party, so why the secrecy? because they have learnt nothing from being caught in the corruption fraud.  They intend to go on doing business as they did before the scandal.

The meeting concerned £50m on public services in the hands of Capita, public money, held in secret?

‘ Hampshire  County Council in ‘Clerical Error? ‘

THE OLD ‘ERROR’ STANDBY EXCUSE — An ‘error’ which upset 150 home-owners who received letters from the council telling them their homes were to be torn down by a bulldozer actually caused alarm…..but Councillor Sean Woodward played the whole thing down saying ‘ letters should have only gone out to five landowners?  Little does he realise that Stubbington Residents are quite well aware of council doing exactly what they are going to say rightly or wrongly…….and 150 recipients of those letters are not in the slightest amused!

‘ Councillor is given a 2 year ban by colleagues ‘

GOSPORT COUNCILLOR PETER CHEGWIN was not amused when he found himself suspended and then banned for two years after being accused of failing to declare his interest.  The Councillor was involved with Wickham Festivals, a firm that was to provide services for a planned event.  Mr. Chegwin was the organiser, and other members said he should have declared certain facts, but did not do so at the time.

‘ Council staff failures create customer problems ‘

HAVANT COUNCIL send out forms that immediately fail on return dates deliberately to cause the claimant problems.  A form was sent to a council tax payer dated the 17th of June, it arrived 22 days later on the 9th of July, and stated that in order to avoid delays or the removal of a single occupancy discount the form must be returned within 14 days?  Even if the customer sends back the form the same day they are 8 days overdue, and this could spark off the difficulties that the customer should not have.  This problem is either deliberate or just one more inefficient error of a civil servant — they cannot have it both ways.

‘Gosport Council Accountant in Fraud goes to jail ‘

CONWAY WARNER was found guilty of perpetrating 17 fraudulent transactions netting in public cash of around £307,000 in just a nine-month period.  It was said that he took this to feed his gambling habit, and was only discovered when he took early redundancy.  It was also said that he attempted to put the blame on a colleague to avoid being nabbed.  He was sentenced to two and a half years in jail for the sophisticated fraud scheme.

‘ FORMER HAVANT COUNCILLOR BEHIND BARS AGAIN ‘

FORMER HAVANT COUNCILLOR CHRISTOPHER MINCHAM is in jail for a second time.  The disgraced Havant Councillor was jailed in 2004 and now again in March 2009.  His chequered History includes bankruptcy owing the council thousands, guilty of a swindle, two people burned to death in one of his properties, Illegal dumping, another bankruptcy, a row over benefits and numerous breaches of council orders.  He was thrown off the council in Havant.

During the beginning of the millennium, Havant was also rocked by a story of councillors vote rigging.

It is also worth mentioning that Havant’s Solicitor Nicholas Bennett claimed that there was no corruption in Havant Borough Council?   1 in 4 councils have corruption see (councils cover up their own fiddles).

Would he tell anyone if there was?     NO.

‘ Hampshire Member of Parliament rapped over non declarations ‘

DAVID WILLETTS MP told the Electoral Commission that the£45,000 in donations which were not declared was a mistake.  He received five donations between May 5th and September the 28th in 2007.  The Hampshire Havant MP was reprimanded for not following the rules.

As this article went into production, David Willetts was yet again in trouble for another non disclosure (20/6/09) and maintained it was another mistake.

‘ Council tax rebate Scam ‘

We come across many cases of council staff messing up tax rebates that have been claimed by people sending in the annual bill in one lump sum, then having to claim two or three months overpaid.  HAVANT BOROUGH COUNCIL features here as one council that abuses this (though there are many others).  A claimant who mailed us said they paid the whole bill and left before the year were owed two months.  The council then went onto ignore the claimant as if they did not exist.  One can easily see that by ignoring the claim they the council, benefit from not paying a rebate out.  But when they overpay, it’s straight to their council legal department and lawyer with intentions to put that person before the court.  Council solicitors are a murky lot, and as we have already seen in the bent lawyers section -FEATURED LAWYERS – are ready to threaten and bully ordinary people whenever they feel like it.  They often have an understanding with certain district judges and come out on top – and who is surprised at that?  The council knows the claimant will eventually get tired of phoning or writing for that matter and quit.  We know for a fact that councils like Bournemouth, Chichester and Arun act similar when having claims for rebates lodged by claimants seeking money.

‘  HAMPSHIRE COUNCILLOR IS SUSPENDED ‘

COUNCILLOR ANDY SUTTON on the Isle of Wight was given a six month suspension for irregular activities regarding planning regulations, he was said to have been involved with four un-named individuals.

‘ Hampshire Councillor Arrested ‘

ISLE OF WIGHT COUNCILLOR DAVID WHITTAKER spoke out over the ‘toilets arrest’ by officers. He was charged with the offence of sexual activity in a public lavatory, and was due to appear before Isle of Wight magistrates in late August. He denies the charge.

‘Gosport Councillor arrest’

PORTSMOUTH – GOSPORT COUNCILLOR NEIL REDRUP had his computer seized by Hampshire Police in 2007 when they raided his home.  Details were not forthcoming from either the council or police, and the only information available was that he had set-up cameras to spy on lodgers.  He was given bail.

‘ Council  look other way as their bailiffs harass Romsey Woman’

SOUTHAMPTON CITY COUNCIL – HAMPSHIRE just sat by as Rhia a resident in Romsey was being hounded by threatening bailiffs over a debt she had already paid.  They were asking her for £500 and made four visits to her house.   She tried to tell them that she had already paid the prior debt to the council of £646 – 50….but this did not put them off making further visits that amount to harassment.  The Southampton City Council later admitted that they had made an ‘error’ in this case, and said that the behaviour of the bailiff firm was not acceptable and that they would do something about?………the council were the ones who set this action in motion!

‘ How many council vans are needed to deliver info to one crescent?’

HAVANT BOROUGH COUNCIL used three vans, three people and spent over one hour in a single crescent delivering info on waste disposal.  Most of the time was spent chatting by these officials.  One arrived using the flashing light as if he thought he was a cop.  The building is multi occupational, but only a few hundred yards long.  How much did this cost, — we will never know?  One thing we do know is — most of what they delivered will be thrown away in their own bins.   Crescent inhabitants have no time for the council or abide by any of their rules, and the council have known this for years.

 Conditions at Portsmouth Removal Centre not improved for vulnerable detainees ‘

A REPORT BY THE H.M. PRISONS INSPECTORATE said there had been a lack of investment in the Immigration Centre which had left it with some of the worst accommodation in the Immigration Estate.  It was also a fact that none of the recommendations on immigrant casework had been achieved — in one case they did not respond promptly to new evidence to support a young person’s age dispute case — who was subsequently found to be a child — which meant the boy had been detained unlawfully at the Removal Centre…as it was inappropriate to have a child of his age remanded their.

‘HAMPSHIRE — The Andover Workhouse Scandal of 1845 ‘

ANDOVER in Hampshire may now be passed-off as a pleasant little town, but this was not always the case, it like many others had a dark secret hopefully consigned to History.  There was a workhouse, infamous for beatings, brutality and starvation of its inmates — yes inmates, because it had a regime like that of a prison, and it treated men, women and children as if they were sentenced to punishment.  The abuses were many and very distasteful throughout its history, and its reputation resembled a Dickens Novel.  As with times of today, the elders of the parish and town council tried to conceal what was going on, but luckily, John Walter a journalist with the Times exposed the scandal of this place to the nation and brought it down.

‘ Hampshire — 230 arrested in child porn raids ‘

DURING 2011- 2012 THE POLICE MADE 230 ARRESTS IN HAMPSHIRE in relation to searches for people having connections with child porn sites and the storing of indecent images.  Many of those arrested were downloading and exchanging photos with others besides those making the indecent child images for trade.  It was said by the NSPCC that the sheer quantity of images are staggering and increasing month by month….one man in Hampshire had more than 11,000 images on his pc; he was arrested for possessing and making indecent images of children….and a Portsmouth Judge was forced to resign over having indecent images (see Rotten Judiciary).

Considering there are more than twenty counties…..there could be more than 4,600 people regularly accessing child porn, making it, and distributing it on the Internet…..at any one time…..and this is just a conservative figure based on the Hampshire arrests.

‘ Hampshire County Council in Child Abuse Scandal ‘

VICTIMS of a home run by the council in the 1970’s have embarked on suing the council to gain closure on the suffering they went through and have been left with over a long period of years.  A Report says that up to 16 members of staff are being accused of carrying out the abuse in the ‘Historical Case’ — The council remained quiet on this just saying that they couldn’t comment while legal proceedings were taking place.

‘ Winchester Council Leader breaks the law ‘

A judge condemned council leader Robert Humby for breaking the law over a Shopping Centre which would cost £165 million.  Campaigners had denounced the plan as ruining the city and its present standing.  Development plans are now being considered by Communities Secretary Eric Pickles who may ‘Call them in’  In the meantime Robert Humby has resigned in the light of the judge, Dame Beverly Lang, ruling that procurement rules had been breached.  This all came after the council appointed developers Henderson to go ahead at the Silver Hill site with significant changes on the original plans without putting it back out for tender.  Although Humby stands by his decision which he says was taken with ‘external legal advice’ he will abide by the decision of the Judicial Review.

‘ Southampton Council neglect family feelings ‘

A family from Southampton were staggered and horrified to find a huge pile of gravel dumped on their family grave when they visited it to leave flowers.  It was only after the angry sisters complained that the council felt bothered enough to offer an apology…..they claimed the cemetery was running out of space and workmen had to put the gravel somewhere!

‘ Portsmouth Mayor in reputation downfall over Building Society Scandal ‘

HISTORY THE 1890’S — MAYOR JAMES MOODY – MAGISTRATE OF PORTSMOUTH.  Another historic situation that Portsmouth had to bear when a trusted and revered Mayor fell from grace.  Moody was well liked, a grocer from the Isle of Wight. All went well until he was linked with a financial scandal — Portsea Island Building Society.  He with others – Tom Scott Foster, Robert Barnes and Sir John Baker found themselves facing prosecution.  They were accused of accepting money under false pretences — they were charged with 76 offences and were due to appear at the Old Bailey in London, but Moody died before the date of the trial.  One man who was handling the office accounts etc, already pleaded guilty for his part in the scandal……Portsmouth’s past has not always been a rosy picture of accountability and honest living.

Now onto the neighbouring area of Bognor and West Sussex County Council, including Arun:

‘The Corruption that is Bognor Regis ‘

‘BUGGER BOGNOR’ became a phrase that had the council fuming in the early days, and they failed in attempts to get revenge on ‘Royalty’……and it could be very apt today.  The coastal town is rife with corruption, increasing crime…. apart from it being very tatty.  The Arun Council along with West Sussex County Council will go to any lengths to cover up scandals and wrongdoing.  The town can only be described as ‘manned’ by ‘pay-packet’ civil servants’ who embrace the corrupt practices, and make sure the public do not become aware of the fiddles such as ‘expenses’ and ‘dodgy payments made to contract applications’ that they claim were arrived at by ‘fair’ means??  And how do they get away with it?…..often this is taken care of by the Legal Department and bent lawyers, some of whom have hidden past indiscretions that have been ‘whitewashed’ by the SRA and SDT….we once exposed a lawyer for a council (Michael Smith) who threatened a pensioner saying that he was not to talk to the Press or us about the payout they’d made…..and he was the ‘big shot Council Lawyer’ (we have featured a few of these council solicitors in ‘The Featured Lawyers’ section)

and continuing with Bognor etc, let’s go  briefly to some more stuff.

Think Twice before Eating out in Bognor!

TASTY BITES RESTAURANT FAILS IN HYGIENE — Manager fined £2610-78 plus costs at Chichester Crown Court for contravening food safety standards in April 2013.

And if you have dental trouble and teeth playing up!

BOGNOR DENTAL TECHNICIAN WAS NOT REGISTERED — Clive Woods was illegally practising in dentistry at the Dental Surgery in Sudley Road, Bognor Regis…..He was fined £1,300 when he appeared at Worthing Magistrates.

And if you want to ask a policeman…be careful with your information!

BOGNOR COP Thomas Grant was arrested, suspended and charged with misuse of data…..using the police computer….he was charged with misconduct…. and found guilty (See full story in ‘Featured Cops’  Sussex).

And if you fancy a bit of rowdyism to spoil your holiday or visit?

BOGNOR BANS 19 YR OLD FOR ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOUR — Chichester Magistrates gave 19 year old Duncan McDonald a three year ban from the town centre after he was charged by the council of unpleasant behaviour that caused a nuisance to residents.

LATE NIGHT FIGHT IN BOGNOR — Three people needed hospital treatment because of a fight that started outside McDonald’s Take-away Restaurant in the High Street adjacent to the promenade.  This was at 1 am in the morning between two groups of people.  It is said to have started over the hire of a taxi.

But that’s not all really, There is often shouting and drunkenness late at night, and there has been two murders and a suicide (man plunged from balcony in holiday hotel), a mini riot and punch-up at Butlins, plus old age pensioners growing marijuana…..and other delights we have yet not mentioned….at this ‘interesting’ seaside town….plus a seafront nightclub that has low turnouts….and noise complaints from the elderly neighbours.

TWO BOGNOR COUNCILLORS RESIGN — Conservative members Cunard and Daniells left the Bognor council in a situation ‘hung balance’ causing a stalemate for the beleaguered council…. interestingly, Cunard said he could work better ‘Away from the group’s political influence’…..which tells you something else!

COUNCIL ELBOWS RESPONSIBILITY — Bognor homeless has now become the responsibility of Charity Workers at a new shelter.  Described as one of the most deprived areas of West Sussex, the council shifted its care in the community conveniently to the charity at Glenlogie House….. (that’ll save them a bit of money eh?)

BOGNOR POLICE HIT OUT AT POLISH INFLUX IN TOWN — Local Police complained about the council allowing Eastern European Polish Prisoners being urged to begin their new life in Bognor Regis. (Daily Mail Rant)

‘ Bognor Regis Parking ticket enforcement scam ‘

NOT EXCLUSIVELY BOGNOR, but Arun and West Sussex County Council — It seems like they are filling their cash boxes with money from parking and traffic enforcement fines in order to balance the books and ‘cover-up’ decisions involving money lost on schemes they don’t want the folk to know.  The RAC recently published a report saying that councils were involved in an ‘unacceptable mass-ticketing culture’ pulling in £600 million, thanks to the issuing of penalty notices and parking…… obtained only by applying for this material via a Freedom of Information request under the Act.         These councils such as Bognor Regis, Arun and West Sussex (and Hampshire) operate in the same way as the dreaded ‘Clampers’ using the same ideals and methods……..some enforcement officers have been filmed ‘fixing situations’ as a YouTube video showed in 2012 – ‘The Snow Incident’….. in another investigation BBW….it was revealed that some of these enforcement officers have criminal and civil court records….. ‘supposedly missed’ in ‘error’…..which quite frankly is a load of bull!

‘ Bognor Councillor caught Drink-Driving ‘

BERSTED, BOGNOR, ARUN and WEST SUSSEX COUNCILLOR Simon McDougall was arrested by police after they stopped his car in Aldwick Road.  The Councillor appeared before Chichester Magistrates where he was given a year driving ban.

‘ West Sussex in Blunders Scandal ‘

COUNCILS WEST SUSSEX COUNTY COUNCIL, BRIGHTON AND HAMPSHIRE have all been named in a Freedom of Information report on the BBC News Website as committing costly mistakes to their townsfolk…. the item referred to ‘Mast Approvals’ when companies putting up masts applied for permission….. despite also having contenders to this who raised objections.  It was found that councils actually let the matter run out of time, which meant the permission was ‘automatic by default’….. and this happened on 68 occasions!    Action Group member Charmaine Depres said ‘ I was not surprised to hear about the blunders, the council officers are a law unto themselves — they work for us! they are paid to do a job, yet they are not doing it properly’

 West Sussex Councillors in Expenses Furore ‘

THEY WANT MORE?  In the face of poverty and austerity to those around them, West Sussex County Councillors decided to increase their allowances….. in a time when the council are facing £140 million of cuts to services in the area they pretend to care about!  Despite local protests by people who came out to oppose this, the council Conservative Bob Lanzer thought the recommendations for a rise was ‘sound judgement’ claiming to exercise the principles we believe in?

WEST SUSSEX MP’s  GET ANGRY ABOUT THE ARGUS DIGGING INTO EXPENSES CLAIMS….. as the Daily Telegraph carry on their relentless exposure on MP’s fiddling their expenses.

‘West Sussex and Arun Council Intransigence born out of greed and ‘jobsworth ‘

ARUN DISTRICT COUNCIL (and West Sussex County) exercised their authority on Bognor when they threatened to evict Ice Cream Trader, Alex Miller, because he served ice cream cones with a chocolate flake.  They claimed (amid all the important things to do) that this action broke the terms of his lease.  Arun council went into the issue of ‘Concessions’ (which they mostly give to themselves or friends) and pretended they were acting fairly?

‘ Councillor accuses West Sussex County Council of Cover-Up ‘

The call for a debate on the £1.2 million cuts to the Youth Service was ‘blocked’ by Peter Evans, the West Sussex County Council cabinet member for youth, who ‘forced through’ the decision to penalise the County’s Youth.  The Council Select Committee refused to consider further discussion on the matter.  Councillor Jones went as far as to accuse West Sussex County Council of ‘A Cover-Up’  – when he said ‘the refusal to allow councillors the right to challenge this further, is in my view a ‘shabby cover-up’.  This decision didn’t take account of people’s needs, it was purely done for financial reasons.

‘ WEST SUSSEX COUNCILLOR IN INDECENCY TRIAL QUITS ‘

WORTHING BOROUGH COUNCILLOR MARK McCARTHY appeared at Oxford Crown Court on charges of sexually assaulting a child.  After four hours the jury acquitted him of the sex charges but upheld the offence of threatening to publish intimate pictures and making threatening phone calls with the intention of perverting the course of justice.   The Judge warned Mr. McCarthy of his drinking problem and said ‘ I do not propose to pass a custodial sentence.  I am concerned that you have to do something about your alcohol abuse.’

PS: What should not be missed here is that Mark McCarthy was found guilty of ‘witness intimidation and the intention to pervert the course of justice’   he was actually prepared to blackmail a witness in order they did not testify against him…….it is a strange thing for an ‘innocent man’ to do?

‘ More on West Sussex and Arun Councils ‘

ARUN COUNCIL IN FANTASY say village Action Group  as it becomes clear that Arun council plan on wasting taxpayers money to do mass house-building on an area of vulnerable flooding.

ARUN COUNCIL FAIL TO MAKE ADEQUATE EMPLOYMENT PROVISIONS for young people.  Councillor Paul Dendle made this statement…….sort of out of the horses mouth!

WEST SUSSEX COUNTY COUNCIL SUED — A Schoolboy won £3,215 for an injury at school when the case appeared in court, but West Sussex were having none of this…. they took it to appeal and found the right judge and overturned the decision…..which as one would say, its all about who you know and bearing the cost!

ARUN/WEST SUSSEX — AND THE TAXPAYER FUNDED CREDIT CARDS — Many local Authority Executives are enjoying treating themselves to first class rail travel and staying in 5 star accommodation according to a report by the Daily Telegraph (the ones that exposed MP’s Expenses).  The report highlighted the amount of public money being spent…… 186 councils were unable to account for more than £20,000 without receipts.  If this had been an individual in the public, they would have been probably charged with misappropriating money and false accounting…..one asks why this isn’t so here?

SUSSEX BRANDED AS HAVING THE WORST ROADS IN THE UK — A report has featured West Sussex as having failed in its maintenance of its road network throughout the area.   The Road Safety Foundation said that between Chichester and Petworth (going up to meet the A3 at Guildford) the roads were some of the most dangerous encountered by traffic, and that there had been several fatal crashes as a result….. and that these had increased by 16 percent in the 2007 to 2012 period.  Considering the Council really had a major influence in keeping the roads safe, they offered very little in the way of an explanation.

‘ The Arun Enigma and Draconian Views ‘

ARUN once had Chief Executive Ian Sumnall….until 2011.  He helped the affluent retired residents repel visitors which other seaside destinations welcomed….. but Arun was into ‘No this, and No that’  the rich who swayed the council decision makers didn’t want cyclists everywhere running amok, kite-boarding, no dingy sailing etc, and this was enforced by Sea Front Police Officers who took on the task of quickly and painfully stamping out such ‘unlawful activity’…. after all, it was a by-law, and these tourist types had to fall in line!   Sumnall was earning something in the region of £115,000 with Arun District Council.  Then came along the replacement, one Nigel Lynn, with a new vision so it seemed, until he got together with Councillor Dendle who some in the district say conspired to close The Windmill Cinema without seeking any public consultation!…….it was interesting also to read that the district is run down and badly in need of redoing, and that the visitor input has fallen?

‘ Disgraceful Court Action by West Sussex County Council says Judge ‘

Lord Justice Thomas said the case of Pet ambulance owner Derrick Spooner wrongly suspected of breaking licensing laws ‘Should never have been taken to court by the council’    Mr Spooner 72, provided a voluntary service for other elderly people and their pets in Angmering, West Sussex.  He only charged a small fee to cover himself and donated most of it to Charities,  Yet ARUN DISTRICT COUNCIL tried to prosecute him (with their trusty solicitors department) claiming loudly that he was not licensed (Council Officials decided this…staff).  Worthing Magistrates threw out the case when it was brought to them,,,, but in spite of this, the council could not bear to be seen losing, so they challenged the decision at the High Court…..running up a bill of £10,000  for the taxpayers!   The Judge added this comment ‘ A quite extraordinary way to spend public money’   During the hearing in which he turned down their appeal, he said that the council had pursued this case well above what could be seen as normal actions.

PS.  a Council Spokesman tried to excuse this small-minded tenacity in pursuing the case to the High Court as being necessary?

‘ COUNCILLOR FINED OVER NON-COMPLIANCE ‘

A CHICHESTER DISTRICT COUNCILLOR West Sussex, Mary Green was fined £5,000 for failing to comply with an enforcement notice after failing to demolish a building that had not been granted planning permission.  It appears the councillor was at one time on the planning committee. Mr Green said of the council ‘ they say one thing and then change their minds, they should be held accountable for their decisions — nobody is scrutinizing their actions. 

‘Chichester Council ‘bullies’ hit out at Dementia Patients’

CIVIL SERVANTS at Chichester Council decided that the Parking and Transport needed their attention, so they chose SAMMY TRANSPORT which runs a special bus service for people suffering with Alzheimer’s and Dementia.  And the council targeted the bus with £50 parking tickets when they stopped for ‘just minutes’ to collect and pick up elderly patients bound for the hospital or taking them home.  Mr Collins who runs the Charity said this could lead to him having to close the service if it continued.  And they only do two trips a day, and use every consideration when they park to pick up or drop off.  The England and Wales Tribunal Parking Service , an Independent Body, advised the council that every ticket issued should be rescinded, BUT CHICHESTER DISTRICT COUNCIL HAVE SO FAR REFUSED, They have decided not to comply, even though we told them this is unfair.

‘ Public Incident involving Councillor who accuses council of secrecy ‘

COUNCILLOR DAVID HOPSON of the West Wittering Council in Sussex accused the council of secrecy and legal malpractice.  He said ‘ They are trying to shut me up and it’s been going on for some time. I will continue to say the way in which the parish council proceeds through its working parties is unlawful’   His resignation which he wished to have cancelled was turned down and the council at the meeting declared him ‘resigned’ and said he was obstructing the meeting. 

What we have here is either a councillor out of sync or a councillor who is being a ‘whistleblower’ and the forces of corruption in the civil service are at work again to suppress the incident and defeat their enemy in any way they can — and this is not unheard of if you have read the many cases on this site.

‘ West Sussex County Council does have a ‘maladministration’ judgement against it’

A MALADMINISTRATION DECISION rather hidden away in a report on the Web — It is featured in a case called ‘A mistake in West Sussex County Council’s School Admissions’ which had a knock-on effect that initially denied a child a Primary School place.  A woman ‘un-named’ complained  that her son was refused a place at his local Primary School, even though he was at the top of the list because of a ‘mistake’ (more of that error and mistake nonsense council’s get away with) made in admitting another child.   The Case (4th March 2009) was heard and considered by Local Government Ombudsman Tony Redmond, who found the council had caused an injustice through maladministration, but did not recommend any remedy because the situation resolved itself during the investigation.

PS: Most councils do have maladministration cases against them, but many keep this information secret.

‘ Council to be sued by girl ‘

WEST SUSSEX COUNTY COUNCIL are being sued by teenager Natasha Caley-Winborne over an accident she suffered when she was 6 yrs old. It states that she fell in her school playground and hit her head after tripping on uneven grass at Ardingly, East Sussex. She went on to experience personality disorders which makes it difficult to sustain relationships with people. The writ issued claims £100,000 in damages for pain and injury, she has legal representation with Neurological Lawyers Osborne Morris and Morgan.

‘ West Sussex Chichester Councillor resigns over racist remarks ‘

WEST SUSSEX CHICHESTER COUNCILLOR John Cherry resigned after he had made remarks considered racist in an article in The Sunday Mail.  He said that ‘Pakistani children would fail to rise to the top and that ‘certain’ nationalities were uncertain when it came to doing hard work’  The Police were brought in when complaints were made…. and of all forces, The Sussex Police are investigating?

‘ West Sussex County Council tries to lessen court damages at Appeal’

THE JUDGE SAID THEY WERE GUILTY OF A BREACH OF CARE yet the West Sussex County Council went ahead with an appeal to get out of paying the full amount of damages.  Sarah C Russell sued West Sussex County Council’s Traffic and Highways Authority after an accident when she lost control of the vehicle due to improperly maintained road verges.  The Judge said the council breached the 1980 Highways Act and had a duty of care to make sure the Highway and verge was inspected and maintained.  At the Appeal, he said the Authority had failed to establish a defence in their appeal to reduce damages.

‘ West Sussex County Council in funding Rows ‘

WE LOOK AT TWO ROWS:  ROW 1 — ‘The theatre funding bias’  Crawley hit out at West Sussex County Council and its only funding of The Chichester Festival Theatre since 2001…..apparently the local authority have given in the region of £2.6 million to it.  Brenda Smith a councillor for Crawley said ‘the funding should be distributed to theatres across the county, not just one’  She was making a case for Crawley’s theatre The Hawth, who were left out again.   ROW 2 —  ‘The Council’s deal with Amazon’   David Hide, Chairman of Horsham Labour Party said — ‘Many of our members are upset by this innovation, and I cannot understand why a public body like a library funded out of taxation, should think its okay to bolster the profits of a multi-national company — the very same company that deems it inappropriate to pay its fair share of taxes’

‘ West Sussex County council spends £100,000 on silly adverts ‘

Considered one of the most ridiculous campaigns, West Sussex Council which is facing £79 million of budget cuts, spent £100,000 on 92 You-Tube videos on how to wash your hands? — a scheme slated by taxpayers who heard about it.  An opposition councillor said ‘it was hardly viewed at all, and certainly not much by people in the West Sussex Area. Spending money on ‘Patronising videos’ by a council that is cash-strapped beggars belief’

‘ West Sussex Council staff on leave over stress ‘

A report says 88 civil servants who work at West Sussex County Council took 905 days off for stress. Many claimants who look for their help have stress, but they get nothing, not even sympathy. One wonders why they claim this excuse of twaddle when they are compensated for this sick leave very well. They have a nice fat rich union who look after them. They cite worrying over job cuts as the main reason, those who have no jobs often get the worst service from this lot.

‘ £250,000 Payout for council man who gets new job ‘

A HIGHLY PAID WEST SUSSEX COUNCIL CHIEF got £250,000 in redundancy pay, and then went on to get a new job with a six-figure remuneration.  MARK HAMMOND is now getting £130,000 a year at the Human Rights Commission. This man was with the above ‘stress council ‘ West Sussex County Council. It certainly seems good when you walk away from one job, grab a big handout, and then walk straight into another nice little earner. Further news on this says it was worth £400,000, and that his leaving was over a row he had with Council Leader Louise Goldsmith?

‘   West Sussex County Council in Secret Payouts ‘

GAGGING ORDERS — known as contracts that prevent issues being known to the public.  These so-called ‘confidentiality clause’ are written contracts designed to suppress sensitive information that the public might find offensive….. in that the payouts could well be over tens of thousands of pounds of taxpayers money.  A Report says that West Sussex County Council  engaged in 55 gagging orders with staff since 2005, and that could add up to a lot of public money…..the exact total paid out will never be known because of the confidentiality clause in the deals.  Campaigner for Transparency Paul Cardin said ‘ They should not be seen using public funds to conceal sensitive issues or potential malpractice beneath a veil of secrecy’

BRIGHTON COUNCIL ISSUED 123 GAGGING ORDERS SO THAT COURT ACTION COULD BE AVOIDED!

‘ West Sussex Councillor uses police to suppress public challenge ‘

WEST SUSSEX, HORSHAM DISTRICT COUNCILLOR Philip Circus called in the police when a member of the public at the meeting, Dr Geoffrey Richardson refused to back down when speaker and councillor Claire Vickers refused to answer a question on housing that he had put to her.  He repeated it, but was ignored, and Philip Circus intervened, threatening him with the police…. Dr Richardson objected to Circus acting as a ‘shield’ to Vickers and they exchanged words…..Dr Richardson rightly pointed out to Circus that ‘ We pay you to be where you are’……and in true council style the police were called to eject Dr Richardson.

‘ District Council Reneges on Promise ‘

HORSHAM DISTRICT COUNCIL made a promise they could not keep, and simply tossed away any moral values they may have claimed.  They made a promise to the Horsham Indoor Bowls Club, but went back on the decision to re-house the  indoor bowls facility within a new leisure centre.  The 400 member strong club feel let down especially as it pays the council £50,000 a year for using the facility.   Tony Male, the Men’s Captain said the club helped the local area and gave the disabled and other groups something that was needed, but Horsham Council led by Mr Chowen don’t seem to be bothered about that and merely pushed these factors to one side.

‘ West Sussex Council run roughshod over Protestor’s rights ‘

WEST SUSSEX COUNTY COUNCIL were told by the Judge that the council had not taken the Protestors rights of freedom of expression and assembly into account when making their initial application to evict the fracking protest members, and adjourned the proceedings.  He also had to remind the council that it would be courteous to discuss and consult with protestors!

PS Councils like West Sussex show very little regard for outside points of view, and think their own as law!

‘Two Councillors accused of Misconduct ‘

WEST SUSSEX COUNTY COUNCIL District — LANSING DISTRICT PARISH COUNCILLOR Sid Hilsum has made a formal complaint about the conduct of two other councillors – of Adur District Council, Keith Doliemore and Pat Beresford.  Mr Hilsum says they made a personal attack on him following an altercation at a Committee Meeting.  It was a vicious verbal attack he said, and he was amazed that two other councillors could speak to another councillor in such a belligerent and offensive manner.

‘ Horsham District Council in Data Blunder ‘

WEST SUSSEX — HORSHAM DISTRICT COUNCIL released ‘sensitive’ staff data in an e-mail, after Roger Gill wanted to know why he had not received a response to a complaint he had made about the refuse lorries reversing into his lane.  In an e-mail exchange with staff at Horsham District Council he was sent data which breached the data protection Act 1998.  More embarrassingly, Mr Gill is a ‘civil servant’ too, and he said ‘ it’s just not good enough, it’s sloppy and embarrassing….. they just hoped the problem would go away.   No staff member or the council were charged under the Act, nor was anyone disciplined… according to Mr Gill.

‘ Hove City Council Manager in Drugs Supply Case with Cop ‘

DARREN SIMPSON a Council Manager at Hove in Sussex was arrested with Cop Boyfriend P.C. GRAYSMARK for moneylaundering. Simpson was stopped in a vehicle check on the A23 out of Brighton, and a cocaine haul valued at £148,000 was found in the car. Simpson was charged with having drugs, and intent to supply.  He was found guilty at a court hearing and is awaiting sentence with two other men.  The case against the disgraced Detective Constable can be fully read on the ‘featured cops page — Sussex Police ‘

‘ West Sussex Council is sued, and pays out £169,000 ‘

£169,000 was paid out in compensation at an Employment Tribunal Court — to an employee who they considered guilty of sexual harassment in the case AUSTIN Vs WEST SUSSEX COUNTY COUNCIL.  (the woman involved said there was no sexual content when asked).  The claimant Mr Austin resigned because of the way the council behaved and conducted the situation.  The tribunal found there were serious flaws in the council’s disciplinary process…. such as the defendant’s rights in that the council refused him access to information, and that he was actually suspended by telephone.  The Council internal Disciplinary hearing also went ahead in his absence while he was ill.  The Court also said there was sufficient evidence to suggest the council pre-judged the outcome from an early stage.    (Case: 3102059/ 2012)

NB: The court held the view that West Sussex County Council acted ‘High minded’ and without due consideration for the accused.  One must question their Legal department who supported the action and the staff who helped the managers to ride roughshod over a fellow employee’s rights to a fair hearing.

‘ West Sussex Council Mishandled Care Costs ‘

THE LOCAL OMBUDSMAN Dr Jane Martin criticised West Sussex County Council in its handling of an elderly woman and her care costs.  She found that the council ‘did not’ follow government guidance, and took up to 18 months to find out that what interest she had in her property had little value.  The Ombudsman said that the actions of the council were hesitant in making decisions which caused ‘significant stress’ which could have been avoided.  They could have also held back on its legal action which was later retracted!  She said, had the council conducted proper discussions with clear explanations, the matter could have been resolved swiftly, which could have also avoided the woman having to seek legal advice.

‘ Sussex Council’s blunder passed onto taxpayers ‘

Around 500 elderly and disabled residents in the West Sussex area will be penalised as a result of a computer glitch in the council’s pc accounts. Many of whom are special needs and require all the help they can get are to suddenly receive bills of around £888 and in some cases £2000 because the system did not collect at the right time and led most of these people to think they had already paid. One Watchdog group called it disgraceful!!

‘ £60,000 for wrongful dismissal payout by Mid-Sussex Council ‘

MID-SUSSEX DISTRICT COUNCIL in 2009 paid out £66,000 in compensation to Mr Roger Mills of East Grinstead for wrongful dismissal.  He had a spotless 14 year record of work, yet found himself on the ‘wrong side’ of his boss Shaun Morley who it is stated, used taxpayers cash to hire private investigators to spy on him and ‘get something’ during a four month surveillance, ordered by Morley who sacked Mr Mills for ‘spending time at home’ during working hours.  Apparently, Morley didn’t know or look into the fact there was an arrangement allowing him to work from home agreed by the council.  The Judge Mary Stacey found the actions of Mr Morley unreasonable and disproportionate — and that any suspicions he had were whimsical.

Brighton and Hove Council Audit Boss Suspended ‘

West Sussex County Council – This is the strange case of Audit Exec IAN WITHERS who was suspended for alleged misconduct, and amazingly, this is the man who conducts investigations into fraud and wrongdoing in the local authority?  The report says that Mr Withers had not been seen since being suspended…yet adding more to the mystery of this.  The council said they couldn’t comment….. so nothing new there.   Ian Withers joined the council in 1997 and is reportedly earning around £50,000 a year.  Words of fraud are being bandied about in the direction of Mr Withers, which might indicate another reason to engage in foul play….reason being because this man is a sort of ‘Internal Affairs’ investigator.

An Insider revealed that during 2012/13 Mr Withers investigated 164 fraud referrals of suspected fraud irregularities…..resulting in a member of staff being dismissed for theft…. two more resigned whilst being investigated……and it goes onto mention one employee being dismissed for housing benefit fraud, who was later successfully prosecuted in the court system…….and obviously leaves us to wonder how many more there were that have been left out.

‘ Worthing Council fine Pensioner for error on Parking Permit ‘

WEST SUSSEX — WORTHING DISTRICT COUNCIL certainly have a way about them, and one that gives them no points in the ‘ Morality Department’.  77 year old Anita Willsmer of Goring entered a wrong digit of her registration in the wrong order when applying for a parking permit and on visiting her daughter in Westbourne Avenue, Worthing, found that an enforcement officer had stuck a £25 penalty notice on her car.  (Don’t get the impression that enforcement officers are human, they are ‘jobsworths’…they probably saw how near the number was to the car’s but chose to ignore it).  To make matters worse she also lost her appeal even though she explained it was an error that she failed to see on that day.

NB:: Amazingly, the council themselves can do ‘errors’ against the citizen, and they can get away with it time after time with no consequences (see ‘Hampshire County Council in Clerical Error’ case).

‘Worthing Council Officer is Dismissed for Gross Misconduct ‘

West Sussex County —  Worthing and Adur Councillor Cliff Harrison was removed from his job amid and following a disciplinary investigation by the council.  Because of ‘tight-lipped’ silence by the council it has become a mystery.  Harrison whose job earned him around £71,500 as the Executive Head of Technical Services was charged with gross misconduct……..yet offered no details to their constituents?

‘ West Sussex County Council in serious Data Breach ‘

CHILDREN’S DATA in fact, West Sussex County Council was named out of three when The Information Commissioners Office took action against them for Data Breaches.  He said that staff at these councils showed very little regard for the importance of protecting children’s personal information.  He furthermore said that staff were not properly trained on how to handle personal information.  It emerged that the West Sussex Authority had a Laptop computer stolen which contained unencrypted files on thousands of children, making it easily accessible.  He said that poor regard for data could put the children at risk, or anyone else’s.

NB:   No staff have been held accountable or mentioned, these people are shielded by the Authority.

‘ Sussex Councils and the ‘Pot Hole’ Payouts ‘

WEST SUSSEX COUNTY COUNCIL PAID OUT £195,044 in compensation to motorists who claimed against them for car damage caused by unfixed potholes in the road during 2012/2013.  Figures revealed showed that there had been 1412 claims launched by drivers over the failing state of repair work.  Neighbouring County, EAST SUSSEX COUNTY COUNCIL PAID OUT £99,883…..They had 1308 claims made against them in 2012/2013.  It was said that the potholes caused near-misses on the road as drivers often swerved to avoid the holes and damage to their suspension.  The average cost quoted to repair a pothole was quoted as £50.

PS: if you need to make a claim then contact:  potholes.co.uk website. and they will help with your claim.

‘ Council Squabble leads to dangerous cycle path ‘

WEST SUSSEX COUNTY COUNCIL and BURGESS HILL TOWN COUNCIL are at ‘loggerheads’ over a brand new cycle path, neither of them admit liability over lighting, so the cycle path has been in total darkness since it was made.  It cost the taxpayers thousands of pounds….the path on Queen Elizabeth Avenue links both councils. The two councils were said to have gone into this stalemate and the path remains without lighting…and no one had any idea when it would be resolved.

‘ West Sussex Councillors Accused ‘

A story that remains unchallenged on the Internet by Whistleblower David Joe Neilson, makes online claims that Sussex Councillors MP Norman Baker and MP Simon Kirby of Lewes District Council are covering up a fraud and drug dealing.  The former Candidate for the position of Police and Crime Commissioner made these allegations and cited the Sussex Police Force, saying that official documents kept from the public identified up to 50 cops in the Sussex Force of a cover-up in relation to the ‘Katrina Taylor Case’  He goes on to say that MP Simon Kirby was linked to corruption scandals and an accessory to witness intimidation involving fraud and a murder cover-up?

NB: It appears on searching further, that these accusations have not been fully answered, investigated or dealt with appropriately by the council or police……. and simply denying it does not provide the truth, or convince anyone that there is no substance to the allegations.

‘ The Chichester Council soak the motorist campaign ‘

CHICHESTER COUNCIL in league with WEST SUSSEX COUNTY COUNCIL   plotted for ages on a scheme to deprive visiting motorists of ‘free parking’ — and one day, they did it, they changed the signs and drew up new lines, preventing a huge number of parking customers from staying in and visiting the town (they call it a city!)  Now they can fleece the ‘chancers’ and force the others to pay fees in their already full car parks.  ‘Fines’ on the motorist is a common sport in such councils like Sussex and is spreading like a plague around the country.  They make huge and excessive amounts which are often used to ‘bolster’ failed schemes, and this extra cash helps them shore up the shortfalls in their accounts.  They ought to be looking into the behaviour of some of their own staff, especially in the Accounts Dept or Finance….. corruption lingers in many of these areas, and clever accounting can siphon off some good extra money.  Councils of course, deny this and just about anything…..wrongdoing is denied at every level in favour of the word ‘mistake and error’   Cover ups do happen in order to prevent public snooping.  Hitting the motorist for extra cash might be good sport, but it is these same councils that previously accused big outside superstores of ruining local traders, but they welcomed motorists and did not impose charges….so what do you expect if the council use anti-car campaigns…a loss of trade for shops…. caused by the council.

CHICHESTER COUNCIL TAKE £50 — A resident found that she had a ticket on her car outside her own house, and the ticket pointed out that two of her vehicle’s wheels were on the kerb, and fined her £50.  The area was a resident’s parking area and she felt safe on that, and only parked in this position because it is a narrow road and wanted to be a good citizen and allow enough room for vehicles to get by, and avoid damage to wing mirrors.

‘Arun District Council fails to learn from its ‘errors’

In a damning report 2017, the chairman of Barnham and Eastergate Parish Council criticised Arun Council saying that they were failing to learn from the mistakes, even though they repeatedly said they learned from any error they made.  This came as the parish councils were involved with a 400 -home bid at Fontwell, as well as a huge 3,000 home new settlement between the parishes, and David Philips, Barnham Parish Council lambasted Arun District Council as ‘Arrogant or Incompetent’ while neighbour Parish Chief Chris Allington likened the affair to a banking crisis.

‘ West Sussex County Council Round-up ‘

A GENERAL SCAN OF INFO — Sound Bites!

West Sussex County Council Children’s Home residents Sue Council for Neglect —- Former residents of a West Sussex County Council Children’s Home are suing the council, in fact two councils, because of what they suffered — years of sexual, physical and mental abuse.  (we tried to get to this case but it seems to have been suppressed and torn out of the diary….it has only one reference)

The following case could certainly have a bearing on the one above?

Child Protection is inadequate with West Sussex County Council — Inspectors from Ofsted found that West Sussex County Council were inadequate at safeguarding children from neglect and abuse….. two many cases had very significant delays in visiting vulnerable children…. and they were slow at completing assessments, (Dec 2010).

National Car Parks Sue Worthing Borough Council — NCP are suing the council for breach of contract, and have assessed their claim to be around £600,000.  This happened because Worthing announced plans to take back the running of car parks themselves — NCP have refused to comment….and it also appears Worthing Council were not pleased with their cut of the take (profits). especially as NCP prices had more than doubled.

Corruption Suggestions makes Councillors get nervous — Online Kempton ben dared to head his blog ‘Corruption at Brighton Council — an Update’  It began with Councillor Tony Janio who he says works for one of EDO’s partners proposing a motion condemning a planned lawful protest, whilst being with a firm that produces Military Equipment…. and that Thales has worked with EDO before (register of interests), and that Councillor Janio declared no such interest at the council meeting?  and suggested that it all looked a bit dodgy!

West Sussex Council and the £55 million cuts……a report says that many people were angry as the council meeting to discuss the cuts in the budget, and leaked suggestions point to the real possibility that it will be aimed at the elderly services, and they will face the worst of these cuts in 2014/15.

We shall be back with more later.

EAST SUSSEX and HASTINGS:

‘ Hastings Council lose case after bullying allotment owner ‘

THIS CASE DESCRIBED AS DAVID DEFEATING GOLIATH tells us how far a council will go to use might and £3,000 of public money to crush one individual…… who was in the right.  That man who won against them was Michael Rock who fought them for over two years when they tried to evict him.  What was his crime?  He grew some fruit trees, which at first they didn’t show much concern.  But one day, Michael received an eviction notice out of the blue, but he wouldn’t go….there was nothing in his contract to show he wasn’t allowed to grow these trees.  But they insisted they had the law on their side, and that’s when the bullying started and heavy hand tactics began to develop.  He challenged these orders and unfortunately met Judge Smith who allowed the council to do as they liked……this pleased the council who were now out to get Michael…. but that wasn’t the end, the case went to appeal and Circuit Judge Robin Bedford came to the conclusion that Judge Smith had ‘misdirected and mismanaged the case’  and said the Judge’s findings were ‘unsound’….Michael had finally won.

‘ Council in parking meter charges incident ‘

HASTINGS COUNCIL in Sussex forcibly prevented photos being taken by an irate motorist after he complained about excessive parking tariffs and excess add-ons.  he told us ‘ the civil servants have no intention of hearing a complaint, what they say goes, and they will not listen to reason’  The man apparently received an excess and huge charge despite the attendant being in a doorway some yards away from the meter.  The man went to complain in the council offices in the back area of the town in a grubby off road and council staff refused to see him and then objected forcibly to him brandishing a camera and taking pictures.

This certainly confirms the attitude of civil servants and the evidence gathered so far on this site.

‘ Former Councillor arrested ‘

HASTINGS BOROUGH COUNCILLOR Richard Vallery-Peters was arrested by police on suspicion of fraud by false representation.  The matter is said to be about the medals he was wearing and his entitlement to have and display them as being an accurate entitlement.  The report says that he was bailed by police.

‘ East Sussex County Council Gagging Orders ‘

EAST SUSSEX which takes in the council of HASTINGS issued 21 gagging orders, where they paid out unknown sums to staff who had a grievance.  The union claimed this was a good way of resolving issues, but made no comment of public concerns over secrecy and the payouts, he seemed to bypass this subject very rapidly.

‘ East Sussex and the ‘secretive case of the sex abuse school governor’

A REPORT revealed that the council actually knew of sex allegations and historic information for 14 months without doing anything…..in fact the school knew too…..there had been a CRB check that revealed that school governor priest Canon Gordon Rideout had a bit of an history.  He remained on the school board as chairman despite child sex abuse allegations being investigated for the period of 1965 to 1972.

‘Hastings Council’s Bailiff Bully Boys ‘

EAST SUSSEX -HASTINGS BOROUGH COUNCIL boasts of having used their bailiffs 7,000 times in 2013.  Hastings Spokesman Kevin Boorman didn’t consider this as poor or a bad thing, and defended their use of bailiffs.  He said they only go to bailiffs after the case has gone to court…….but we know that most of these cases submitted to the Magistrates are ‘on block’ without the defendant being there or even being aware that an action is in the court…. because the council do not inform them….most only know it when the bailiffs come or send one of those threatening letters, that council lawyers are familiar with and condone.

‘ East Sussex County Council — ‘Abuse of Power ‘

A SENIOR JUDGE IN 2008 said that East Sussex County Council were guilty of ‘Wholly unacceptable abuse of power’ for the act of rushing through the adoption of an 18 month child and blocking a legal challenge by the child’s natural father.  He accused the council of deliberately setting out to prevent any challenge to their authority by the father.   He said they had planned a strategy to suppress his rights and act beyond what the law intended under the Children’s Act….. which is designed to protect the child from acts of abuse.

‘ East Sussex County Council to take Pensioner to Court ‘

A CASE THAT ANGERED MANY TV WATCHERS — When in December 2014, East Sussex County Council made threats to take an 100yr old frail pensioner to court over care home fees.  The Violet Davies case shows just how rotten a council can be because she cannot afford the £9,000 nursing home fees.  Her son is 71, and not in good health, he tried to reason with the council which as we know on this site, is like hitting your head against a brick wall in frustration.  Staff at these councils are ‘Jobsworths’ who often turn their backs on fellow humans because their bosses and pay-packets require them to abandon morality.  Mr Davies 71, who is suffering from cancer says ‘they are just heartless’   The family at Seaford have tried in vain to get commonsense out of the council who keep saying ‘The information request has not been provided.’    Just try and get information out of them? and they more often than not ignore you or begin quoting data protection and have lawyers who ask why you want it and what are you going to use it for, in fact any attempt not to grant permission….and if they did you’d have to pay a fee…..yet they use customers data freely and sell it off without ever getting permission because they think they have a right to it granted by law.

We will come back with more on this lot later.

‘ The Scandal of two councils, one boy, and maladministration ‘

The Councils —  KENT COUNTY COUNCIL and  DOVER DISTRICT COUNCIL, two councils that showed total ignorance and a lack of care to a 16 year old boy, they didn’t even operate within the law, they thought that didn’t apply to them…… and let’s not forget, it was a large number of staff who were engaged in this… but never named or brought to book.  Kent County Council were found guilty of the serious charge of Maladministration ( a charge most councils deny and say they never have done?) they breached their duties under The Children’s Act 1989….but this one is on record….Dover District Council were found guilty of ‘a lack of care’ and breaking the Housing Act 1996.  Both councils were ordered to pay the victim £5,500 each and apologise.

The Ombudsman said that both councils actions were ‘inexcusable’……Dover District Council actually turned the boy away when he applied for housing!  ….. and this must have been staff, not managers….when someone walks into a council for help… they are met by staff, so let us have no lies on this one.  This case was dubbed in the news as ‘BOY FORCED TO LIVE IN A TENT’  and he did for ‘nine months’ because both councils did not properly assess his needs….they probably thought they didn’t have to!  and what did they care about this boy?… not a lot as it shows.  During his time in the tent he was subjected to having his property damaged, attacked etc, and in desperation he sold his personal possessions just to pay for nights out of the rain and threat of assault with friends etc, until it ran out. 

These councils go on about protecting children, but in practise do not deliver what they preach, but expect others to abide the law….. and come down on those who do not provide adequate protection for a child, and at times taking them out of their homes…. and into care…….but with this boy, they didn’t care at all!

‘ Heartless Council threaten terminally ill woman with court action over £14 ‘

CHILTERN DISTRICT COUNCIL sent Phillipa Madams a letter threatening her with court action to get the payment of £14…. they said was non-payment of council tax.  But, she had previously informed by that council that she didn’t owe anything.  Widow Phillipa Madams had just been diagnosed as terminally ill with cancer…. and felt she must pay it in order to get the worry and stress over.  It then transpired that the council were actually to blame for this because they had got ‘their calculations wrong’ with a previous bill meant to end her responsibility to this sickening council.  These civil servants (staff) didn’t get it right, and what’s more, they didn’t really mind putting her in court…..as with all council cases, no member of staff were held responsible?

‘Man commits suicide over ‘child support debt’

Another victim of civil servants, father of a son, Ian Sandywell, hanged himself after receiving a letter ordering him to pay £11,000 in back-dated child support for his grown-up son.  He became so distraught that he texted his 22 yr old son and told him to delete his father out of his life.  Hours later after the alarm was raised he was found dead in the garage.  The CHILD SUPPORT AGENCY even after such an horrific event sent a note to the man’s wife which said ‘ SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS, PLEASE ACCEPT THIS LETTER AS A CLAIM ON IAN SANDYWELL’S ESTATE FOR THE OUTSTANDING AMOUNT OF £9,000’  Apparently these callous civil servants made no comment, so remember them!

‘ Councillor’s tea break costs the taxpayer £7,000 ‘

TONBRIDGE WELLS BOROUGH COUNCILLOR SEAN HOLDEN left a meeting while in situ, and as a result of the hold-up to proceedings, an investigation into his disappearance cost over £7,371 and eight months to complete.  He had been reported to the council’s standards assessment sub-committee

‘Porn Club ‘Cover-up’ at the Council’

The Council — SHEFFIELD CITY COUNCIL — A revealed secret report exposed the sleazy goings-on as council bosses swapped hard porn images in town hall e-mails.  Roger Dodds who has now been jailed, who worked in the council until 1993 was involved in their private club which was conducted in the basement of the Education Department.  The report said Dodds  forced teenagers to engage in lewd sex acts  in return for education grants.  He was jailed for 16 months.  However, ‘All evidence of his activity was apparently destroyed?’  The police were unable to identify other staff at the council who took part in the club, which is very concerning said the police who said they were still looking for more and would investigate things further.

‘ COUNCIL PAYS OUT COMPENSATION OVER DISCRIMINATION CLAIM’

LAMBETH COUNCIL BOSS DEBORAH UGBECHIE’s  treatment of two workers amounted to racial and sexual discrimination.  The Council paid out four figure compensation amounts to Ian short and Mr.M.Monaghan the only two white persons present in a meeting.  They were excluded from many  meetings and given trivial tasks.  A tribunal accepted there was a deliberate policy by the black majority led by the council chief to trivialized the roles of the two whites. 

‘ COUNCIL DELAYS GRANTS TO CLAIMANTS ‘

Bristol City Council was found guilty of maladministration by the Ombudsman.  His report said that house improvement grants were being deliberately held back by council staff and officials. ‘ They have mishandled the scheme .  Ordinary people who have been waiting to do renovations to their run-down properties have suffered an injustice at the hands of people who should know their job.’  The council apparently did not know the difference between an application and an enquiry.

‘ COUNCIL BOSS GETS £100,000 PENSION FOR 7 YEAR STINT ‘

PETER GOULD of Northampton County Council received £291,000 in a lump sum, and a guaranteed pension of £100,000 a year.  He had been in the position of Chief Executive for only seven years before retiring.  The Public Sector pension deals were criticised by Ros Altmann a former treasury pensions advisor who said ‘ this is another vivid demonstration of how out of touch public sector pensions are.’

‘ Councils take on extra staff when the private sector is forced to lay off ‘

At a time when people in the private sector are losing their jobs and in some cases take less in pay, the town halls are taking on 10,00 pen pushers to bolster and support existing staff. 

‘Parish Council Chief has secret stash of 463 guns’

Assumed as a respectable pillar of society, JAMES ARNOLD, the Head councillor of Wyverstone Parish Council in Suffolk had a secret stash of weapons.  Behind a pantry wall of his house there was a secret room containing 117 rifles, 136 handguns, 88 shotguns, 38 machine guns and 24 assorted weapons and even a rocket launcher and other guns that were to be mended. Taken to Prison to await his trial, Arnold died of cancer.  The only reason the haul was found was because of his wife, and his connection to a firearms dealer, Anthony Buckland of Norfolk who was jailed for six years for committing fraud and selling prohibited guns.

‘ Council fined by court over safety breaches ‘

NEWHAM COUNCIL — ‘Caused the horrific burn injuries to teenager’ by neglect — The Court found the council guilty of a serious safety breach in which a 15yr old girl was severely injured in a fireball incident while on an organised outdoor activity.  The court said if basic precautions had been observed as a matter of importance then the accident would have been less likely to have occurred.  The council were fined £15,000 and ordered to pay costs of £17,246.

‘ Snooping councils make their own Data Protection Rules ‘

Nine in ten people being spied upon by councils are innocent according to findings that looked into the reported 10,333 times the legislation has been used.  Over 1,650 council staff were given authority to become a sort of secret police.  They were even allowed to see DVLA files of 270,000 motorists in a bid to trap people for ‘environmental crimes’   Peter Booth of ‘ No to ID ‘ said ‘ What we are seeing is powers which are brought in for one purpose being abused time and again for relatively minor offences.’

COMMENT: it’s amazing how council workers go on about not being able to give info because of Data Protection yet they abuse this rule themselves quite frequently as can be seen in files on dwpcorruption.co.uk.  The solicitor Nicholas Bennett likes you to think they abide by these rules too!! – he of the ‘ no corruption in my council ‘

‘ 7 Charges of Vote Rigging by Tory Activist in Council Elections ‘

JOHN HALL Chairman of the Whitely Conservatives found himself in Guildford Crown Court.  Claims of falsifying poll papers were alleged, but only four of the seven charges had merit.  Hall claimed that he had acted out of good faith and was only found guilty on four counts of using a false instrument  with intent. 

‘ COUNCIL THREATS IN ATTEMPT TO CONCEAL PAYOUT ‘

WALTHAM FOREST COUNCIL in London resorted to threats of intimidation and legal bullying to hide an out of court settlement of £2,000 to a pensioner accused of not paying owed council tax.  Chief Solicitor Michael Smith began bullying pensioner Mr. Aspin of Bognor Regis by saying he would withdraw the offer if it were mentioned to a third party.  This all came about when the council instructed bailiffs to collect council tax from the pensioner.  They had already had without his knowledge gone to the magistrates court to have him convicted as a tax defaulter.  However, proper investigation would have shown the pensioner was not liable and that he no longer owned the said property in the period taxed.  They didn’t bother, even though the pensioner approached them with proof.  Instead, they employed bailiffs.  When they admitted their error it was called a mistake, but they followed this with threats to silence him and suppress the compensation from the public.

‘ Birmingham City Council may have to sell assets to pay claims against them ‘

BIRMINGHAM CITY COUNCIL have found themselves in a financial crisis due to compensation claims on equal pay….. the council is considering selling land in order to pay a bill of £1 billion for thousands of equal pay cases launched against it.  A report says they have agreed settlements with female staff while others are still being submitted.  The scale of the payouts has made it necessary for Birmingham Council to borrow….but the ever watchful Department for Communities and Local Government have said a cap on the borrowing must hold so the council are now looking into their property portfolio worth £5.3 billion with a view to selling off something to raise the compensation cash.

”Council Lawyers help sneaky councils to get out of compensation claims’

A recent report is showing that councils are now in the habit of avoiding payouts to motorists through pothole damage with the help of Lawyers who use legislation that can be interpreted in such a way that it uses what could be called misleading statements and sneaky statements of intent that were never going to happen in most cases.  They use Section 58 of the Highways Act 1980 which allows the council or Highways Agency to defend claims on the spurious basis by saying that the road was scheduled to be repaired, and that they had taken reasonable measures to ensure that problems such as potholes are found and dealt with swiftly (which of course, many are not).  It does not require the council to prove intent or to show work ordered, they merely use the act to deny a motorist compensation.  The AA said this is simply ‘rigged’ against the motorist, Edmund King the AA President said ‘councils are looking for as many ways as they can to avoid paying out for damage caused by the state of many roads, many that needed fixing for months’   A Council spokesperson refused to comment on the tactics in question, and said that it would cost 9.3 billion pounds to address road damage and take around 14 years to do it all.  Figures show that they are only spending 7.3million pounds a year, and that was down from the previous year 2009.  (2/4/2018)

‘Government uses ‘condemned unfit’ firm to arrest court fine dodgers’

The Conservative Government’s MP’s condemned an ‘outsourcing firm’ they now protect by not releasing the name, which was called unfit and a shambles when it did NHS Outsourcing.  But now despite this, they have awarded them a lucrative contract to arrest people for dodging court fines (which must be questionable in Law).  When this ‘un-named’ company did the NHS contract it was heavily criticised for the handling of the responsibility to four private companies , including the Capita situation, a major outsourcing firm accused of putting the lives of patients at risk by delaying transfers of medical records.  It appears that this move was rushed through (under the Brexit cloud) and just before the MP’s holiday break finalising an unopposed move to transfer services done by civilian staff (civil servants) — enforcement officers, currently employed by HM Courts and Tribunal Services to the Private Sector.   Apparently, Mark Serwotka, the General Secretary of PCS, The Civil Servants Union, says that his members would consider striking over this move.  One could call this ‘biting the hand that feeds you’ but I guess they don’t look at this in the Civil Service!  they’re too busy jumping the fence most of the time.  (July 2018)

‘DWP Investigator was a prolific Stalker’

FORMER Department of Work and Pensions Investigator, DESMOND OULD appeared before Sheffield Crown Court on Stalking charges involving five women, which lasted for two decades.  It was said in court that the Civil Servant used his professional skills as a snooper for the government to get information on his victims.  Astoundingly, it was revealed that he’d been doing this kind of thing for 15 years without being caught.  In the dock he admitted to two counts of stalking.  He was sentenced to an eight month suspended prison sentence.

‘Councils seek more power to fleece and fine drivers’

A new report yet again shows us that councils are willing to go to any length to get money, and it is the motorist they have their sights on which they’ve targeted before in parking charges and speed cameras.  The report says that councils are pushing for more reforms that will allow them to punish the driving public and impose fines for minor traffic offences.  But motorist organisation have fired back saying that it is yet another way for councils to squeeze out money from a group who are easy pickings.  The AA fears that once the council get such powers they will abuse and misuse them as it has done before.  The real reason seems to be ‘to plug their depleting revenue and subject the motorist to a campaign of harassment by tort and use the law for gain’ rather than what it should be there for.  We’ve seen the government alter the taxing system to get more money by grading cars due to cc capacity and other ways, along with petrol duty which they benefit from hugely.  Central government are getting more from the motorist every year in one way or another, yet the roads are failing in condition terms and they are spending less in this area.  They should be asked ‘Where is all the money going’  perhaps what we have here is a sort of embezzlement running through local government too…its time they were on trial really!  but I guess that would be difficult really as they own the Law. (10/2/2018)

NEWS IN BRIEF:

‘ WAGES RISE FOR CIVIL SERVANTS, NO OTHER SECTOR ‘   Workers in Government Departments saw their salaries rise by 3.5 per cent in recent months and the number of staff vastly increased.  Research showed that over a 1000 town hall executives earned more than a £100,000 a year.

‘ GOVERNMENT MINISTER CLAIMS THE NUMBER OF CIVIL SERVANTS SHOULD BE HALVED ‘  Lord Digby Jones said as many as half of the present employees and senior management staff should be given the sack.  There are 521,620 civil servants in the UK.  The average pay is £22,160 per annum.  The average pay rise in the public sector is 37 per cent.  There is a public sector pensions deficit of £1 trillion.

‘ COUNCIL WORKERS WHISTLEBLOWER HOTLINE IS SET UP ‘  Public Concern at Work a charity organisation aims to make it easier for council employees to reveal wrongdoing or malpractice.  Portsmouth’s solicitor Michael Lawther admitted that the old system of reporting was not fit for purpose.  This move comes after council employee Peter Cave revealed overpayments of £186,000 were being made to contractors who were sent out to check gas meters at council homes — where they only had electricity meters.

‘ COVERAGE ON DISGRACED COUNCILLOR IS MINIMAL ‘  Geoff Burr has noticed that column-wise, the exposure on councillor Hugh Pritchard is sadly lacking despite the attention it was attracting around Portsmouth.

‘ COUNCILLOR FINDS HIMSELF BEING QUESTIONED BY POLICE ‘

TORY COUNCILLOR STUART HUGHES who intends to stand in the elections for East Devon happily performed in front of cameras covering the issue of looting of items shipwrecked and beached in Branscombe.  He attacked scavengers vehemently.  The councillor who is a member of the police authority was arrested himself on the suspicions he had taken a BMW bike worth £15,000.  He was interviewed by the Devon and Cornwall Police.

‘MP’s issue legal threats to silence victims in sexual harassment claims’

THOSE LAWYERS YET AGAIN, working nicely for MP’s — the report says that some MP’s are attempting to ‘gag’ stories of sexual arressment by instructing LAWYERS to act when journalists present them with the victim’s testimony.  An un-named official said that in the backrooms MP’s were talking about how they could fend off and silence accusers, and this immediately turned to how good a lawyer could you get, and have they a track record for being able to grind the accuser down, and if necessary threaten them with legal action.

NB: There you have it folks, these top civil servants rely on the dirty work of their trusty legal team.

£3 million is refunded over illegal parking fines ‘

SURREY COUNTY COUNCIL, LANCASHIRE CITY COUNCIL, SHEFFIELD COUNCIL, HARROW COUNCIL, LEEDS CITY COUNCIL, SOUTH TYNESIDE COUNCIL, and others are now paying back fines they illegally took from motorists.  After an investigation it was discovered that decisions to fine were basically a stealth tax, and the councils were not being challenged about the reason or evidence to support the tickets.  Sheffield Council had to refund £350,000 to 13,500 motorists.  Surrey Council paid out £2.8 million to motorists.

‘ HOME OFFICE CIVIL SERVANTS FACE 870 CORRUPTION CLAIMS ‘

The Home Office came in for serious condemnation when it’s Officers were charged with 870 counts of corruption.  A whistleblower accused officials at Lunar House Croydon, of offering visas in return for sexual favours.  The report in July 2006 said the scale of the corruption came as a blow to the Home Office who had repeatedly defended their staff in all sorts of accusations brought.  Figures showed that wrong-doing, misconduct and corruption was worse than they had expected.  31 people have been referred for police consideration, 79 are facing disciplinary action.  The Anti-corruption unit looked at 703 cases and decided to proceed with 409 cases.  They admitted with present staffing that 1 person in 20 had come under suspicion for corruption.

‘THE HOME OFFICE SCANDAL OF MISSING CHILD ABUSE DOSSIER ‘

THE COALITION GOVERNMENT have been hit with a ‘former 1980’s Westminster child sex scandal’ that was covered up by Ministers and civil servants in Maggie Thatcher’s Government…..they’d like it to just go away, but that isn’t happening right now as the International community look on.  The dossier compiled and written up by MP Geoffrey Dickens, now deceased, was handed over to the then Home Secretary Leon Brittan (who had his own ghosts to live with…the lie about a letter).  Brittan was a lawyer, and he now admits (in 2014) that this document about paedophile activity within Westminster involving several prominent people was given to him and he handed it to the Home Office……they now say that it is LOST.   Where are the copies?  well in fact one copy was sent to then DPP Sir Thomas Hetherington by Dickens as a safety precaution.  What of an investigation by Police, well that remains blurred and not fully explained….because nothing came of this sordid scandal, it was buried.  But some are saying that Special Branch must have got to know and copied the files so that they could observe and watch the situation….which is what they do because they are a covert unit, mainly acting for the government, and a scandal involving boys and sex etc, would have been highly damaging.  There is said to be 114 pages or files etc….but Historically there may be much more on other covered up nasties that remain hidden.  Lord Tebbit a minister in the Thatcher Cabinet came out publicly saying that ‘silence was used to protect the establishment’  he said there was an instinct then to protect the system which would over-ride even the seriousness of this subject…..and as we know, Savile was already doing his paedophile stuff at that time and it too remained a secret for 40 to fifty years….covered up by? and they are still digging.  Suggestions are that there must be other copies, because it was often instinct to pass the one you got and do a copy for yourself….so who has a copy now? and will those in power try to run this investigation into a ‘sandpit’ ?

‘MINISTER WARNED OFF’  over questioning Leon Brittan — a disturbing little item shows that covering-up is not over within the Westminster Bubble….secrecy still remains the choice.  MP Simon Danczuk said that a Tory minister told him not to stir things up and name Brittan in the ‘Westminster Child Sex Abuse Scandal’….but he ignored this and said that Leon Brittan had seen a bundle of papers detailing an alleged paedophile ring in Westminster.  Simon said his way was blocked as he entered the House of Commons and he was ushered to one side. 

Update: It now appears that Special Branch are certainly involved in this scandal, as they approved the funding of PIE, the Paedophile Information Exchange, and told the Home Office staff to approve and pass the second year of funding to this group.  Tim Hullbert was a member of staff at the Home Office at the time and saw documents relating to the  Dossier now lost.

‘ A Protected Minister and the Child Porn ‘

SIR PETER HAYMAN, DIPLOMAT…..and more, there was one side that remained a secret and he was protected from being found out.  As the above Westminster VIP Ring furore gets underway, we see reports of the very behaviour that sees it necessary to protect the criminal, a type of criminal the establishment think should have immunity.  And, this man closely worked with The Intelligence Services such as MI5 and Special Branch?  While looking every bit the ambassador of respectability, Hayman was deep into the ‘specialised gay scene’ and a member of PIE…. The Paedophile Information Exchange which Savile was also in.  Whilst having a wife and a huge Oxfordshire home….he had a flat in Notting Hill under the name of Peter Henderson, where the literature and stuff on children could be safely delivered without attracting attention.  But there was a glitch, a package arrived and it fell into the hands of the police, and in 1978 they raided the property.  Unfortunately for Hayman he had his diaries safely stacked recording meetings, and paedophile activity besides extreme child pornography.  Hayman was interviewed after his cover was blown at the Notting Hill flat…. and unbelievable as it may seem, the then Obscene Publications Squad E8 and DPP let him off with a caution?

THE MAYORS:

MAYOR STOLE £65,000 FOR GAMBLING HABIT

MAYOR and Labour Councillor Jayne Yeomans was jailed for twelve months after she repeatedly took funds from her local social club.  The figure was around £65,000.  She also forged her husband’s signature in order to re-mortgage the house so she could acquire a further £25,000.  She was the Mayor of Carlisle.  She served as a Labour councillor from 1983 to 1996.

MAYOR IS ARRESTED OVER CHILD ABUSE CLAIMS

MAYOR EMERY-WALLIS of Portsmouth and Senior Councillor, was  arrested and questioned on suspicion of indecently assaulting a girl.  He was later released on bail but after prosecutors considered the case it was decided that there was not enough evidence to proceed with a successful outcome.  In a previous case he was jailed for nine months after indecently assaulting two teenage boys in 2001.

MAYOR PARKS ON DOUBLE YELLOW LINES

MAYOR OF FAREHAM, KATRINA TROTT found herself having to apologise after illegally parking her vehicle across a cycle lane.  She was caught on camera blocking an entrance to the Bath Lane Recreation facility.  Fareham Borough Council said they did not issue a parking ticket as the enforcement officer did not catch the offender so-to speak, so there will be no fine.

See article – COUNCIL TARGETS DRIVERS AND PARKING – involving the same borough, it seems there is a law for one and a different law if you are actually with the council.

THE DEPUTY MAYOR OF LONDON Mr. Clements has been charged with fraud offences according to a brief news bulletin.  Details have not been released at this time and Boris Johnson the Mayor was unavailable for comment.

MAYOR ANDY MATCHET OF COVENTRY was suspended for outrageous and lewd behaviour committed at an official ball.   Excess boozing was claimed by the mayor — the council confirmed the sanction taken against the Conservative member.

MAYOR DISMISSED OVER ‘FIB’ — Mayor Stephen Akers Beelcher has been sacked by Newcastle City Council for gross misconduct.  The Hartlepool Mayor was given paid leave to attend a funeral, but went onto visit the Portsmouth dockyard and HMS Warrior a 19th Century Warship.  However, he was pictured aboard the ship and claimed to be representing his town.  Strangely he accused the council where he was a care manager; turning whistleblower, of negligence concerning the protection of vulnerable adults….which immediately brought a denial from the council as expected! who claimed ‘they’d investigated it’ saying no action was necessary?

CONNIVING MAYOR STRIPPED OF OFFICE — A Mayor in a London District was found guilty of using ‘a race card’ in order to gain power.  Mayor Lutfur Rahman had been discovered committing multiple electoral fraud and corruption offences by a judge to further his political career using race as an issue in Tower Hamlets.  Judge Richard Mawrey QC sitting as an Election Commissioner said that Rahman ‘had driven a coach and horses through election law, and didn’t care’  The judge declared his office status as void.

‘ civil servants get a £250 bonus for struggling into work ‘

Yes indeed, the public sector workers have been offered £250 if they manage to negotiate heavy snow in order to get to work.  At a cost to the taxpayer of £56,000, we can all be glad that these civil servants are being highly valued for their efforts on our behalf.  Millions struggle to work without any extra incentives, but our elite civil servants, yes, the cosseted ones, earn the right to be given a bonus, how thoughtful of the Government??

‘Government’s Home Office is fined £367,000 for paying inquiry chief too much’

For the Tories wage-wise, there’s nothing too much, so it isn’t surprising that they value themselves way above anyone else and expect the taxpayer to foot the bill willingly.  This report says that the Home Office broke the rules in regard to a pay cap.  It seems like they didn’t get clearance from the Treasury on this pay deal for Professor Alex Jay’s £185,000 salary.  Apparently this was a GEORGE OSBORNE rule when he was the Chancellor for Cameron, (and we will feature OSBORNE in the next article).  His rule said that no public servant should be paid more than that of the Prime Minister, who at this time, earned that amount, and we use the word ‘earn’ loosely.                                             Another interesting fact here is not well seen, but it relates to the Inquiry’s Chief Lawyer BEN EMMERSON, who resigned after being accused of groping a member of staff at the Inquiry’s Headquarters during a Newsnight Programme at the BBC.  It said he was cleared of wrongdoing, but look carefully here, by a probe commissioned by MATRIX CHAMBERS, a Law Firm he co-founded?  so as they say in legal circles, was this ‘a conflict of interests’  it certainly looks that way.  And lo and behold, it was branded as a ‘Whitewash’ after key evidence was kept secret!

‘British Council fined for paying CEO too much’

Similar to the above, and one has to remember that the fine is paid by the taxpayer, not the government.  The report says, a cultural body has been fined £650,000 for breaking the pay rules set by OSBORNE.  The taxpayer based -The British Council failed to seek approval from the Treasury, and it breached a cap on senior civil servant’s earnings, which could not be more than the PM’s.  The British Council in reply to the Treasury, said that the £185,000 pay package was approved by the Foreign Secretary at the time?

‘National Audit Office to Investigate Chancellor George Osborne’

THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE have instructed THE NATIONAL AUDIT OFFICE to look into a decision Osborne made to pledge £30 million of taxpayers cash to the Capital’s highly criticised Garden Bridge Project.  This investigation came about when it was discovered that Osborne wrote to The Mayor of London, chaired by the infamous BORIS JOHNSON and encouraged him to pledge an additional £30 million into the controversial £175million project using public money from Transport for London. 

NB.  Of course has one expects, nothing has been heard of this or a conclusion, as we all know he left the government and got himself into the editorship of the Evening Standard, claiming now to be on the side of the people.  Once a rat, always a rat, and he’s not about to give away any secrets or own up to deeds he did!

‘Tory Government risks legal action over the repayment freeze and mis-selling of loans’

The plans to freeze the repayment threshold were in the GEORGE OSBORNE budget, yes he’s here again, and not surprising really.  The Tories planned to freeze the £21,000 repayment threshold, and is risking court action over ‘mis-selling’ student loans if it goes ahead. A study by Sutton Trust which campaigns for equal access to education, estimates a 5 year freeze proposed by Tory Ministers which would increase student debt by around £2,800.

‘Pensioners fleeced for not being on the net, and Government encourage it’

An estimated 4 million pensioners are being taken advantage of for not being on the net say analysts.  We already know that Microsoft and others are using the Internet to get huge profits, and this creates a cycle of greed throughout society.  Government plainly want everyone on line so that they have more information and do less by instructing people to their websites (which do not always work).  They more or less insist that people do their banking on line, yet online hacking and Internet crime is rising where bank accounts are robbed in seconds and bogus systems clone bank sites and e-mails to con people…. and where is the government?  pretending that it’s nothing to do with them.  In 2019 the Inland Revenue are going on line for all taxpayers, forcing them to have sign-in accounts no matter whether they have a computer or smart phone.  The dreadful Universal Credit is an online thing which ‘customers’ must adhere to; yet another government move to force things through in their favour.  This government have been rapidly reducing choice and freedom by stealth, aided and abetted by civil servants who ask clients ‘Let me have your e-mail account’ or ‘We’ll text you on your phone’ presuming that you subscribe to phones and computers, and look shocked when you say you don’t have one or want one.  They are also ID mad using the old ‘National Security’ or ‘Money-Laundering’ thing as an excuse in a brainwashing move to make it a requirement.  When it goes wrong they deny liability or culpability just like many banks and let the duped public sink or swim.                                                                                                                                                 Official figures are showing that pensioners are ripped off regularly, and that four in five that do not have access to the Internet are over 65, equal to 3.8 million.  They often face a raft of penalties designed to push customers to Internet deals for essential services because these are cheaper for for big companies to run, and it was revealed that Power Firm EDF is now charging customers 90 pounds a year to pay by cheque, a 15 percent increase on previous rates.  Charities came forward in an interview and urged all the parties mentioned to stop discriminating against older customers who cannot, and do not want to use computers.

‘ CLOAK OF SECRECY AND COVER-UP ACTIVATED BY COUNCIL ‘

TAUNTON DEANE COUNCIL in Somerset went straight into a damage limitation mode when baby Rhiana Hardy was killed by a boiler in the council house the family were living in.  With their immunity from a murder charge or manslaughter, they prevented press and any others from getting at the truth.  They were at least a contributory factor – Contributory Negligence and an Accessory to Causing death ‘ —- they answered to none of this and pretended that it was accidental, but lessons would be learned. 

TAUNTON DEANE COUNCIL used similar tactics in another case concerning a woman ‘ antisocial case ‘ who they knew about and ignored the fact that she was up to her disruptive tricks again in another area.  The officials are — Mr.S. Boland, and a Mr. I. Taylor. — two council civil servants who couldn’t care less.

‘Trusted Watchdog for Nurses spends £250,000 on Cover-Up’

THE NURSING AND MIDWIFERY COUNCIL, a regulatory body for nurses found themselves exposed when it was discovered that they had spent around £250,000 to cover-up how much information it held on a grieving father it had been monitoring for almost a decade.  They had not reckoned on the power of the Internet and that man, James Titcombe said about his fight for an investigation into the death of his nine day old son, Joshua, who died from an infection.  The NMC reported the information it found about his speaking engagements and social media use.  When he challenged the NMC and requested what information they held on him under The Data Protection Act, the NMC’s Chief Exec’ JACKIE SMITH , authorised a team of Lawyers to work on how much information the Regulator could block from documents it was forced to make available.  When Mr Titcombe received the requested information, it was heavily redacted (lines blacked out) and most of what was there had incomplete sentences.  After looking at this he made an official Freedom of Information request and the NMC said ‘I am sorry you do not feel we have been transparent in the way we handled your data subject access request.  We engaged THE LAW FIRM FIELDFISHER to help us deal with your request, and the estimated cost of their work is £239,871.85 including VAT.

‘Several council officials in Cash Fiasco — one sacked ‘

SEVERAL COUNCIL OFFICIALS were issued with ‘final warnings’ and one was dismissed…..Inverclyde Council took seven months to finish an investigation into ‘its own’ and during that period, actually paid out £200,000 to four suspended council officers.  The Corporate Director Paul Wallace who got £100,000 a year, was dismissed for his role in hiring consultants that cost the taxpayer £650,000…. they were hired to cut costs!  This cutting only realised £250,000 in savings.

PS: It now appears that Wallace took the council to court accusing them of ‘ a lack of transparency in their dealings’…………how strange that the ex-council man now wants to reveal this as soon as he’s fired?

‘ Grotesque misuse of Council Authority ‘

KIRKLEES COUNCIL near Huddersfield in Yorkshire were blasted by the Judge in a case brought by the council over a sweet wrapper.  Under the anti-litter legislation this case was pursued at a total cost of over £5,000.  The Judge was furious at the way taxpayers money was spent against Miss Wilkinson. 

‘ BARNET COUNCIL SLAMMED BY OMBUDSMAN ‘

The Ombudsman found BARNET COUNCIL guilty of Maladministration for trying to evict a student for rent arrears.  He said due to their errors in the calculation of his benefits and they pursued her with threats over arrears and court action.  The Ombudsman said the officials in the departments lacked communications skills and written records were shoddy.  He forced the council to apologise and put the matter right and reimburse her for expenses and suggested some compensation for their wrongdoing.

BARNET COUNCIL CHEAT ELDERLY IN ORDER TO SAVE £400.000.  The council have removed house wardens in a bid to cut back on care for the elderly and infirm.  Panorama revealed the callous way council decisions were causing distress to old age pensioners.  

‘ Staffordshire Council ‘secrecy’ slammed by Judge ‘

Another council wanting suppression of information — STAFFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL were slammed by the Judge, Sir James Munby in the High Court, who said he was not prepared to ‘spare the blushes of council officials’ who wanted a ban on them being named.  He said the Law could not be used to silence criticism of those involved in the case of the baby boy taken from a father.  It appears the council took out an injunction in order to suppress and silence all opposition.  Their Legal Department embarked on a wide-ranging reporting restrictions in order to prevent publication of the case……..so much for transparency?

‘Dorset County Council Leader prosecuted’

Former Leader of Dorset County Council SPENCER FLOWERS was found guilty of ‘a conflict of interests’, and was the first person to be prosecuted under a new law aimed at giving communities more power.  He was found guilty of voting illegally as the firm which he was involved in concerning social housing was not relevant to a debate in future housing in East Dorset, and it could have benefitted from the plan being passed if Flowers had used his influence.  Flowers was given a six month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £930 costs by a District Judge at Bournemouth Magistrates Court.   (30/3/2015)

‘ Torbay Council ignore fiddling workers Scandal ‘

A case suppressed for several years reveals that Torbay Council did not take proper action when a whistleblower revealed that council workers in their parks and recreational teams were going missing during times they were supposed to be at a particular ground.  Some vans were seen outside dwellings in the middle of the afternoon.  one young worker admitted he bunked off to see his girlfriend and said others did it so why not him.  Time sheets were fiddled and the whistleblower said everyone knew it was happening, but so was a lot of other scams. This case was presented to the Devon and Cornwall Police in a tip-off but nothing was done…there was no investigation by either the police or council…the entire scandal was suppressed and kept out of the public forum….and business went on as usual.

‘Council Cover-ups…. How Many?’

Probably hundreds if not thousands……ROCHDALE COUNCIL hid a sex scandal involving a Boys’ School in the 1990’s — ‘The Knowle School Affair’…..a report of which was suppressed by them in 1991.  Phil Shepherd filed a report of abuse at the school which went before the Rochdale Council.  Health Professional Phil who reported his findings was shocked to find that his report was suppressed and nothing happened.  The report now discussed and in the light in 2014….yes nearly 25 years of secrecy, mentioned some 36 boys, some of whom travelled to Sheffield and worked as prostitutes in public toilets.  He even wrote to the Police at the time….but only now it emerges as to ‘be of concern’….mainly because of the Jimmy Savile affair, Cyril Smith case and recently in breaking news .. the worst one ‘The Government Paedophile Ring of the 1980’s’ document gone missing! and kept secret…….involving The Home Office.  Rochdale Council said it could not comment on the Knowle School sex scandal?……this has been suggested that it could have brought the government down had it been put before the public and that high level MP’s suppressed the 114 page document…..and this was Maggie Thatcher’s reign.

‘ Councils to ‘divert funds’ to cover pothole repairs ‘

A report says that councils looking for extra money to mend potholes in the roads will divert funds from other funds such as the NHS….so says Sir Bruce Keogh the Medical Director of the NHS. 

THE GESTAPO CIVIL SERVANTS — Jobcentre plus and hierarchy

WHAT DO YOU ENCOUNTER IF YOU MAKE A CLAIM AGAINST THEM?

LIES, DECEIT, SECRECY and DELAY.

To learn more about this and see the truth go to the site dwpcorruption.co.uk run by my friend/associate, Martin.H.

The following list is one of shame, they typify the behaviour above and should not be trusted.

DEBBIE MAYES   Personal Advisor, Havant Jobcentre.

MARK STEPHENS  Under Manager,  Havant.

TONY PAUL   Branch manager, Cosham.

JASON ISAACS  Manager, Havant.

ANDY BROWN    Management, Havant.

MARTIN PRYOR  District Manager, Hampshire.

PAUL WILLIAMS  Jobcentre Complaints Section.

MEL GROVES  Jobcentre Executive.

ROLAND GINN  Benefits/Jobcentre Executive.

Ms. J. GULLIVER   Decision Maker, Southampton.

CAROL SMITH  Policy Advisor, DWP.

What have they all in common?  they all collectively delayed and sidetracked an issue of misconduct and maladministration.

NOTE:  An E-mail from someone calling himself Richard wanted to know more about Ms J. GULLIVER because they’d been sanctioned over some incident involving that ‘fraud case’ company A4E that received much attention for the fiddles going on in their organisation…….and we do have that report, along with an update about several of them being charged with offences.

HUMILIATION AT THE JOBCENTRE — a letter from Julia Piper of Exeter criticises the way the Jobcentre staff humiliates claimants….and couldn’t care less about doing so.  She tells of her daughter who graduated at University in Press Photography, having had great experience and tutorship with a Pulitzer prize-winning photographer at the Los Angeles Times.  She said she found her daughter distraught and almost in tears with her confidence crashed all because she went to the Jobcentre and was firmly told she should work unpaid at the Morrison’s store for ten weeks…..she told her daughter not to go back to the jobcentre and wonders how many  other disenchanted young people who suffer similar humiliation just drop out of the jobless figures?

‘ BENEFIT FRAUD INVESTIGATORS ON THE FIDDLE ‘

SIX FRAUD INVESTIGATORS in the Benefits Agency were discovered to have been committing fraud themselves.  The ‘un-named officers ‘ pocketed cash in false claims for travel expenses, overtime and have lavish office parties.  One Section Head earning more than £40,000 a year is under serious investigation and another senior dole-fraud buster is being investigated over claims that a consultancy contract worth thousands of pounds was given to her brother without being put out to tender.  The falsely claimed money is in the tens of thousands of pounds.  The Debt Recovery Organisation refused to comment.

‘ I Could name two dozen members of staff that are on the fiddle says former employee ‘

£330,000 in Overtime payments claimed by staff working hideously slowly in normal time, residential courses with hotel accommodation taken by inappropriate staff, bogus sickness claims running on for months, personal time-sheets altered and increased to claim more, and a prosecution rate of just two claimants per year for each fraud officer.  Former Sussex Benefits officer D. Miller says he could name 24 employees very easily who are fiddling the system and other civil servants who should be investigated.  Mr. Miller left after he had seen a complete disregard for the public they were supposed to be protecting and serving, ‘ they were looking after themselves first, and this is only one branch I’m talking about/’ he said.

‘ A Jobcentre Plus Scam ‘

Every year the UK Jobcentre Plus purposely call people who are signing on intentionally late to the office.  After waiting until they are ten minutes overdue for signing, security staff remove them from the waiting area and make them go to the front desk or reception to find out what is going on.  The Jobcentre staff then claim to to have been calling the claimant to sign up for twenty minutes, whilst they were waiting at the front desk.  Their claim is then suspended arbitrarily because they failed to sign on and the claimant is then required to fill in a rapid reclaim form and open a new claim.  The Investigator (under cover), noticed that there was someone every day filling in a rapid reclaim form and it was always at the same time of year, just before the unemployment figures were about to be released.  Not only does this cause the claimant to lose out on their entitlement to benefits, such as a budgeting loan after six months of claiming, but it also means that the claimant doesn’t have to go on A Gateway to work Course for another eighteen months, so, in effect they are using this to purposely to try and get people to sign off, yet stopping them from going to the course in the first place by intentionally ceasing people’s claims.

‘ A4e the bonus payout and Benefits Agency ‘

A secret research document shows that for every one person that signs off JSA, the Department of work and Pensions received a hefty payout of more than £2,000 regardless of how long the claimant signs off for, or whether they even go into employment.  A4e are then awarder a nice bonus from this sum.  In fact, the majority of people who sign off because of the A4e course don’t actually find any employment at all, they just can’t stand to be on the course anymore.  Also, whilst attending the course he was told that he couldn’t get more help in any way because he was not 18 — 24.  Yet, he was still made to attend or lose his benefits.  He concluded that A4e, a gateway contract Company, was basically a scam company who uses and manipulates JSA claimants leaving them with no income at all so that they can receive a nice amount of money; a process that should be illegal.

The scandal we published here was ignored, and now four years later, The Mail takes the credit for exposing A4e for what we told you.  TODAY in Feb 2012 four people were under arrest for fraud in the ‘back to work’ scheme that receives millions from the government.  Four members on the staff at the employment agency who falsely claimed that jobseekers had been placed into employment. However, a whistleblower said the official stand in regard to the arrests is riddled with concealment and reworking of the truth.  The whistleblower says that managers in the A4e are largely to blame urging jobseekers to fill out job outcomes which earned staff an £80 bonus, but the company would be able to claim up to £1,000 in success fees from the government. There were no checks on whether successful jobseekers had been working for 13 weeks, paperwork was entered in as soon as the form was filled and no questions asked. A4e have indignantly refuted the whistleblower’s claims??

THERE HAS BEEN NINE INVESTIGATIONS INTO A4e since 2005 — it has only now been revealed by the DWP — who remained quiet on this issue for years.  They said they had all been investigations into fraud at the company. In five cases the company was ordered to repay thousands of pounds to the taxpayer. Irregularities had been discovered and an employee in Hull had been found guilty on eight charges of forgery.

NEW REVELATIONS AT A4e — Founder resigns —EMMA HARRISON the Head of A4e resigned amid the expose of a whistleblower — Employee Tracie Spiers telling how jobseekers were coached into signing blank timesheets and forged signatures. She said staff routinely forged signatures on documents….she said the jobless clients were asked to sign blank timesheets every Friday at the centre where she was in Slough. If the targets were not met, then staff signed bogus signatures on blank forms to reach the targets set by government. It is stated that the Police have moved in on the Slough office and have begun investigations into fraud. It has also been stated that others have come forward at other A4e centres and investigations are to be conducted.

MORE YET ON A4e — ‘Unusual Company behaviour and clam up’ — One man reveals his story, Sean White of Lewes, near Brighton, was signing at his local Jobcentreplus when he was referred to A4e which was supposed to help him find employment.  He was to begin a one month work placement known as Mandatory Work Activity –A4e phoned him from their Eastbourne office saying it was setting up a placement lined up with his experience and skills and after a short while he was given the okay and given a start date which was confirmed. He liked the job but couldn’t get any travelling expenses from A4e and was suddenly told by the Jobcentre that his placement hadn’t been vetted and the start date deferred? yet he was already on the placement as arranged by their Eastbourne office!  Sean became highly suspicious when he was contacted by his A4e advisor who insisted I dealt with them and not with the Jobcentre…after He told them of the Jobcentre call A4e went silent and withdrew…and then the Jobcentre told him he had failed the placement test on health and safety…he asked A4e to contact the Jobcentre several times but nothing came of it.  The A4e matter has now been taken up by investigators at the DWP, and his Jobcentre have bypassed A4e and MWA and referred him to a proper work programme….he says so far the A4e have remained silent despite repeated requests for information?

A4e to be investigated by Whitehall — A Fraud Probe into the ‘back-to-work’ agency has been ordered to run alongside the current police investigation. A spokesperson said that the DWP has immediately commenced its own investigation as a result of new allegations. It is said that A4e hold £180 million of contracts to deliver the Government’s Work Programme.

A4e — The Epitaph — It has now been conceded that corruption is on a large scale at this organisation, yet, looking back to the first glimpse…..it started with quotes of ‘ It is an isolated case’ – followed by ‘ it is mainly confined to one branch’ — then as it erupted into a full scale situation — it was SILENCE…..this is the order of accountability….deny, deny, and try to lie your way out of it in the hope no-one spots anything else….if that doesn’t work answer nothing and get your supporters to knock the camera out of anyone’s hand and threaten investigative journalists…..this has all been done in the past to deflect any concentration of getting at the truth…..such is the politics of government, big business and the judiciary….history repeats itself but regularly fails to learn from it.

A4e — Corruption no problem, quite acceptable, as they look set to get another Government Contract despite being under investigation for fraud. It hardly comes as a surprise these days, This one is with guess it? with the a branch of the Law — The Home Office, to run a helpline on discrimination and employment tribunal advice on whether employees can sue their employers. This comes as ten welfare-to-work contracts are being investigated by the DWP all awarded to A4e. It has been revealed that A4e had the status of ‘preferred bidder’  and they say crime doesn’t pay!!

Strangely but true, it is a fact that former Labour Home Secretary DAVID BLUNKETT works as a part-time advisor for A4e and has recently been given a pay award — from his £30,000 a year previously, to £35,000 now.

This is a perfect example of transparency suppressed in order to cover-up and keep things from the public.

‘ Nine former A4e staff are charged with fraud ‘

Nine staff members from A4e’s Welfare to Work programme have been charged with fraud over fiddles in the taxpayer funded employment scheme.  The CPS announced that they had formally charged three men and six women with 60 offences including conspiracy to defraud, multiple counts of forgery, plus the making and possession of articles to be used in fraud.  A4e are paid more than £200million a year by the government to help the jobless get back into work….but some of their staff wrongly claimed payments for people who were not their clients, and for finding jobs for people who were in fact, still unemployed.

IT HAS TAKEN SEVERAL YEARS….AS BENEFITS A4e STAFF ARE FOUND GUILTY ……… There has been much said and long periods of denials since this case hit the headlines.  That’s what it takes for these people who have had time to ‘take out evidence, change scenarios and manufacture the story they want the public to swallow’ such is the law and WDP……..’DEFRAUDING THE PUBLIC’ should be a major concern especially as Duncan-Smith ignores much of this as he attacks the unemployed.  This Scandal was out in 2010, five years ago……and the verdict now is that 10 employees of A4e have been sentenced for abusing the taxpayers out of £300,000….the company were accused of ‘fostering a culture of dishonesty’  whilst treating benefit claimants as guinea pigs to their twisted desire of power and pursuing financial gain by deceit and fraudulent activity. We shall probably never know the whole story due to lawyers preventing it from disclosure on the ‘security’ grounds they dream up.  However, what little we have we can publish….the ten who failed to use their influence to stay out of the net.  So far we have Nikki Foster from Reading on 8 counts of fraud and one of conspiracy… yes folks, just one! so much for ten offenders awaiting sentencing…..yet this company had scores of government contracts….as we say….watch this space for a cover-up by government lawyers and the DWP offices.

PS: Strangely they were all ‘convicted’ at Reading Crown court……yet we have one name?

‘The halting of benefit payments to claimants as used in punishment tactics ‘backed by the DWP and Job Centres’ was slammed by a court tribunal in Edinburgh….and punitive sanctions against people who wished to take a representative with them to the tribunal…..were tactics used by A4e…….and an A4e employee had a laptop containing the data on 25,000 claimants was reportedly stolen….and it was never recovered….A4e were fined just £60,000 by the Information Commissioner’s Office………. and the DWP just say nothing and pretend they were not aware of the fraud…..until it came up and bit them.

CDG another contractor who vanishes the unemployment figures ‘

The Jobcentre and Government pretend this contract trains the unemployed back into work, but its first duty is to take claimants out of the benefit figures and sidetrack them to another system not included as ‘ jobless ‘  the claimant signs off and is required to under the Gateway Project and are referred to by Jobcentre staff as being employed by the contractor? 

THE CAREERS DEVELOPMENT GROUP, and this concerns their Fratton franchise, only offer a learning plan, many claimants are led into thinking they will be trained in a skill or vocation by the Jobcentre staff who tell this lie so often that they now believe it.  CDG are a registered Charity, not an Industry leader in training people for vacancies.  Sadly they have many flaws and techniques that border on the unlawful at times, and I mean Human Rights Law.  One young man, Daniel was thrown off the course (which would likely affect his benefits) because he refused to go over his C.V. after having another C.V. approved by one of the training staff.  The next case, and this one is serious in many ways.  Michael, a diligent claimant who followed all required jobsearch targets found himself being treated like a naughty child by a member of the staff.  He was ‘bawled out ‘ in front of a full room of claimants (clients), and told to go to the office.    He was as he put it — interrogated, and was accused of being in a pub and drinking.  Michael is actually tea total and was having a coke a cola with a meal.  She ranted about policy and being under the influence.  At lunchtime Michael saw the female staff member in the pub and she was drinking alcohol.  It seems there one law for them and one for the clients he said.  He also mentioned that this was not the first episode he has had with this same member of staff.  Again she used the tactic of humiliation in front of everyone in the room.  She accused him of taking her Job Leads that she was going to inspect, Michael handed her his folder and she did not find them in his papers.  She did not apologise, and Michael quite rightly claims ‘victimization’ in these circumstances.  Other than these incidents, it is practice for this group to make threats and bully clients knowing that they are immune because of cover by the Jobcentre.

‘ The DWP have no duty of care and they could not care less about you ‘

The JOBCENTRE and DWP officials denied a spastic claimant a payment from a hardship fund put in place by the Government to help in these situations.  Mr. Anderton was at his wits end financially, especially as he faced having his gas supply cut-off.  A Sogat Union Official could not believe the callous way they dealt with the invalid claimant.  ‘ It’s unbelievable what little respect these civil servants have for the public ‘ he said.  A letter from the Department said ‘ We regret it has not been possible for this department to help in this matter ‘   Luckily with the Union’s intervention on behalf of the man the decision was reversed later.

‘ No fair Legal system at the DWP, the Lawyers will see to that ‘

Mentally Handicapped Benefits claimant Mandy Kilburn managed to win her claim on appeal after challenging the Jobcentre and DWP over a cut in benefits. In court the callous DWP Solicitor, and there are several?  said ‘ this case raises a very important point of Law ‘  It became quite apparent that they were setting out on a course to destroy the Adjudicator’s decision.  Mandy was not allowed to have Legal aid, claimants are usually poor and they cannot argue points of Law.  The DWP brought in 2 Barristers, 2 Solicitors, plus officials, and they snatched back her short-lived victory.  LAWYERS are SCUM and this case proves it.

THE RATCATCHER PROJECT – EXPOSING THE JOBCENTRE AND DWP.

THE INVESTIGATION CALLED ‘PROJECT RATCATCHER ‘ WAS LAUNCHED IN AUGUST 2001 and went on until December the 31st 2003.  It was to root out corruption in the Jobcentre and DWP and report its findings.  Those findings we have here.

The Rat catcher Project was due to the strange events of people being exposed to fake charges and bundled out of jobcentres by the Police and how claims were lost and so on. 

There is an engrained policy of them and us and that is still present today. 

The common issues were: 

making appointments but never issue a letter. 
Send a letter 2 weeks after an event took place. 
Cancellation of benefit but notification 2 weeks later. 
Losing papers for recording signing on. 
Failure to enter payment evidence on a system. 
Misuse of CCTV to spy or laugh at claimants. 
Add jobs to a claimants account but never tell the claimant. 
Sent claimants for jobs that were closed. 
Refusal to supply a notice that a job was closed. 
Sending claimants to jobs that did not exist. 
Expecting the claimant to know that an employer had changed address. 
Refusing people to sign on. 
Making appointments when they were not required. 
Filing out PVP forms to the point of no evidence. 
Refusal to offer help and advice. 
Lied to the claimant over district offices and regional offices so that the complaint could be investigated. 
Changing post offices without prior knowledge. 
Destruction of receipts so that the claimant could not apply for a future CSA budget loan. 
Sending money to the wrong address. 
Making false allegations to the police. 
Refusal to supply a receipt for the handing in of an application form for work or benefit. 


The solution was odd, but there is a set of obscure offices that the DWP would sooner the public not know about. 

The staff in Jobcentres treat the public as a joke because the vast majority of the public does not know who to complain to. 

See: 

district office. 
Regional. 
Caxton house. 
Quarry house. 
Rebus. 
SOLA. 
ADELPHI buildings. 
Parliamentary under secretary
secretary of state. 
PM 

Project Ratcatcher showed very clearly that the main offices of the DWP did not know what went on in Jobcentres and had no plan to investigate so the only way to beat the civil servants known as ‘civs,’ was either take them to court or to send legal papers to the regional offices.

The above account and facts are supported by our next item.

‘ Whistle-blowing on the Jobcentre Staff ‘

Richard Barrymore (our Private Investigator) supplies us with the following articles.

Mrs P. who works part/time in the Jobcentre said ‘ There’s lots of things go on that I can’t possibly tell you about as I’d get into trouble, all that secrecy stuff.  You have to watch your back, some of them are after rising up the ladder and if you don’t pull their way they make sure you are not welcome.  But I can tell you some of the standard excuses we are told to give out when we cannot be bothered or we know something has gone wrong with the system, and that means we are at fault, but we blame it on the claimants, its easy to do.

IT’S IN THE POST.

THE PERSON DEALING WITH YOUR CLAIM IS OFF SICK.

I’M SORRY, BUT WE CANNOT LOCATE YOUR FILE.

THERE SEEMS TO BE AN ERROR ON THE COMPUTER.

WE’LL GIVE YOU A TELEPHONE CALL TOMORROW – But we rarely do.

‘ Social Fund low on priorities ‘

It was discovered that the Benefits Agency spend more on postage than the social fund for the needy.  It spent around £64 million on mail and a poultry £49million on the fund which supports emergency payments.  Postage cannot help the poorest families whereas an increase in the fund can said Mr. Caan.

‘ Three year ordeal at the hands of an insensitive Benefits Agency ‘

A sick divorcee suffering from cancer spent three years lighting her home with candles and huddling with her children over a gas-ring for warmth.  Her Lawyer said  of the agency ‘ seriously at fault, careless and deplorably inadequate.  The woman’s electricity was cut-off because of an unpaid bill, and had her benefit claim been properly managed things would have been very different.  Officials even made a mess of backdating her claim and ignored their own mistakes. 

‘ The Scandal of The Elmfield Training Scam ‘

ANOTHER DODGY TRAINING SCAM GOVERNMENT BACKED — Costing the Taxpayer millions of pounds.  The main key figure in this scam was its connection to Morrison’s (who deny they knew what was happening)…. people were sent by Elmfield to be Morrison’s workers…..which was worth £1.300 each person to the company who would claim that money from the Government for ‘the apprenticeship even if the learner didn’t want to do it’ The Commons Select Committee Adrian Bailey suggested there was a political agenda behind this scheme, but didn’t say whether it was to massage the job figures……and was certainly included in their boasting of getting people back to work……it makes one wonder how many dodgy agencies are receiving public money to give a false image of the employment figures used to distract the public from really examining what the truth is?

‘ False Evidence by solicitors, Harassment and False Allegations by Benefits Agency ‘

When they’re wrong they’re right, that’s the Benefits Agency and they do it with the aid of the DWP solicitors.  Mrs.G. Moore suffered harshly at their hands when they levied false accusations in statements to prove their case that my claim for benefits was suspicious.  My solicitor met with them and showed them proof, yet they put me through mental and physical pain, and she is 80.  They still continued to insist their false evidence had credence even though it had been proved otherwise.  They should be prosecuted.

FRAUD IN THE NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE ‘

HOSPITAL LAB BOSS VICTORIA GRUBER STOLE ALMOST £2,500 by submitting bogus time sheet claims.  She falsified time sheets to make it look as if she was working longer hours at the Queen Alexandra Hospital in Cosham near Portsmouth.  She was sentenced to a 120 day prison sentence suspended for eighteen months.  A report says their special in-house fraud unit prosecuted 422 cases in the National Health Service.

‘ NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE BOSS IN SWINDLE ‘

DAVID MORTON a finance chief with the National Health Service took over £133,000 to pay for his own business, a luxury car and his divorce.  The accountant lined his pockets with public money to offset the settlement in his divorce and further his own interests.  He faces being struck off the register and the police were called in as soon as the fraud was discovered.  St Thomas and Guy’s hospitals are working with him in a bid to get repayment it is said.

‘ THE CURIOUS CASE OF THE COUNCIL EVICTION ‘

Very secretive and poorly covered at the time. But this involved Wimborne Minster and Corfe Mullen concerning an eviction company and strange goings on that involved the police and solicitors.  It appears from the report they lied about certain facts surrounding the eviction, and at some point a Judge was involved in the affair.  It came out that they had lied about the eviction company in order to cover up another matter.

‘ THE £400,000 BRIBERY CLAIM AGAINST A FORMER HOME SECRETARY ‘

It is claimed that a bribe of £400,000 was paid to the then home secretary Michael Howard by criminal John Haase.  He claimed his early release was secured through the Home Secretary’s cousin, Simon Bakerman.  The incident went back to 2004 and subsequent arrangements around the affair became confusing and complicated.  Haase said, ‘ We had a million to play with so £400,000 was to pay off Michael Howard when the judge’s letter reached him.’    There was no comment from Mr. Howard and the whole matter seems to have been suppressed since it appeared in November 2008.

‘COUNCIL CORRUPTION PROBE ‘

On the 6th of March 2009, a council official was arrested on corruption charges by the Newcastle Police.  This happened after the earlier arrest of another official from The Newcastle City Council.  A spokesperson declined to give details of the circumstances leading up to both arrests.

Revealed: Government, police & local councils all among public bodies who flouted anti-secrecy laws

THE public bodies who fought tooth-and-nail to keep secrets from you are today exposed by the Record.

The Government, police forces, councils and taxpayer-funded quangos all flouted anti-secrecy laws by knocking back legitimate Freedom of Information requests.

They were forced to back down by Kevin Dunion, ­Scotland’s first Information Commissioner, who ruled in favour of the public 359 times since the new rules came into force in January 2005.

The worst offenders were the Scottish Government, who wrongly refused to disclose ­information 78 times over the last seven years.

However, they also received the highest number of requests of any public body.

Second on the league of shame were Edinburgh City Council, with 22 decisions against them.

Third were Glasgow City Council with 17 decisions fully in favour of applicants, and fourth were Scottish Water with 15.

Among legitimate requests knocked back were details on the numbers of sex offenders in various areas – with Strathclyde Police, Grampian Police and Northern Constabulary all falling foul.

Surgical mortality rates were also wrongly withheld by the NHS, as were details of public payments to firms of private consultants.

Dunion and his office made 1336 decisions to December 14, 2011.

As well as the 359 fully in favour of the person appealing a refusal, 450 were partly in their favour.

A person who gets knocked back for an FoI request must first appeal to the public body before going to the Information Commissioner.

It is time-consuming, meaning many members of the public give up, even if they have a good case.

But public bodies often fight to the bitter end, despite decisions being overturned by the ­Information Commissioner.

Public bodies’ disregard for the laws is still widespread seven years on – and even appears to be growing.

Last year saw the highest total for successful appeals by the public – on 85 occasions.

‘JOBCENTRE CIVIL SERVANTS — NOT SO CIVIL ‘

Apparently, the Whitehall handbook code of conduct says :  Civil servants should conduct themselves with integrity, impartiality and honesty.  Also that they should not seek to frustrate or influence the policies and decisions  — yet the staff at Havant do not come anywhere near to this ideal.  It says that civil servants are not directly accountable to the public when it comes to freedom of information  — they use it and abuse it while you lose it!

‘ THE SICKNESS SCAM OF COUNCIL EMPLOYEES’

£4 Billion a year is the cost to the taxpayer a recent study informs us about council staff who play the ‘ sickness card ‘ twice as much as workers in the private sector.  Employees were discovered to take 13 . 5 days off sick each year compared to 7.9 days in private firms.  Although ‘faked illness’ was a seemingly big issue, the senior managers played this down by saying it was up to ‘ line managers’ to follow up this issue.  The report recommended that council chiefs interview workers who are taking ‘suspiciously’ long breaks on illness grounds.  It is of no surprise that the managers pretend that there is nothing to worry about, because they are not particularly worried and nor do they fear action being taken  — they are a protected species.

‘ INTERNAL FRAUD SECRECY AT THE DWP AND A4E SCANDAL ‘

The Government downplayed recent reports showing fraud in its ‘ Welfare to Work’ schemes despite one of its flagship’s A4e (mentioned earlier) was compromised by serious fraud.  Fake job applications were discovered to be going on at another contract flagship NETWORK, the DWP were not prepared to comment on this or another incident being exposed at a third organisation.  Secrecy seems to be the keyword for the DWP and this has been ordered and recommended by the DWP Lawyers at New Court, 43, Carey St. London.  An insider says that they are anxious to keep a lid on this matter at any cost, and will take appropriate action to keep details away from the press and public — even if it means issuing threats.

A4Es Emma Harrison is getting £100 a week in Government cash for each person they handle, yet she probably claims not to know anything about the corruption in her organisation. She is ultimately responsible for the corruption in A4E either by ignorance or turning a blind eye – ignorance is no defence in Law it is said, but few Lawmakers or companies actually follow this themselves.  Channel 4 display the company as a moral subject to get people back to work, but they too have been involved in corruption in a phone in scam, not just once, but twice– see Related topics.  Its amazing how a television company and A4E think they have the right to display themselves as honest when they are certainly not.

‘ THE APPALLING CASE  OF GOVERNMENT CHILD CRUELTY ‘

THE BAD BENEFITS AGENCY and a Government so appalling that all involved should be fired, including the Lawyers.  This case is about a boy of two, orphan Aaron Richards, who contracted a rare form  of meningitis.  He had both legs amputated and one hand had to lose all its fingers.  Someone who cared, and that certainly was not the Benefits agency or government, raised a sum of £13,000 to help the boy’s guardians cope with the stress and give the boy a decent life.  But were the Benefits Agency helpful? NO, not at all, in fact they took measures to stop the lad’s benefits.  This is the truth about the Benefits Agency and DWP.  They have no feelings of goodwill to anyone and I want this to show that even if they do not like it being published.

‘ Government and Councils add to misery and cruelty of elderly in care ‘

CRUEL CARERS is the headline exposing the abuse of the elderly in care homes and NHS hospitals. These things have been known about by the councils and Government for years, but conveniently brushed aside for political reasons.  Thousands of elderly people are being abused and suffering neglect at the hands of sadistic staff. The report is truly shocking, but not amazing or unexpected.  It accuses councils of spending less money on providing fewer services for the pensioners in addition to rife age discrimination.  Cameron has long issued spin and lies to make believe he cares for the aged, which is cynical and disturbing. It sees around 500,000 old age pensioners as being put at risk by councils and private care homes, and says many of these incidents amount to abuses of human rights, and are the culprits brought to book or removed, NO.

‘ The Benefits Agency are prejudiced says disabled man ‘

GROSS VICTIMIZATION claims disabled claimant Simon Spratt of his local Benefits Agency.  To show willing, the man who suffers asthma, eczema and various allergies, took a part-time job which he was told would help his future job prospects.  Unfortunately, the job fell through earlier than he expected, and he returned to his jobcentre hoping to get on a workplace or training scheme.  Due to conditions of his health, they said he wasn’t actively seeking employment so they couldn’t allow him benefit.  Simon had already shown willing to attend a training course, but they were not willing to listen.  He had to spend what little savings he had to just get by, and the Government pretend the money is there to help those who need it most.  And as we have seen with the expenses scandal, we now know who they really mean.

‘ Obey the Law, — Not the Benefits Agency,  — it doesn’t feel it has to ‘

A   SURVEY REVEALED THAT 47 PER CENT OF OFFICES FLOUT THE LAW ON PAYMENT DEADLINES.  After a case involving one claimant, Paul Rowlett, who was dreadfully crippled with a very rare arthritic disease, the benefits Agency were ordered to pay his claim in full and on time.  Sixteen months he and his family waited, after a fire destroyed their home and left them in temporary housing.  Even when this Agency is obliged by law to carry out legislation, they feel that they can ignore it, presumably on the advice of their solicitors??

Another claimant Dave Pickett finally got a payment he was entitled to,  — 31 months late.

‘ GRANTS IMPEDED BY THE BENEFITS AGENCY ‘

Have you ever wondered why there are so many delays in the calculating and handing out of benefits? well, it’s all to do with tactics employed by benefits officers.  A tribunal member spoke out and said that the serious ill claimants are being made to wait without good reason.  The benefits agency are asking for adjournments so that they can decide who should receive them,  The argument is that officers need time to check whether there is any other way of avoiding damage to health before paying a grant.

‘ Retired Council Benefits Officer says ‘the gaffs were overlooked’

COUNCIL WORKER Richard Fowler was eminently qualified to handle the claims in the housing and council tax department, and he thought his colleagues were the same.  However, a few months later in the position of benefits officer, he discovered mistakes were being made daily by other members of staff who used the office like a social centre.  They had papers and files in their hands and they gossiped freely, but not about the claim or the need to solve a claimant’s problem; and some of those problems needed an urgent response — which could have been dealt with if they had been on the ball.  Some of the staff lost files, and this happened because they didn’t know where they had left them.  Whenever this kind of thing happened someone would say ‘ it will show up in somebody’s tray — we’ll look at it then’.  This delays a claim and the claimant suffers all because of one civil servant, and the lack of care by senior staff.  ‘ I brought up the subject of gaffs and mistakes, and was told to forget them, and if I stirred things up I’d be sent to Coventry ( ignored by others in the office).  Errors occurred every week by people who were incapable of working out benefit, but that didn’t bother the managers.  So long as they looked as if they were doing a job — that was acceptable and no one questioned it.  And there was always someone who would cover you in return for a favour later.  I’ve done accounting for years and have systems that work, but all I saw at the council offices was incompetence.’

‘ COUNCIL PAYOUT OVER NEGLIGENCE ‘

TAUNTON DEANE COUNCIL in Somerset found themselves in court due to the inaction of one officer – tenancy relations officer, Mrs. S. Boland.  She was accused along with the council of maladministration and professional misconduct due to a decision to suspend benefit.  The council solicitor, one Ian Taylor embarked upon a familiar theme — saying the plaintiff did not have a case, and that this action was premature, and he would seek to bring this to the court’s attention.  During the nine months that followed he made attempts using the familiar  —– Lawyer’s grip on court procedure to have the case thrown out.  After failing in this he resorted to the changing of solicitors so that some sort of intimidation could take place, a sort of stealth yet bordering in the legal.  Luckily the Judge opposed these moves and could not find that the council’s reason for these tactics held water and Deputy District Judge Van. Oppen found the council guilty of negligence.  The council payout was a mere £233 plus costs, and strangely due to the council having words with the local paper, the article never appeared in the press, although Phil Hill the reporter was keen to run with it earlier.  Attempts were made to get an explanation, and he ignored calls and letters.

‘ THE BENEFITS AGENCY BLUNDERS ‘

There is chaos in the Benefits Agency a leaked report tells us, but they do not seem to know or care about what it actually means.  A Government Ombudsman clearly stated that costs are spiralling due to poor administration.  The report showed that some people were being paid too much whilst others were being paid too little, and this was not being remedied because no one could sort these matters out.  A Whitehall insider said ‘ the mistakes can be put down mostly to human error involving relatively small sums of money, but which add up to a large amount.  Little can be done once incorrect benefits had been paid out and they hoped that benefit office staff learn from the errors and take more care next time??’

An official memo said that improved training schemes are being introduced for staff and managers have been meeting to work out foolproof methods of calculating individual claims.

‘ BENEFITS FRAUD INSPECTOR JAILED FOR FIT-UP ‘

MR DAVID VALENTINE a Benefits Fraud Inspector in Windsor hatched a plot to fabricate serious charges against another man over an affair.  Paul Eagles the victim, spent three months in the cells before being released without charge.  Using his position within the Benefits Agency, he alleged that a benefits overpayment had been made in connection with a fraudulent claim.  VALENTINE — A FORMER POLICEMAN? turned Benefits Inspector was suitably armed with prior experience and the knowledge to fit-up Mr. Eagles — a fact that doesn’t surprise anyone who goes to the police files on this site.  Valentine conducted a campaign of violence and intimidation against Paul Eagles with the sole intention of destroying the man’s reputation and life.  When the affair was discovered Maidenhead Council suspended Mr. Valentine.  Mr. eagles was exonerated from cheating the benefits system, but not before the system helped to support a lie by one of their ‘trusted’ civil servants?

‘ Benefits Office in cover-up over employee’s conduct ‘

The situation at a Wellington Benefits Office in Somerset borders on the disbelief when it came to a complaint from claimant.  The complaint was not registered or properly investigated and arguments between the client and a manager’s assistant was allowed to get very personal.  All attempts by the claimant to raise the issue of being treated unfairly were ‘railroaded’ and he was threatened with eviction from the office (something other offices have done in order to squash the right of a claimant).  Misuse of powers is not that rare and many of these civil servants use these tactics to cover up their mistakes and discrimination.  The claimant suddenly found himself booted out to a course of job search at a nearby centre.  For 6 weeks he had coffee, looked at papers and did the odd call, without success of a job.  Ironically, one can see that all of this was to silence him and make the problem go away.  The problem is the Benefits Agency, but their arrogance prevents them from seeing this.

‘ What happens when the Council or DWP get it wrong? ‘

The simple answer is in two parts- a cover-up or obstruction in the compensation claim, and in most cases they don’t even tell the wronged person about compensation at all.  They hope ‘ignorance’ will work in their favour.  Council and DWP Lawyers are infamous for ‘slowing down or baulking a claimant’ often issuing denials (quite dishonestly) knowing they can rely on ‘qualified privilege’ to see them through.  And in the case they do pay, there is always a part of the page that says ‘this is not an admission of liability’   Council Staff or DWP Staff pretend they don’t know and fob off the wronged person by saying they must take up the issue with someone else?  and even if an adjudicator took a wrong decision, they are protected by immunity, and a Legal Department that will go to any length to make things difficult for the claimant.  Having wronged them, they have no conscience or moral values, its all part of the system — a public system that lies and attempts to make things worse.  The lawyers using devious practice methods delay proceedings even in the pre-court hearing stage having in effect forced the person to go to court.  Sadly for the claimant, the court is the Lawyer’s playground and in essence they play out the case like a game….. often involving the Judge an an ally! as they make out the council or DWP did no wrong because it was all a mistake that could have been sorted out in the passing of time?   suggesting that it could have been amicably settled — shifting the goalposts to make the claimant look like the unreasonable party, when in fact they orchestrated the entire thing for their paymasters.  And if there is a settlement, it is often derisory and lower than it should be.

‘ Corrupt Local Councils and the scams they indulge ‘

A report by David Freud, an advisor to the government says that the benefits system has been milked by the greedy and feckless, often with the collaboration of incompetent or corrupt local councils.  He says the Incapacity Benefit is leading to housing estates where most of the people are out of work on benefits, which could be for life.  He suggests that some council officers and benefits staff are steered away from examining the claims in favour of going after easier targets.  He says a good reason for this and one they should be ashamed of is, that people who are claiming incapacity benefit do not register as unemployed — good for Government figures.  Some ministers have actually preferred to collude with a system which effectively defrauds the public he adds. 

‘ Council at the centre of Investments Fraud ‘

TORBAY COUNCIL found itself at the centre of an International Bank and Investments Fraud investigation as cops swooped to uncover the ring that operated in the seaside town of Torquay in September.  The fraud amounted to millions it was revealed.

‘ Council Gaffe in Berkshire ‘

WOKINGHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL RELEASED DATA ON 18,000 RESIDENTS — The council ‘mistakenly’ released data on 18,000 residents to Marketing Companies because of a ‘glitch’ on their programme supplied by a contracted company.  They apparently sent out letters of notice warning people that they inadvertently gave out information that might result in junk mail etc.  The software company did not answer its phone despite attempts to get a response.

‘ COUNTY COUNCILLOR IN POLICE INCIDENT ‘

Conservative Councillor PAULINE BUFFHAM was fined £400 for failing to stop when required by the police.  The Lincolnshire Councillor was chased by police as she sped away in her car and all attempts to slow her down failed until they employed a ‘stinger’  The Police said she was driving erratically when she was spotted, she claimed that Police Constable Andy Jarvis was rude to her and she has lodged a complaint against the force.

‘ The £800 a minute expenses for council committee meetings ‘

MP’s expenses? just consider one councillor Salim Ullah who refused to comment on the allowances such as £9,698 and the fact a committee chairman gets an additional £8,609.  Mr Ullah managed ten minutes with the Appeals Committee  receiving the additional amount at a Tower Hamlets, London, meeting.  Taxpayers money funding these expenses are claimed by the council to be reasonable?

‘Tory Council Leader drops mask of sincerity to reveal true colours’

WINDSOR’s Tory Council leader SIMON DUDLEY succeeded in annoying many humanist groups when he openly on a News Interview said that the Homeless in Windsor must be taken off the streets when the Royal marriage of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle takes place on the 23rd of May 2018.  He’s calling on the Berkshire police to remove beggars off the street, which he says ‘would show a sadly unfavourable light on the day’ if they were allowed to be on the streets of Windsor.  One of the Homeless charity groups, The Windsor Homeless Project’ said, ‘It was sickening to hear this from the councillor, it’s absolutely abhorrent that anybody has got these views in this day and age, especially the lead councillor of a Royal Borough.  To cite the Royal Wedding as a reason for his comments is absolutely awful.’   (January 2018)

NB:  It’s a pity that Prince Harry didn’t speak out on this, especially as he’s gone around the World trying to help the poor.  But, there is a chance for the decent citizen to do something about this Tory, and that is to vote him off the council in the next elections and do it big by having him lose his deposit or whatever!

‘ MP in £100,000 Charity Funds Disappearance ‘

ANTHONY STEEN MP for South Hams in Devon could or would not account for missing charity funds of £100,000 said to have been lost.  The MP was unavailable for comment and the matter was said to be under investigation at the time.

‘ Council rebuked for second time by Ombudsman ‘

HACKNEY COUNCIL was for a second time criticised by Mr. Yardley the Ombudsman over the same thing.  The Council’s social services just cannot grasp their responsibilities to claimants because as I see it, they are unwilling to take advice or work with my office as laid down by parliament ‘  Mrs Keeney suffered unduly at their hands and no one in the civil service cared, because they did not consider her case serious enough?  He also rebuked the Benefits Agency who stood by and did nothing while Mrs. Keeney went without vital resources.  They were ordered to pay £1,500 compensation.  ‘ Both you the council, and Benefits Agency, should be ashamed over the way you have acted ‘ he said, ‘ I am the second Ombudsman to have this case before me, and that is a disgrace.’

‘ Misrepresentation by the Benefits Agency ‘

A LOCAL AUTHORITIES ASSOCIATION COMMITTEE accused the Benefits Agency of making misrepresentations to the committee over the housing benefits.  Mr. Castle for the Association of Metropolitan Authorities said that councillors were extremely annoyed by the attitude of the Benefits Agency.  He accused the Agency of providing the committee with all this information without consulting a single local authority on their evidence.  He said that the Benefits Agency had misrepresented local government by not pointing out to the committee that the provision of benefits was run by local authorities in an entirely different way to the Benefits Agency offices.  The Agency had not given any indication to MP’s or Councils about the diversity of services provided and the complications in paying out housing benefit to a wide range of people.

‘ Caring Council Couldn’t care less ‘

COLCHESTER BOROUGH COUNCIL should be trying hard to help people in the community, but all they could do for grieving mother   Di Pritchard who lost her son, was condemn her cheaper memorial bench in favour of having her pay £700 for their ‘approved ‘ one when she had found one for £137.  The bench is quite adequate and paid for by friends and herself, but the council couldn’t care less about this or their feelings, but all too often it’s the way councils do act towards the taxpayer.

‘ COUNCIL OVERSTEPS IT’S MANDATE ‘

WYRE BOROUGH COUNCIL apologised to a couple after reporting them to police after cops had to payout Joe and Helen Roberts for oppressive behaviour.  The couple had dared to write to their local council about certain leaflets that were sent to residents.  They said one of the equality officers had reported the couple to the police and we now recognise that a fundamental weakness of procedures went wrong in this case.  We now insist that more than one officer looks at a case before action — we apologise for the mishandling of this matter.’

‘ Arrested Councillor claims he is above the Law ‘

AVON COUNTY COUNCILLOR TIMOTHY COLLINS thought his standing as Police Authority boss would carry the day when the Avon and Somerset Police pulled over the car in which he was a passenger.  The driver was found to be drunk, but Mr. Collins tried to intervene saying he was the son of the Chief Constable.  ‘ You don’t know who you are dealing with, I am with the Police Authority ‘   Collins was handcuffed and charged and found guilty of threatening violence towards police officers.

‘ Council found negligent still denies liability ‘

CORBY BOROUGH COUNCIL was found guilty by the court of negligence in a case brought by the parents of deformed children who were affected after toxic waste was linked to the council site.  For ten years the council knew about the waste at the depot but refused to heed warnings or complaints.  The judge agreed their was a link to the children’s’ deformities due to the exposure the tip provided.  He allowed compensation claims to go ahead against the council from several families. 

THE COUNCIL intends to appeal and challenge the decision and still denies they were responsible, which of course is not unusual — council denial is the first course their Lawyers insist upon, they rarely own up to maladministration, wrongdoing or corruption as you have already seen on this site.

‘ COUNCIL EXECUTIVE GOES TO JAIL ‘

WIGAN BOROUGH COUNCIL BOSS NADINE WAKELAM was found guilty of defrauding the council of almost £200,000.  Liverpool Crown Court sentenced the ‘compulsive shopper ‘ to two years imprisonment.  She and her husband (a council finance manager) enjoyed joint salaries bringing in £70,000 per annum.  The council boss created 62 fraudulent invoices for work and fictional services.  For a long time no one thought to challenge the invoices and because of her seniority, they treated them as official and paid out as a matter of course. Her husband John Wakelam was accused of money laundering and abetting his wife, the jury could not agree on a majority and they cleared him.

‘ Dirty work by Hounslow Benefits Office ‘

After 18 months, a tribunal decided that the Benefits Office had acted unfairly in the case of claimant, Pamela Richmond.  She had been denied her widow’s allowance payments to the amount of a £1,000.  Staff continually made her life hell with the games they only know too well that they put their victims through.  The rules could be moved according to their whims and if they so decided, as they did in her case, she failed every time as they concocted stories and interpreted the regulations to such a bizarre and perverse way.  A spokesperson at a local Law Centre said ‘ they have fabricated things to fit the rule book and have invented a claim that she owes them money, which of course is completely untrue ‘   The only way forward for Pamela was to go to a tribunal to get her money back, — which would involve costs far out of her reach, and the Benefits Office already knew that and used it to their advantage.  It was obvious that their claim she owed them money was invented at a higher level and backed by unscrupulous solicitors for the department.  Luckily our story ends well for Pamela, — The Hounslow Workers Support Unit funded the bill after hearing the injustice, and at the tribunal  The Benefits Office were ordered to pay her all monies and back payments.  The Benefits Office were unavailable for comment?

‘ Job training rip-off was known by Blair many years ago ‘

Millions of pounds have been made by so called job training centres and companies.  Tony Blair knew this in the late 1990’s and chose to ignore it.  £180m was paid out to organise ‘phantom jobs and training courses’ according to the Audit Office.  £22m was paid out for training which didn’t take place.  A great deal of money was never accounted for and inaccuracies were covered-up so that no individual civil servant could be traced.  Hundreds of youngsters were sent to do phoney jobs.  One firm turned out machine parts which ended on the scrapheap, they were not needed or ordered.  A spokesman defended the activities as ‘ as long as they get quality training that’s fine,’

‘ Lack of accountability in Benefits system ‘

MR. PETER BARCLAY of the Government Watchdog committee who looks into reforms in the welfare system claimed that the lack of transparency and accountability in the housing benefits system was down to the government refusing to answer for administration failings.  This being because local authorities handled the applications — ‘ council departments are staffed by people that do not follow the guidelines they should — or feel have to.’

‘ The Councillor’s squalid secret ‘

MARTIN RICHARDS was a Woodspring Councillor who was in the running for mayor.  He claimed that he was in favour of better housing and had this as his campaign leader.  Yet he was later exposed as having a crumbling Victorian tenement in the centre of Weston – super – Mare in Somerset.  Most of his tenants lived in squalor but he never mentioned this as he paraded around the area seeking votes.  He resigned after it was decided that his membership could be self serving in relation to grants on housing — particularly his own.

‘ Homes of the old seized by Councils abusing their powers ‘

COUNCILS ARE TARGETING THE PENSIONERS AND VULNERABLE in order to grab their homes in an easy snatch made possible by John Prescott MP.  This raucous and objectionable northerner obviously has little regard for people who have saved for years to buy their homes.  In interviews he openly shows his more common side and appears to use this to get his way by shouting others down.  Recent Tribunal papers have revealed that councils attitudes have been aggressive and overzealous.  What is most amusing about the report is their defence to the actions of seizing pensioners houses — ‘ We only step in when a homeowner has been unwilling to cooperate, the seizure is approved by the Residential Property Tribunal so that the house can be let to council tenants and the rent is passed to the owner — after the council has covered its costs?? ‘

Have you ever seen their costs?  you’ll be lucky to get anything after they have dreamed up all sorts of admin costs, most of them invented in order to claw in as much cash as possible.

‘ Bumper pay-offs and civil servants ‘

A RECENT ARTICLE mentions pay-offs and perks for civil servants.  It says  on an average redundancy pay-offs are around £60,000.  The taxpayers Alliance rightly says that these civil servants have been enjoying this kind of thing for far too long.  But there is one further problem about this — Councils will not allow a mere individual to look at their financial structure or tell them anything without calling in the security to evict the member of public or get their council solicitor to deny access by way of secrecy being pertinent to his job allowing no one without authorisation to look at anything.  He will quote Data Protection and Information restrictions, anything that will make the enquirer feel uncomfortable or unable to go any further.  Lawyers are like this at the councils as we have already shown in the section ‘ FEATURED LAWYERS — see ‘ Lawyer threatens Pensioner ‘

‘ Civil servants make sure they benefit the most ‘

CIVIL SERVANTS ARE TO GET BEST PENSIONS IN GENEROUS TAXPAYER TOP UP.  This report by the Pricewaterhouse Group of Economists claim the evidence shows that they will get a 35 per cent top up on their final pensions.  The generous self payment will make public sector workers nicely catered for compared to the private sector which looks to be in great trouble pension-wise.  Ros Altmann a former Treasury Pensions Advisor said ‘ it will be a rising burden on the taxpayer ‘

‘ Government lies on youth jobs, supported by the DWP ‘

THE GOVERNMENT MINISTER DWP said in a recent statement, that the nearly one million youth element of the unemployed will all have guaranteed jobs?  But How? she says that they have catered for 100,000 and have 40,000 places in training schemes.  Claims that Industry in the shape of 150 companies are on board to help in this matter.  The sums do not add up.  If those 150 companies hired 10 each it would only fill 1500, if it was 100 each they could take on, it would be 15,000.  So, taking her claims it would still only add up to 155,000, and as we are looking at nearly one million, it shows the government are hopeless at maths, which might indicate how bad they run the country.  Yet, they did alright in their expenses fiddle — they knew what added up then — especially as it went into their own pockets.  If one moved the youth unemployed figure by half, there would still be a deficit of huge proportions.  It is clear to see that the DWP believe in their own lies.  But they are masters in deception — just look at the Lawyers they employ.

‘Labour MP is suspended in Harassment Investigations’

MP IVAN LEWIS has been suspended of harassment allegations, and the report says at the time he was already being investigated over an official complaint over his personal conduct in another matter.  It is stated that he repeatedly touched the leg of a 19yr old at a social event run by The Labour Party, and invited her to his house.  The Bury MP despite it being a second complaint denies it all?  

‘Council spends £450,000 on repainting vehicles orange’

DERBYSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL owned up to having spent a sum of £450,000 of taxpayers cash on making sure they had orange coloured council van’s etc, but it now says its a lot cheaper to buy them in just plain white.  It was costing the council £2,000 each for the vans and pick-ups they bought and then had painted, and their vehicle stock was 400.  The Taxpayer’s Allowance described the previous decision to spend such a large sum was in fact wasting taxpayers money, especially at a time of cutting services and budgets.

‘ Data Protection and the Corrupt Councils ‘

It’s interesting to note that councils demand the full if not prying information details from benefit claimants, self employed and others.  They also claim to be ‘honest’ data controllers.  yet, they pass around information to all and a sundry whether they be Government or private firms who request an under the counter favour, — it’s more in the line of ‘abusing the police computer regulations ‘ thing, except there is no crime where the council is concerned, they are immune from prosecution.  Any of their civil servants can claim to be ‘data controllers’ so that shows you how safe the act is, –riddled with holes and fully absorbed in corrupt practices.  Simon Davies of Privacy International said ‘some of these council activities regarding using and giving out data should be prohibited, particularly in regard to information passed to bailiffs ‘  He says these creeping allowances and misuse of legislation is beyond the remit of a council and would not be approved of by the voters and taxpayers.  It is rather strange that a council such as Havant in Hampshire or Chichester can order that they see someone’s full accounts and books, yet they deny the citizen a right to see their books, which could be another sign of them hiding facts or false accounting — but they are probably allowed to do this under Brown’s corrupt government.

‘Council Payment blunder penalises students ‘

LANCASHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL wanted to claw back overpayments made to students the previous year, despite not showing the students how to properly use the code.  Fifteen to twenty students from Lytham St. Annes had been working as cleaners on the minimum wage, now they’ve been served with demands for repayment, and some may face court if they fail or cannot pay it back.  Some of them face bills around £600 to £2,000.  A council officer said ‘ We’re duty bound to recover overpayments’

‘ MP’s use taxpayer’s money to boost profits for themselves ‘

THE EXPENSES SCAM has not been the whole story according to a recent report.  MP’s have been profiting from taxpayer-funded mortgages claimed on a regular basis despite the expenses fiddle.  Sir John Stanley admitted that Parliamentary colleagues were making huge gains due to these mortgage claims.  Former Environment Minister Barry Gardiner made a profit of £198,500 on a taxpayer funded second home.  Millionaire Tory Greg Barker made a £320,000 profit on a flat the taxpayer ‘helped him to buy’  Sir John said the few cases he could reveal were only the tip of the iceberg — under the system at present MP’s get mortgage interest on their second home reimbursed by the taxpayer.  He also said ‘ they get major outgoings like council tax, gas and electricity charges paid by the taxpayer’  Over many years MP’s have been making hundreds of thousands of pounds as a result of fleecing the taxpayer in any way they could whilst claiming to be honest and law abiding!

‘ False promises and shortcomings by the Tax Credits Department ‘

THE UNDERTAKINGS BY CIVIL SERVANTS AT THE TAX CREDITS CENTRE WERE PROVEN TO BE FALSE as we are now informed by a claimant who was assured that any back payments would be taken into account at the date claimed.  This did not happen although the claimant was repeatedly told that his claim would be automatically backdated to the point of his claim.  When he received his overdue tax credit allowance it left out four weeks and this in effect was ignored by the civil servants who told him not to worry.  The phone centre proved to be inadequate, and this call in customer centre was supposed to cut time and veer anyone away from lengthy appeals.  The claimant therefore had to appeal against the award, and several months later was told he was entitled to the back claim.  This all goes to show how incompetent this department is and the glib lies they tell clients.  Closely related to the DWP, one can see how the corruption spreads from one government department to another. 

‘ Former Civil Servant admits that staff enjoyed bullying claimants ‘

MRS. P we shall call her as she does not want to be identified — we did try to change her mind.  Mrs. P has worked in the civil service for twenty-three years and says she has witnessed many things that management would not like exposed.  In the council she came across staff who would conspire together to target particular claimants they had listed that had been difficult!  Some of the ways of intimidating them were simple ploys such as making them wait much longer than anyone else, and then tell them they could not find the particular file and make another appointment.  Another ploy was to deliberately go over old ground and say that they had not received clarification therefore there would be some delay, when in fact they had taken the form out of the file along with the proof and put it in a drawer.  When she worked at the Jobcentre she said she herself took part in making clients lives a misery because several other members of staff found the game too irresistible to pass up on.  They all knew how vulnerable a claimant was and that they had no power of redress if they complained — ‘ It was their word against ours  — and we won every time ‘

‘ Hinckley and Bosworth Council blamed for Terrorized Suicide pair ‘

The coroner for the Leicestershire district said that failings in the council contributed to the deaths of Fiona Pilkington and her daughter Francecca.  The two women had been the target of yobs who made their lives hell and not worth living.  The council knew who were the offenders yet did little in the way of real protection.  Gang activities happened frequently outside the victims home.  33 complaints were made, the inquest heard that a gang of sixteen youths roamed the area without any fear of police or council officials.  The police were also implicated in the contributory charges that arose from this incident.

‘ Slight of hand — fiddle of expenses again with MP’s’

Yes, the Government civil servants are at it again and have been all along while the distraction of the other fraudulent expenses fiddle has made headline news.  Openness and trust is a joke and the recent programme ‘Dispatches’ revealed that when they tried to follow the expenses trail of MP’s flying off on trips abroad.  Try as they did, the researchers found it almost impossible to get proper accounting or answers as to why some of these MP’s were making so many trips abroad.  Thousands of pounds were being claimed and paid out under the guise of ‘working for their constituents’  Much of what they showed could hardly be said to be in the interest of constituents — some living on the breadline.  But living in fancy hotels and jetting around at the taxpayers expense must be appealing and better than having a job?

‘ The Council Tax Scam ‘

COUNCILS ARE RELYING  ON FINES to boost funds for mainstream objectives already guaranteed in their programs.  Car Parking has been highlighted as a major part of this fiddle.  The public are led to believe that all services to the public have been budgeted for —-by these civil servants who are thought to possess the highest skills in this area of serving the people of their borough or area.  Councils bandy about false pledges of no one being unfairly treated, but this is obviously a lie.  Nowhere in the funding is there a clause saying we must have fines to provide a proper service, fines were supposed to be a deterrent against breaking rules, but the council are depending on as many people as possible to break the rules so things can be supported in their finance aims.  Surely this is double edged and morally dishonest, but councils are, that’s why they don’t open their books to public scrutiny.

‘ Benefits Staff lose £900million through it’s own errors ‘

CIVIL SERVANTS in the Benefits Agencies lose a staggering £900m due to their own incompetence it was revealed in the Appeals Court.  This was exposed after losing a legal battle over forcing claimants who’d been overpaid to repay it.  Solicitors for the DWP had no legal right to threaten because a 1992 Act did not give them the right.  The judge ruled that the Benefits Agency could not force harassed and distressed claimants to hand back money wrongly paid due to staff blunders.  This ruling came after a two year court battle.  It was revealed that claimants were threatened with County Court Action by solicitors for the DWP — see featured Lawyers for more on this disturbing case.

‘ Council Security Guards used in Suppressing Free Speech ‘

A report has shown that many councils use security staff to suppress public enquiries that the council find too difficult to reply to.  Such as misuse of taxpayers cash and corruption on building contracts.  The security guards are regarded as civil servants but see themselves as the police.  Many have criminal records that are secretly covered over and if found out — it was a mistake that was overlooked.  As we said — transparency and freedom of information is not the truth, and these employees — the guards, have no interest in serving the public,  — the public beyond the council and government offices.

‘ Cover-up as Council influence stops Newspaper from publishing expose ‘

TAUNTON DEANE COUNCIL AND THE SOMERSET GAZETTE in conspiracy to pull a scoop story by reporter.  The story concerning a court action against the council that lasted nine months — one in which the council lost, was suddenly pulled without explanation.  The reporter had approached the plaintiff after he had learned of the case via a ‘postbag letter’ and gave assurances that he would not give in to external pressure or let the council prevent the story appearing.  When the story failed to appear the plaintiff went to the Gazette for an explanation.  He was denied this and they refused to let him talk with the reporter who was now absent.  It was later discovered that the council spokeswoman who was in charge of press releases was indeed a regular friend of the Gazette Reporter and he knew of her well.  This case shows that the Press are not always to be trusted and that they claim falsely to be free to print the facts without undue influence.  A conspiracy to suppress the truth was entered into by the Somerset Gazette and Council Officials when they knew the story was not favourable to themselves — and it might go down badly with the public.

STRANGELY AS IT MAY SEEM, the above story is not just a small newspaper thing  — we have learned that the biggies like the Sunday People, Sunday Mail, News of the World are selective when it comes to exposes and council confrontations are mostly steered away from no matter how good the story is.

‘ Civil Servants turn a blind eye over MP’s expenses ‘

A recent report concerning the expenses scandal shows that many civil servants trusted with examining claims did very little to curb  outrageous claims by ignoring 90 per cent of them and paying them out with almost zero scrutiny.  Basic checks were abandoned in favour of showing their bosses how loyal they were.  The staff were indeed not only nice to their employer but generous as well, they did not query claims or see if the claims were justified at the Department of Resources.  Their role in the scandal was suppressed and it was only when a request under the Freedom of Information revealed how devious the department and the staff had been.

‘ Poole Borough Council in Excessive Covert Spying Incident ‘

CIVIL SERVANTS of the Poole Borough Council spent weeks at the cost of the taxpayer hounding and snooping into the life an affairs of Jenny Paton using powers granted by the Labour Government.  It was found they wrongly suspected the woman of lying and arbitrarily set out to trap her, but failed.   Businesswoman Jenny branded the council’s behaviour as outrageous at a tribunal looking into the matter.

‘ Council Town Workers numbering 20,000 snoop on people ‘

IT HAS BEEN REVEALED THAT AROUND 20,000 CIVIL SERVANTS HAVE BEEN GRANTED THE POWER TO ENTER THE HOME WITHOUT A WARRANT  — Council snoopers have assumed the power to enter people’s homes without gaining a warrant in the search for information.  They are relying on secondary legislation using energy laws and safety etc to bolster their aggressive and arrogant behaviour granted by the Labour Government who passed 1,043 state powers of entry.  The Public Right to Privacy which Brown was so keen to back is worthless and it is a fact that Mr.Brown knew of it, but continues to keep silent and distant from his own contradictions to the British Public and taxpayers.

‘Injured worker gets £1.8million from Fenland Council ‘

Michael Bagridge who worked as a ‘binman’ was awarded a compensation package of £1.8million from Fenland District Council in Cambridgeshire.  Luckily for him the council did not dispute liability (which is the normal way they proceed in their legal departments).  Michael was badly injured when the council truck hit a parked lorry and cab he was in was crushed… he had to be cut out of the wreck.  It is notable that Michael had to sue the council.

‘ The civil servant who rakes in £310,000 in just one year ‘

High flier? NO…just a guy who– a civil servant who works with the UK Border Security Force, yes that is Azad Ootam who gets a nice slice of taxpayers cash.  Described as a ‘ middle manager’ this individual even managed to make the bonus scandal look rather cheap, — he was unavailable for comment and the Agency merely stated it was all within government guidelines?

‘ Civil servants pay themselves £130 million in bonuses ‘

A REPORT HAS REVEALED THAT THE TAXPAYER HAS PAID OUT OVER £130 MILLION TO CIVIL SERVANTS in one year.  The payments have been claimed in bonus schemes they have eagerly subscribed to above their normal job salaries.  Apart from regular government staff, management have been quick to seize the opportunity to get their hands on cash handouts for all sorts of lame and invented reasons.

BREAKING NEWS — ‘ COUNCIL OFFICIAL IN PORN CASE ‘

BOURNEMOUTH COUNCIL’S LEADER STEPHEN McGLOUGHLIN has been found to have explicit porn on his office laptop computer.  The council have said it was no more than it expected, yet twenty other council civil servants were suspended over a joke which involved a porn image by the same council in a former incident.

BOURNEMOUTH DEPUTY LEADER JOHN BEASLEY has been accused of ‘ Conflict of Interest’ concerning a favour who it is said he gave preference in a business contract issued by the council.  His case is at the moment pending according to news sources.

WE BEGIN THE UPDATE;

‘ THE PYRAMID OF DECEIT AND LIES ‘

THIS REPORT COMES IN VIA OUR COLLEAGUES AT DWP CORRUPTION – The story was for all to see on the web.  It is a story of secrecy, corrupting power and deceit that government engages in.  ‘ THE ADELPHI HOUSE CONNECTION ‘ and John Adam St in London.  The Article (which can be seen in full on the web and on the DWP CORRUPTION Website) reveals the shady movements and behaviour surrounding MARSHALL WACE LLP – Rod Aldridge forced to resign overexposed secret loans, and BEAR GYLLIS caught fabricating documents.  There is mentions of a secret ‘private members’ club under Adam St run and owned by JAMES MINTER.  What of ADELPHI HOUSE?  THAT’S WHERE THE DEPARTMENT OF WORK AND PENSIONS IS LOCATED — are you beginning to see things now?

‘ The Cabinet Minister who said – ‘ We do tell lies ‘

FORMER CABINET MINISTER WILLIAM WALDEGRAVE, then a senior minister claimed that ministers have the right to lie to MP’s.  He caused a storm of protest of course as he said this as he was questioned by the Treasury Committee.  This statement shocked all and made any claims of running a honest government absolute nonsense.  His statement savagely tore into the so-called rules for ministers and centuries of parliamentary practice ( not entirely new — see the South Sea Bubble affair of the 1700’s at the top of the page).

‘ Labour MP under Investigation ‘

West Lancashire MP Colin Picktall aide to Jack Straw came under police investigations concerning financial discrepancies.  He was questioned by detectives over his election spending.  A file was said to have been passed to the CPS, but nothing was ever heard of it again?

‘  The Crooked Civil Servants ‘

INDEED, A HEADLINE SAID THIS VERY THING — It claimed that civil servants and Whitehall staff were defrauding the taxpayer.  £9million was said to be the cost and that this was just the tip of the iceberg.  Frauds were being committed by departmental and agency staff, especially where they have colluded with outsiders.  Intriguing though it might be it was revealed that quangos, and there are many many such things set up by government, are not compelled to report fraud within their own body to the Treasury.  Millions go missing and unaccounted for in this way and civil servants have the gall to claim poverty and mistreatment by the very public that are unable to stop council chiefs, council lawyers etc of having huge salaries and claiming bogus expenses.

‘ Long-running benefit swindles by civil servants ‘

COUNCIL OFFICIALS HAVE ROBBED TAXPAYERS out of £650,000, and the swindle went unchecked.  This was a report into a labour run town hall.  THIRTEEN EMPLOYEES WERE SACKED, THIRTY-THREE RESIGNED and FOUR WERE GIVEN FINAL WARNINGS.  Scores of false housing and council tax benefit claims were uncovered by Hammersmith and Fulham Council.  All 50 civil servants faced disciplinary proceedings and some of the worst cases were prosecuted.  At the time of the report it was said that there were still 28 more cases under investigation.  The fraud was said to have been in operation for several years showing that the corruption was deep and for most of the time well hidden.  Earlier checks had been thwarted by restrictions in the Data Protection Act that wasn’t supposed to be an aid to covering up staff corruption a spokesperson said, ‘ but employees saw it as a defence and used it after council lawyers suggested it.’

‘ Benefits Agency in £2million fiddle by staff ‘

Released figures made public by Mark Harper, Shadow Minister, revealed that taxpayers have been defrauded out of £2 million by benefit cheats within The Department of Work and Pensions.  Of course, this is not the first time, we have mentioned other such fraud in the Benefits Agency on this page.  Most of the fraud involves expenses fiddling, fraudulent overtime claims and theft of DWP property (this was not specified or detailed in the report).  Jonathan Shaw of the DWP made the usual attempts to play this down, even in the light of a rise in fraud within the Department.  Last year in 2009, forty-two civil servants were identified in investigations.  £216,149 was estimated to have been lost through other fraud not specified, and this involved 156 members of staff. 

‘Council spends £214,000 of public money on ‘blogger hunt’

A five year hunt and £214,000 was spent by SOUTH TYNESIDE COUNCIL because a blogger insulted several councillors.  It actually hired USA lawyers to trace the unknown blogger ‘Mr Monkey’ who said he was going to expose the truth about three councillors in the Labour run constituency.  The blog attracted 4,000 hits a day as investigators went looking for him.  But they had to abandon the chase in 2009 with no results, the council said it had a duty of care to protect its employees from malicious accusations?……which we will never know about now, and why were they so keen to silence the blogger at a staggering price of £214,000?

‘ CASH-FOR-ACCESS SCANDAL NETS THREE MP’S ‘

YES, here we go again, it never stops even though they tell us that it will.  STEVEN BYARS, PATRICIA HEWITT and GEOFF HOON are all seen on a programme that catches them selling their lobbying expertise and boasts of being able to amend the law by having a discreet word with the right man as part of the service they can offer.  Byars lied and fibbed, but still wants £5,000 a day if he works for the right clients.  The other two quoted £3,000 a day, rather a bargain eh to get your own way and have an MP swing the deal or vote in your favour.  Deceit by this government will never be over, history shows this, it’s in their genes!!

IN 1995 ‘ THE CASH-FOR-QUESTIONS’ SCANDAL’ hit the headlines bringing down two Tory MP’s GRAHAM RIDDICK and DAVID TREDINNICK who asked for £1,000 payments as backhanders for Commons Questions.

‘ 20 More MP’s break rules on lobbying and foreign expenses ‘

THE REGULATIONS WERE BREACHED 400 TIMES by 20 members of parliament.  MP Andrew Digmore breached the rules more than 90 times over trips to Cyprus.  MP Liam Fox breached the rules twice.  MP Norman Baker broke the rules 37 times, and Tory Vice Chairman Richard Spring failed to register a trip to Mauritius before asking four questions in the House about Britain’ relations with the Island.  They all enjoyed ‘ expenses-paid’ trips and their foreign hosts paid for the hospitality.  Yet declaring this as they should took another dive and as usual they made no mention of it.

‘MP’s wife pulled over for drink-driving’

Wife of Tory MP Colonel Robert Stewart was arrested and taken to Bromley Police Station after being pulled over under the influence of alcohol in her Volvo car near to their £1.5 million home.  She said she’d had a few gin and tonics prior to driving, and she had stopped to get the police to help find her dogs.  She was recorded at being twice over the limit, and the report says this will be an embarrassment to her husband who is the MP for Beckenham.  She appeared before Bromley Magistrates and was banned from driving and fined £576.

‘Did Civil Servants doctor Hillsborough Web’

A report has suggested that a civil servant in Merseyside may have inserted derogative comments into the Wikipedia pages on the Hillsborough disaster in 1989.  They identify the civil servant as born in London, and living in Merseyside.  It mentions that the Home Office has interviewed a suspect after receiving evidence, but his identity has not been revealed as yet.  It also concludes by saying the suspect made other changes with editing…..they say he has denied the allegations!

‘ Government training financial Rip-Off ‘

A REPORT BY THE NATIONAL AUDIT OFFICE admitted that as much as £22million has disappeared on courses that simply did not exist.  None of it cannot be accounted for despite words and phrases of ‘ transparency ‘ and ‘ the Freedom of Information’ bandied about and uttered by desperate civil servants.  One aspect ‘ Fake Jobs’ was an issue with a County Training Council in Essex that took on 900 jobless people to make parts which eventually ended up on the scrap heap.

‘ Benefits Fraud Squad accused of Harassment and Intimidation by Benefits Office ‘

LOCAL BENEFITS STAFF IN BODMIN gave out leaflets to claimants accusing the Benefits Fraud Team of bullying, harassment and intimidation.  Bosses were annoyed at the lack of loyalty, yet staff stood by their accusations and said investigators wrote their own rules, acted outside the law and thought themselves beyond it.

‘ Claimants Ignored and blamed for Benefits Errors ‘

INCOMPETENT STAFF IN BENEFITS OFFICES are getting one third of benefits decisions wrong according to the Child Poverty Action Group.  Its report says that almost a third of claims are incomplete or just wrong are the fault of civil servants who add to the misery of the claimant.  When challenged, the Benefits Agency disagree and put the blame on the client claiming they do not make errors, it’s the claimant’s fault!

‘ No prosecutions for corrupt office staff ‘

A LEAKED MEMO has revealed that a number of staff at a Benefits Office in Greater London have been guaranteed that no action will be taken by bosses in respect of irregularities in claims and unaccounted cash paid out.  The deal is said to have been made with the union so that good relations may continue to exist.  The offences surround claims that collusion and certain arrangements resulted in managerial and others receiving under the counter payments.  Apparently, the decision to take no action has been taken by the DWP because they consider the fraud to be ‘ low-level’ which can be handled at Office level discreetly?

‘ Pension Fiddles in the Civil Service ‘

It appears that civil servants at The Ministry of Defence abused the pension scheme in the 1980’s rather routinely than one would imagine….and the author Michael Albin of Blackburn, himself a former civil servant at the MOD whistle blows here.  He says he has no reason to believe that it isn’t still going on now.  He says it was quite common for someone to be promoted in their last year in order to increase their pension, and it was also a perk that they could be given priority on all overtime.  He said where someone worked the evening shift, and were approaching retirement, they would be made night-shift manager, which would increase their pension by a third.  Another scheme or scam was involved in moving expenses when changing jobs, you started outside London buying a small house or flat, then applied for promotion into central London.  The MOD would effectively pay for your mortgage for a similar house in London. After 5 years you applied for promotion outside of the Capital and upgraded your house to a larger one.  By repeating this process every four or five years you end up retiring with a large house in Central London, then downsize and retire to the seaside in a small cottage banking the profits and being rather well off.  Some people knew the relocation scam so well that they taught the expenses staff what could be claimed for and how to successfully get it.

‘ Bennington – another job creation fiasco ‘

YET ANOTHER NAME TO ADD TO THE LIKES OF A4E AND CDG who have all been contracted by the DWP who claim to be helping the jobless back into work.  The DWP are very liberal with their contracts and taxpayers cash and accounting for it requires no effort, their lawyers can fabricate or falsify something or other!  Bennington like the others engages in this ‘ classroom’ type situation whilst leaving others who have been inducted and move up the board, go into another room – scanning papers for vacancies ‘  All these people are sent by the Jobcentres for a number of specified weeks — and only a tiny few ever successfully get an actual job.  Others return to the merry-go-round and their former position – waiting for it all to start again.  While these people are at Bennington’s the DWP and Jobcentre Plus fiddle the jobless figures and create a nonsense that is almost impossible to make sense of.  It all boils down to this in truth – we take 10 claimants — 6 go to Bennington, and now we only have 4, so that makes 4 unemployed, and that is how the government work the fiddle.

‘ Council have it covered to extract parking penalties no matter what ‘

COUNCILS ROUTINELY SET THEIR OWN SCENES to get money from the unsuspecting taxpayer, and cars and parking are one of their particular little ‘nasties’ they benefit from financially.  Fair or Foul?  councils couldn’t care less….such is the case for one person who tells us what happened.  John Lindeck of Ledbury was a regular visitor to the area of Stoke Newington who takes great care to display a visitor’s parking voucher each day.  However, on one day when Arsenal have a home match a special charge is levied.  On August the 4th 2013 he got a parking ticket when he didn’t expect to….and was told that was because Arsenal were playing a home friendly….but there was no reference to this in the papers…. he complained about the unfairness of this…but paid.  It happened again on Jan 1 2014….but accepted he didn’t really look into it fully before parking….on January the 5th there was a home match and he had his voucher…..which didn’t really work fairly at all…it had an evening kick off…his voucher covered from 12 noon to 4-30pm and he’d been got again.  He now realises this is all about money making, a council scam to fleece the motorist…..and more stranger is that Stoke Newington is 2 miles from the actual Arsenal Stadium!

‘Judge tells drunk MP — you are arrogant and think you are above the law’

Former MP MATTHEW GORDON BANKS was jailed for 12 weeks when he appeared at Oxford Magistrates Court on being found guilty of running his Jaguar car into a camper van whilst being over twice the limit.  As a result, a pensioner was seriously injured at the scene, 71 year old Glenys Nixon was in the camper van, and she is now on crutches.  Gordon Banks was an MP for Southport between 1992 and 1997.  District Judge Tim Pattinson said Banks had shown total disregard for the law and the court, and described him as a ‘danger to the public’  The accident happened in a lay-by near the MP’s home in Charlbury, Oxfordshire.  On sentencing him he said, ‘These are the actions of someone who is arrogant and thinks they are above the law’   Banks admitted drink-driving and two counts of driving while disqualified, two counts of driving without insurance, and one of fraud relating to providing false information to Aviva Insurance. (15/12/2017)

‘MP charges £2,000 to be a referee at a football match’

Yes folks, its true. Yet one is told quite often that MP’s don’t do the job for money, and it’s for the good of the nation, that’s why they came into politics!  But this tells the story differently, and the old adage ‘you can’t trust the word of a politician’ seems to be bang on the nail.  DOUGLAS ROSS MP was on the line at a European Champions League Football Match, taking a fee of £1,970 to act as assistant referee…whilst back in Westminster the House was debating ‘Universal Credits’ and the problems it was having.  I would bet that some of those being on the receiving end of DWP sanctions and waiting for Universal Credit would have jumped at a chance to earn that amount for just a couple of so hours work!

‘MP Chris Grayling wishes to limit the Freedom of Information’

It became quite apparent that Minister Chris Grayling is not a defender of ‘people power’ and like a lot of Tory Ministers, believes that the Freedom of Information Act should have curbs that prevent requests from people and mainly journalists from using information as a research tool.  He lashed out at journalists saying that they were ‘misusing’ the act for stories.  He also ‘laughingly’ came up with this bit of nonsense – ‘that it was useful for those who want to understand why and how government is taking decisions’….. and if one reads many of the cases on this site, one can see how ‘open and transparent’ they are not!

NB: Luckily, a following report said that the government had retreated on F.O.I. curbs, and they will not be changing things for Mr Grayling.

‘The Whitehall Cover-up Department’

If you need anything covering up in Government circles you go to SIR JEREMY HEYWOOD, he is the person that has been said to be the most effective in secrecy and keeping things out of the public gaze for the Tories.  He is a Cabinet Secretary and his job is to go through all of the Freedom of Information requests to the Cabinet Office.  The report says he has an appalling record on transparency, and that comes as no surprise to journalists on Political assignments.  It says some six out of every ten requests are turned down or rejected outright.  Information is withheld in 34 percent of cases on an average, for the Cabinet Office this is 57 percent.  One MP said it makes the ‘Freedom of Information Act’ look ridiculous, and that David Cameron’s vow of ‘openness with the public’ was based on ‘hollow words’   Another said the Act was never intended for the public to have full rights to information, it was just a political move to look as if one were honest and sincere in political circles, and Cameron thought it might just do the trick he required to fool the electorate.   We now go onto the list of requests withheld by the Minister’s department office,  Worst examples:  The Cabinet Office 57 percent, The Treasury Office 56 percent, The Attorney General’s Office to do with Law 50 percent, The Business Affairs 46 percent, and The Ministry of Justice at 44 per cent.    (9/1/2016)

‘ LORD ASHCROFT and the TAX FIDDLE ‘

LORD MICHAEL ASHCROFT has benefited from an ideal tax situation in the U.K. for almost a decade thanks to the way the Tories and Government Officials act.  Political Reporter, Nick Robinson describes him as ‘ secretive’ in the way he hid his tax status.  Yet this man has a big part in the laws of this country — but does not live here and does very nicely tax-wise due to being ‘ non-dom’ which effectively allows him to pay no tax.  You may think that this is something new, but it isn’t, it has happened before.  The Lords and MP’s have done quite well in tax avoidance.  Millionaire John Cahill, formerly of British Aerospace didn’t pay a penny of tax in his twelve week job — and collected a £10million golden handshake on his retirement — he earned £530,000 a year –for two years, not bad eh? Privilege has its rewards, and where have we heard that word before? Lawyers maybe?

CONTINUED ACCUSATIONS OF CORRUPTION surround Lord Ashcroft, including a police investigation into dealings at his home base abroad. A Panorama Programme was halted by Lord Ashcroft’s Lawyers who pull every trick they can to avoid allegations being proved via TV detection. It came out in the programme that finally got shown — that unexplained and dubious dealings were unearthed amid denials by Ashcroft who seemed to have invented complicated smoke-screens to confuse the public aided and abetted skilfully by his lawyers.

‘Education Chief in Million Pound Fraud’

EDWARD CHAPMAN a civil service HIGHER EXECUTIVE OFFICER of The Department for Education was jailed for three years by Southwark Crown Court.  The 37 year old took £1,103,000 between 2006 and 2008 when he set up shell companies to plunder funds. Out of the stolen cash he bought a flat in Rochester, and another in Wandsworth, the legal fees, decorating and a watch and bicycle.  And this finally emerged when his girlfriend noticed the unusual bank payments and she approached Chapman’s mother and luckily, she reported him as she was a deputy director at the Department of Education.  Judge Andrew Goymer said his actions were a very gross breach of the Department’s trust’  Chapman of Kent, was jailed for three years and four months after admitting one count of fraud and one count of obtaining a money transfer by deception.  (June 17/2016)

‘ Immigration staff rake in bonuses as they bungle benefits ‘

IMMIGRATION STAFF AND OFFICIAL RECEIVED £15MILLION from bonuses paid by the taxpayer amid a report revealing that asylum seekers had received too much in benefit allowance.  An audit showed that nearly £10million was mistakenly paid out in housing benefit and allowances.  Payments even continued after their cases were dealt with.  These figures were conveniently buried away by Home Office staff and the size of the problem or how many years the blunder has been going on for was withheld.  It has also been revealed that ‘ Department Officials have written off the money because of ‘ legal obstacles’ — is that a quaint way of saying lawyers? 

‘DWP Benefits Staff share in a £44 million bonus pot’

THE CIVIL SERVANTS who run the Benefits section and Jobcentres found themselves in line for a nice fat bonus, when the Ministry said they would share in a £44,000,000 bonuses package, delighting the taxpayer once again with their rewards for doing what?  well, apart from their threats and misery they dish out to jobseekers and disabled, apparently while presiding over huge fraud and errors in the welfare benefits, they are getting these bonuses for ‘good performance’ ‘saving money’ and ‘hitting targets for promoting diversity and improving heath and safety, so the report goes.  A total of 240 senior officials shared £760,000 which averages out at £8,000 each.  88,300 junior staff took home an extra bonus of £1,750 each, and this was on top of their salaries and very generous ‘gold-plated’ pensions.  As the Taxpayers Alliance Group James Price said, ‘ Whitehall departments are padding their staff’s bank accounts with taxpayer’s cash.’  And this comes at a time when the Tory Government are continuing the freeze on benefits (after several years), £35 million spent on appeals while losing to 68 percent of claimants who launched appeals.  DWP errors and fraud cost the taxpayer £2-4 billion, and overpayments to some? cost the taxpayer £3.5 billion in the period of 2016 to 2017.  And many of the overpayments result in ‘claw backs’ after officials have failed to either see or they have been entirely unreasonable in an assessment, as we have seen with both the HMRC and DWP, who jump to wrong conclusions and rule on incomplete data they’ve hurried for.  Whitehall Records show that they gave civil servants a bonus of £108 million in 2016 going to several departments, boosting pay-packets nicely!

‘Jobcentre officer tells disabled woman, why don’t you kill yourself’

In the light of what we have above, we decided to run this little gem to show you how caring the DWP Jobcentre staff are?  Alice Kirby from Sheffield signs on in a Jobcentre, and she also has physical disabilities.  She was ordered in to have an assessment drawn up on her availability for work.  She was asked why she had not killed herself as part of her assessment for disability benefits.  Alice was not one to flare up, which would have been justifiable in the circumstance.  She merely answered ‘ Phrased sensitively, questions about suicide and asking a person why they haven’t killed themselves could be appropriate in a psychiatric assessment, but it should not be addressed in a benefits assessment.’   She went further to say ‘ In this setting it is not safe to ask questions like these because assessors have neither the time nor skills to support us.’

PS. The DWP declined to get into the issue, but merely said ‘Staff doing assessments are trained on mental health conditions.’

‘ Immigration Officer sent to jail for corruption ‘

BENJAMIN ORORARO an Immigration Officer from Kennington in London was jailed for five years at Croydon Crown Court, when he was found guilty of accepting £50,000 to enable 19 people to be granted residency. He worked at the UK Border Agency and it was heard that he fiddled documents to make sure the 19 who should have been refused, stayed on in the UK.  He was convicted on 19 counts of taking bribes.

‘ Line Manager at Immigration Office is jailed ‘

IMMIGRATION OFFICER SAMUEL SHOYEJU was said to have let in as many as 44 illegal immigrants — He amended and destroyed records to cover up and used colleagues date-stamps and accessed secure data network bases in order to show a trasil away from himself if anyone got suspicious.  He was jailed for seven years by Basildon Crown Court.   The UK Border Agency said they had great trust in him as a public servant and having broken that, the sentence reflected how serious it regarded his actions. Shoyeju was form Canvey Island in Essex. The investigation and case were said to have cost the taxpayer a great deal of money.

‘ MP in ‘Child Porn’ case is convicted on five counts’

MP PATRICK ROCK, the Government Minister who was ‘Drawing up government policy on Internet Pornography filters in relation to child exploitation’ appeared before Southwark Crown Court and found by the jury to have committed five acts connected with child abuse.  The Judge Mr Alistair McCreath gave Rock a two-year conditional discharge on each of the five counts which are to run concurrently.  He said ‘You will not serve jail time , because the punishment for you is the loss of your reputation and your very public humiliation.’

‘Un-named MP investigated for child sex abuse’

The ‘secrecy lid closed’ on yet another MP, a ‘sitting MP as it happens.  The report says that he is a ‘Senior Labour Politician’ and that he was reported to the police by two other MP’s, one being JOHN MANN who passed on details to detectives while they were investigating another MP.  It further says that a Conservative MP made allegations about the same MP too, and that these abuse claims go back to the 1980’s.  Other information says that the ‘un-named MP’ was arrested for indecency in a public place with a ‘minor’ and had ‘assaulted officers’ at the time.

‘ Expenses Scandals come and go – they never go away ‘

POLITICIANS HOPE THAT NO-ONE REMEMBERS THEIR FIDDLES AND SCAMS, but they have happened over and over again.  Take the one about DAVID WEEKS MP and MILES YOUNG MP, both Tories.  They were in London’s Westminster Council, and these two spent thousands of pounds of taxpayers money saying that they had done nothing wrong and it was within the rules.  At the time, Westminster council was embroiled in a £21miilion scandal over using public money to boost Tory votes with housing deals for yuppies.  Mr. Weeks was dropped as leader when auditors implicated him in the scam.  His successor Miles Young just carried on where Weeks left off.  These MP’s learn nothing.  The first thing that Young did was to have a lavish party funded by the taxpayer costing then £1,100. He considered the public purse like his own spending money and expenses were truly milked for all that it had.

‘ M.O.D. Civil Servant got a £84,000 bonus as a consultant ‘

DEFENCE CONSULTANT ARCHIE HUGHES merely a public servant to the government received a £84,000 bonus as an extra payment for his on top of his basic pay of £155,000 per year.  In 2009 he received a bonus of £126,000 for running the department despite its many failings.  It’s certainly an eye-opener when you are completely aware that the Government value an individual on minimum pay at just over £5 an hour.

‘MEP in fraud is jailed’

CIVIL SERVANT/GOVERNMENT MINISTER – ASHLEY MOTE, a UKIP MEP was jailed for committing a £500,000 fraud.  He was found guilty of submitting bogus claims over his ‘PARLIAMENTARY ALLOWANCES’….something we are now all too familiar with, but that doesn’t stop it going on.  These fraudulent bogus claims were for supposedly for work that organisations had carried out on his behalf.  At Southwark Crown Court, the Judge Mr Stuart Smith told the 79 year old, ‘Your greed and dishonesty were matched only by your hypocrisy’ as he made a point of bringing up the MEP’s cause and policy he launched condemning corruption! prior to being charged for the same thing.  It was also revealed that the MEP had been previously prosecuted for Benefits Fraud.  Mote from Hampshire was jailed for five years.

‘ Harriet Harman MP tries to cover up expenses claims ‘

THE MP HARRIET HARMAN APPROACHED THE WATCHDOG COMMITTEE AND TRIED TO PREVENT THEM FROM EXPOSING OTHER MP’S IN THE SCANDAL. She put pressure on the Commons Watchdog not to reveal the worst cases of claimed expenditure.  Sit Thomas Legg who was conducting the audit was approached by Harman who said it would be inappropriate  to make certain things known.

390 MP’s, almost half of the House, were ordered to pay back into the £1million that should be repaid. 

FIVE MP’s were given one week to pay back more than £50,000 in over-claimed expenses.

FOUR MP’S CLAIMED TO BE ABOVE THE LAW when they cited a clause in the Bill of Rights – 1689. They were DAVID CHAYTOR – ELLIOT MORLEY – JIM DEVINE and LORD HANNINGFIELD.  They immediately consulted eminent QC’s who incidentally suggested this move — and they like being above the law as we have already shown in ‘ the featured lawyers’ part of this site.  All four are intent on defeating the interpretation of the Theft act, and like their lawyers, convinced they will, and in all events that’s how it will probably go.

Finally to end this update we have one item on Tony Blair ?

‘ Corruption surrounds Blair in Iraq Oil Dealing ‘

TONY BLAIR in his earlier years was honing his image and future career in Durham.  One Birmingham University Doctor who knew him very well said —- ‘ He was never very likeable, and you never trust a snake do you?’

Blair was secretly hired as an advisor by the U.I. Energy Corporation who have invested heavily in the oil fields of Northern Iraq.  Mohammad Tofiq Rahim, a Deputy leader in Iraq has called for an investigation into possible corruption.  He quantifies this by mentioning that the Korean Corporation needs concessions desperately in these oil fields, and Tony Blair is excellently placed politically — in that he can easily call on Jalni Talibani, the President of Iraq for a favour.  Also supporting the suspicion further is that Ashti Hawrami the man in charge of awarding oil exploration contracts in Iraq, is under investigation by the Financial Services Authority.  It has also emerged that Hawrami recently met with Kyu-Sun Choi, Chairman of the U.I. Energy Corporation who served two years in prison for bribery?

‘ 25,000 civil servants are paid over £100,000 a year ‘

A REPORT into pay at local councils has stated that 25,000 public paid workers are getting in the excess of £100,000 a year, and it goes onto say that 5000 others are on £150,000, whilst the Government are telling the low paid that they must cut back and live on what they already have without any expectancy of a wage increase for up to a couple of years.  Apparently, the Taxpayers Alliance has damned this greed and called for austerity within government departments.  It also says this information had to be prised out of the government using the Freedom of Information Act.

‘ Expenses Scandal MP’s get £1million handshakes to go ‘

Fiddling MP’s involved in the ‘Expenses Scandal’ will receive a nice payout as they share in a £153 million pot for standing down at the General Election.  They will receive around a £1million each consisting of generous pension allowances and other perks no other person, and I mean the average voter, could ever aspire to in their working lifetime.  Many of these fraudsters and fiddlers were prepared to face the voters, and we know why.

‘ COUNCIL PAY OUT OVER NEGLIGENCE ‘

CORBY DISTRICT COUNCIL have agreed to a compensation payout after being found guilty of negligence.  Payouts were made to 19 victims because they failed to clear up an old steelworks site that could have been dangerous and a health risk to children.  Toxic waste led to disabled children and the High Court made the council apologise besides the compensation.

‘ DWP defend their handing out of £4,500 grant to set up Psychics School ‘

THE DEPARTMENT OF WORK AND PENSIONS came under attack as critics of the payments to set up a school for psychics were branded as ‘a disgrace and waste of public money ‘  A spokesman defending the action said it came under their ‘Want2Work’ ideas.  However, the Welsh Assembly chiefs have launched an internal investigation into the funding of this school especially looking to ‘ who is going to benefit from it and is it in the public interest’.

‘ THE CRIMINAL RECORDS BUREAU PAYOUT OVER SMEARS ‘

CIVIL SERVANTS WORKING AT THE CRB HAVE WRONGLY BRANDED 15,000 PEOPLE AS CRIMINALS – It has been paying compensation to the innocents who have had a difficult time even trying to get justice and has already paid out £290,000 of taxpayers cash in apology payments — and this only refers to 2009.  Most of the mistakes have been made by staff who processed the wrong details got ‘ mixed up ‘ in what information was to be used.  A CRB spokesman said they had paid out tens of thousands of pounds and admitted to maladministration by the bureau.  Campaigners for freedom said that the careless attitude with data by civil servants showed their ignorance and arrogance towards the Data Protection Act when it involved ordinary citizens — yet when it came to councils they fiercely defended their rights to data and anyone wanting information from them ‘ their solicitors get really defensive and refer you to the freedom of information act and bandy about how they cannot impart anything unless it is requested through the right department, yet here they are messing up people’s lives and making them go through time consuming appeals to clear their names all because they did the wrong, and they just walk around pretending nothing has happened.’

‘ £3 million and penalty fine for Serious Fraud Office who did not pay VAT ‘

THE GOVERNMENT OFFICE that investigates corporate corruption in Industry and banking etc, became the villain and was on trial itself for failing to pay VAT.  It is said that the ‘cash-strapped’ unit has been forced to pay the HMRC a £500,000 penalty after underpaying its VAT bill of more than £3million.  Amazingly, this almost police unit investigating wrongdoing were committing a crime themselves….. so who can you trust?

‘ One man spends thousands on a war against Council over parking ticket ‘

SUNDERLAND COUNCIL have met a foe that is spending almost everything to fight them with in a legal battle in the HIgh Court.  Neil Herron is disputing a £60 ticket issued against him regarding a Controlled Parking Zone, and Neil  argues that the law says it must be marked by yellow lines.  He claims that because they made changes the tickets have become invalid — Sunderland Council disagree.  The case started in 2006, and he managed to win a judicial review and will be at the High Court in May.

‘ Another Driver fights council and wins for damage to car ‘

Frank Cattrall took on COLCHESTER COUNCIL after they ignored potholes in the road that caused Mr Cattrall to fork out money on repair bills to his vehicle.  Rather than admit fault (usual response) they said they knew nothing of the holes and suggested he had poor driving skills!  They went on to dismiss his claim for £500 worth of bills to his wrecked suspension on the car.  Not defeated by the council attitude, he made inquiries through the Freedom of Information Request Service, and discovered that the same council knew about the road damage as a council worker had made a report during an inspection…..the pothole was even given a ‘priority’ listing but never fixed.  He sent a copy of the evidence….but they still refused to acknowledge responsibility or blame…so having given the council a chance to do the decent thing he took them to the Colchester County Court where the council were ordered to pay him the £500 and pay costs of £115.

PS: What this proves is the inability of the council to behave reasonably towards the ratepayer and voter.

‘ Council and Government snooping is on the up ‘

LOCAL GOVERNMENT COUNCILS are making six applications a day to spy on citizens it has been revealed.  1,166 applications by government and the police were granted.  The UK is listed as third in the top ten of countries prepared to spy and snoop into the private affairs of individuals.  They already spy on internet users accessing e-mails, accounts and passwords.  Phil Booth of the NO21D  Privacy Campaign said ‘ they are absolutely determined to gain access to people’s most sensitive details claiming that in certain cases is necessary – but avoid close scrutiny of this claim.’

‘ Social fund no-go for couple in Sunderland ‘

Applying for grants at Sunderland Council and relying on the Benefits Agency to be fair can be one of those moments you wish hadn’t.  For Darlene Hunter and Trevor Atkinson it was a huge mistake.  Both services took ages to look at their applications as they sat broke in their council house without several vital amenities, only to be told later their applications had been turned down.  The social fund invented by the government was a total fiasco, and luckily outsiders reading about their plight gave them help.  So much for social services eh?

THEIR LOCAL PAPER CALLED IT ‘THE ANTI-SOCIAL FUND — WHAT ABOUT ‘ANTI-SOCIAL SERVICES ‘ ?

‘ Camden Council in scandal of children’s home abuses ‘

CHILDREN WHIPPED AND TORTURED was the headline accusing The London Borough of Camden of administering a brutal regime of physical and sexual abuse in its homes for children.  Mychaela Cook told of boys being whipped with the belt for being naughty and girls having their hands burnt over a hot fire besides some sexual attacks.  These incidents happened regularly over twenty or more years without intervention or proper investigation despite complaints being made.  Since being discovered, legal actions for damages have been made against the council and funded by the Legal Aid Board.  The council withdrew into their usual stance of denial and said that these allegations would have to be tested in the courts.

THE NORTH WALES ‘CHILD ABUSE’ CASE involving council care homes for children has now come into the spotlight with the expose on Jimmy Savile, paedophile and visitor to children’s homes……recent news says they are to re-open the case.  It has also been revealed that there were over 80 people questioned yet only 7 brought to trial!  We now hear of a senior Council figure being accused….but no-one is naming him…..at the present that is?

‘ Local Government Child Porn Collector is Jailed ‘

GOVERNMENT SURVEYOR CHARLES NORRIS with the Greenwich Borough Council was jailed for four years by Maidstone Crown Court.  Police seized 5,500 photographs, another 5,500 colour slides, 100 videos and 200 books along with 29 photograph albums featuring young boys.  He was charged with taking indecent photographs of children and making an obscene video involving boys of 14 and 15 depicting acts of gross indecency.

‘ Government men prey on boys for sex kicks ‘

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE OFFICER MICHAEL COLGATE and EXECUTIVE OFFICER JOHN MACDONALD of the Scottish Land Registry were convicted of possessing and importing child pornography.  Colgate from the Bracknell with the Met Office claimed he was interested in 12 year old boys and liked to see them being controlled, spanked and caned.  MacDonald who wrote requesting material said he was from a legal background and needed it to be ‘hush, hush’  and preferred uniformed boys or uniformed men caning young boys similar to an officer and cadet scene.

‘ Lambeth Council in trouble with judge ‘

LAMBETH COUNCIL were ordered to explain its social services handling in which a 14 year old boy was whipped and assaulted by his governor father because the lads failed to do his homework.  Southwark Crown Court bound the council appointed man for two and a half years.  It was shown that the boy had been beaten for a period of two years and this had led to scarring.  Judge Pearlman demanded that the council give a full account of how this was allowed to happen.

‘ Council home in torture case against children ‘

BOYS WERE TORTURED AND BEATEN BY SOCIAL WORKER and two male colleagues.  Newcastle Crown Court heard evidence of how boys were beaten with fists at Witherwack House in Sunderland.  Glynis Tamblin, Alan Dingwall and Kevin Roffe stood in the dock as the sordid details of their regime shocked the jury.  Nine boys were called to give evidence, and the council was reprimanded for trying to play down the situation even though they had suspected something wrong was happening in the home.

‘ Councillors called to resign after sleazy stunt in bad taste ‘

COUNCILLOR JIM WALKER and COUNCILLOR SANDY BLAIR were pictured in a restaurant with girls in school attire brandishing school canes.  The publicity stunt was for the opening of ‘school dinners’ in Belfast, just like its London counterpart that features spanking and caning in the restaurant with customers. 

‘ M.P. resigns over spanking sessions ‘

TORY MP PROFESSOR ROSS HARPER resigned when it was revealed that the minister took part in spankings with vice girls and paid £100 a time.  One time chairman of the Scottish Party, Harper frequently took part in sessions in which he wanted spanking said vice girl Jeanette.

‘ Another Spanking M.P. in vice girl sessions ‘

LIBERAL MP MICHAEL MEADOWCROFT visited massage parlours where he paid £50  a time for spanking sessions.  The MP for Leeds West, did not deny it or try to keep it a secret the reporter said.  When asked about it later he said it was not him, but vice girl Samantha confirmed it was.

‘ Harvey Proctor – the scandal of the MP and spanking of rent boys ‘

BILLERICAY MP HARVEY PROCTOR is a name that one is hardly likely to forget, especially the two above MP’s as he took a rent boy dressed in school wear into the house of commons.  One of those reasons was that he lied to his party and constituents in desperation to hold on.  But it crashed around him as more was revealed about his many boys and the canings he administered.  He was finally thrown out of the party and went into hiding.  He was later charged with four counts of gross indecency when he appeared in court.

‘ The Tax Dodging MP into spanking ‘

TORY MP EVELYN KING was exposed by Debbie Green who took part in spanking sessions with Mr. King. He was once the Labour MP for Penryn and Falmouth before finally becoming a Tory MP for South Dorset.  Debbie says she dressed as a schoolgirl and schoolboy to satisfy his taste for school scenes.  At the beginning of the relationship he used a fictitious pseudonym ‘ John Armitage ‘

‘ Kinky Spanking for Civil Servant ‘

High Street Banking Monitor civil servant IAN ERSKINE revealed a hidden secret when his sudden disappearance sparked a police visit to his flat. Police made a forced entry into the Notting Hill flat where they discovered porn magazines, whips, canes and bondage gear packed in cases and drawers. Erskine was an Assistant Advisor in the Bank of England Supervision Section — it was discovered that a ‘special cheque book’ had gone and was being used since his disappearance. It was also said that Bank of England Security staff had been called in over the matter.

‘ The Mystery MP on spanking visits to vice queen ‘

Adelaide Serrano claimed that Special Branch had her prosecuted to cover up an MP and keep secret his identity the Knightsbridge Crown Court heard.  She claimed her phone number was suddenly changed after she had refused requests from Special Branch.  The riddle remained as the court considered the charge of keeping a disorderly house.

‘ Education Committee Deputy Chairman with torture cellar ‘

When the police broke into Mr. Rogers house they discovered something that resembled a torture chamber of old.  Chains, whips leather gear and more adorned the walls of this cellar; a sound-proofed one at that.  The Education Deputy was a respectable pin striped suited man by day, but in the evening he was visiting gay bars and S & M clubs.  Videos were found on shelves and mirrors positioned for victims to see themselves being whipped.  Neighbours in Osborne Road, Levenshulme, Manchester were completely oblivious to what was happening.

‘The Unaccountable Damien Green and the Porn Mystery’

Said to be PM Teresa May’s right hand man, MP DAMIEN GREEN in true Tory fashion avoided coming clean at every stage of the inquiry on how his office computer contained downloaded porn.  Even when he was ‘dismissed or stood down’ and there is no clarity there, he only admitted to giving ‘misleading and inaccurate statements’   Despite his denials on the porn, and an accusation from a Met Cop who was present when there was a raid on his Parliamentary Office during 2008, the officer Neil Lewis said the squad had found pornography on the computer and because it was not the prime subject of the raid, he was not allowed to mention this.  But, in his corner, Commissioner of the Met Sir Paul Stephenson spoke out and agreed that he had been alerted to this fact, but decided it wasn’t relevant to the ongoing criminal inquiry at the time.  Subsequently, Damien Green began shouting for Lawyers to silence the ex-cop Neil Lewis suggesting he had a sort of revenge intention?   However, this wasn’t the entire story of Damien Greene who rose from the Tory ranks at high speed, the First Secretary of State faced another investigation into sexual harassment.  A Cabinet Office Investigation began into the allegations that he made sexual advances towards a ‘Tory Activist’ thirty years his junior.  An interviewed civil servant who uses a pc in a nearby office told the media that no-one else should have access to Mr Green’s computer, and nether should Mr Green convey his password to anyone else, as he said he could be dismissed for what he said would be seen as a security breach.  But, Damien Green has not explained or answered anything, and the investigation into the sexual harassment has now conveniently faded due to him going.                                                                                   However, the story doesn’t finish there on Green, other facts have emerged such as him charging the taxpayer for his second home in Acton and he regularly claimed expenses of £400 for food and the interest on his mortgage, council tax and phone bills.  And apparently he was in 2001, promoted to the Shadow Cabinet by no less than Iain Duncan-Smith!                                                                                                                   He was for the record, arrested in 2008 ‘on suspicion of aiding and abetting misconduct in public office’ and ‘Conspiring to commit misconduct in public office’   (some of this via Wikipedia)

PS: this shows that the period of Tory Sleaze and secrecy is still alive and kicking.

NB.  We are still following the Green trail as one of our researches says they remembered something else from the ’80’s on Damien Green, so we will wait for that.

‘ Moral Guardian Peer quits over Spanking Situation ‘

LORD HULME of Cheltenham, the £48,000 a year chairman of the Broadcasting Standards Commission stood down after he admitted cheating on his wife and having a secret affair with Tracey Kelly when it was revealed they had enjoyed spanking sessions, which he told reporters was having to end.

‘The Flog ’em and birch ’em MP’s….mainly Tory’

We step slightly aside from politics to reveal some of those MP’s who wanted corporal punishment retained.   And we begin with Tory MP Elizabeth Peacock,  Tory MP Warren Hawksley, Tory MP David Nicholson, Tory MP Steven Norris, Tory MP Gerald Howarth, Tory MP Tony Marlow, Tory MP Dr Liam Fox, Tory MP Christine Smith, Tory MP John Carlisle, Tory MP Robert Dunn, Tory MP Rhodes Boyson,  Tory MP Kenneth Baker, Tory MP Harry Greenaway, MP Michael Howard, MP Kenneth Clarke, MP Stephen Dorrell, MP Roger Freeman, MP Brian Mawhinney, Virginia Bottomley and Gillian Shephard….just a few of the 66 identified….and Hurd and Heseltine appeared to support the move.

‘ Immoral Britain gets £10 billion for Economy from Drugs and Sex ‘

A report confirms that the UK gets ‘serious cash’ from illegal drugs and prostitution which boosts the economy of the UK.  It says both activities are worth 0.7 per cent of GDP….equal to that of Agriculture.  The National Statistics Office said that based on 2009 prices, prostitution will add £5.3billion to GDP, and drugs will boost the economy by £4.4 billion.  Some campaigners for a better Britain were saddened and surprised that the illegal activities were contributing to what is thought as a good economy and figures to be proud of.

‘ Failures in the civil service are nothing new ‘

EVER SINCE THE DAWN OF 1854 when Stafford Northcote and Sir Charles Trevelyan were required to look at the civil service — they found widespread dishonesty, poor skills and a complete lack of integrity apart from a failure to carry out their duties for the public in a way that should have been expected.  The commission set about creating a new work ethos, to disengage civil servants from doing the job for personal enrichment.  The object was to make the new service be driven by a desire to serve, but as we have seen countless times, whether it is in government or local government, it was never quite achieved.  The greed is still ever-present and so is the corruption.

Benefits Agency Impedes Claims ‘

GRANTS AND ALLOWANCES were deliberately delayed in an attempt to decrease payouts and claims, and at best; wear down claimants so that they would discontinue or give up.  The Agency claimed ‘ that it needed time to check claims more thoroughly’  Tribunal member Andrew Hayles said ‘ this is an attempt to forestall and cut down on the work needed to prepare for appeals.  It is an outrageous attempt to undermine what is supposed to be a safety net for claimants by deliberately delaying decisions.’

‘CLAIM TAKES SIX YEARS TO RESOLVE’ – Fresh consideration was given to ‘the urgent need’ of a woman claimant.  Described by the Benefits Agency as ‘ an unfortunate and prolonged history’ the claim wandered in the pipeline and went before a commissioner after going before another commissioner two years earlier! the commissioner at the time, William Walker recommended urgent action then after accepting her case, but the agency appealed and it went on another walkabout.  I suppose this is what the Benefits Agency call ‘ working for the community caring for people ‘

‘ DVLA and Harrow Council swindle woman over misuse of powers ‘

Recently highlighted on a consumer TV programme was the awful behaviour of the DVLA who issue driving licences and excise road tax demands in the complicity with Harrow Council in depriving a woman of her £3,000 motor vehicle and at the same time– fining her.  The mix up was fairly and squarely between these two bodies, and they were not even bothered about the harm they had caused.  Harrow Council sold the woman’s car saying they had powers to do so even if as it turned out — they’d got it wrong.  They in turn said this was due to the wrong information provided by the DVLA.  The DVLA claim they never get anything wrong?  A fine can be tripled and go way beyond what is reasonable, even if the owner of the vehicle is not to blame.  Melanie, the owner of the car has never been compensated, and it was only when the programme intervened that they said they would look into the case?  Many others have complained about this government department, and have got nowhere because of the attitude of civil servants working there.  A judge in one case after considering what the department had done said ‘ the DVLA had no statutory powers in requiring a person to notify them the DVLA when they did not receive a reply to having applied a SORN — off road declaration.  The Chief Executive of course differed, as one would expect.  He said he sympathises with Melanie and others who have complained about the appalling service.  One man after hearing a civil servant on the phone at the DVLA telling him they never got things wrong, made an application to the Freedom of Information, and it returned with what can only be seen as a breach of the act ‘ saying they had no figures of complaints lodged against the DVLA — which means the DVLA deliberately obstructed such or never intended to comply with the Act.  Yet, the Chief Executive gave out a figure on complaints when he was being pushed into answering, so this is proof that they are quite well aware of the complaints and that there must be many.  Yet, they still go on threatening and fining with complete immunity — obviously driven and provided by the government lawyers, and we already know how corrupt they are.

‘ DVLA Civil Servants in Data sell off to clampers ‘

A REPORT HAS REVEALED THAT PRIVATE DATA ON PEOPLE ARE BEING SOLD to vehicle clamping firms,  some who have very dubious reputations and immoral ways of getting around the law. More than a million requests for drivers details were sold off by the DVLA despite legislation on Data Protection.  Full details are passed on to fee paying firms without the slightest worry because the DVLA has immunity and can do what it wants knowing that Whitehall Lawyers will twist rules and make out the case for government. This all came to light when Simon Tse, The Chief Executive of the Driver and Vehicles Licensing Centre told a Commons Committee that 1.2million articles of information had been sold to private parking companies in one year being a part of 21 million articles of data given out, and disclosed the departments earnings being £8.5million per annum. The organisation Civil Liberties described the dealings as a scandal in the trade in personal details to rogues the government were pretending to control and eliminate whilst having another agenda based on profiteering.

DVLA HAVE INNOCENT MAN ARRESTED — Michael Cook went to renew his vehicle tax disc in the local office of the DVLA in Newcastle — Eagle Star in Gosworth, when on producing an MOT he was detained and arrested by police because they accused him of having a fake document.  Arrogant staff at the DVLA refused to act in a caring manner and moved into high alert strategy thinking they were about to nail a crook, but the real crooks turned out to be the DVLA.  The colour of the MOT was the wrong shade of green, but it was issued by the government vehicle testing station.  Police locked up Mr.Cook in a cell for 3 hours, took his DNA and fingerprints before it was proved the document was genuine. He has since been issued with a replacement, but no apology from the DVLA or compensation.  Mr.Cook has since gone on to seek legal advice on suing the police and DVLA.

‘DVLA sell off details of 7,000 drivers to convicted company’

It was announced in a small tucked away news article that the DVLA had sold off the information and details of 7,000 drivers to a company that had been found guilty of 36 offences against the motoring public. The firm Observices Parking Consultancy — a fancy name for clampers, run by Director Douglas Harris, were fined a staggering total of £29,850 by Wolverhampton Magistrates Court.  The court had even made mention of the despicable tactics used by the firm. Yet, the caring authorities lifted the ban on this company??  I think we can all see what the DVLA stand for.

‘ £150,000 spent by council on graves to face Mecca ‘

HIGH WYCOMBE TOWN COUNCIL came under heavy criticism for its wasteful spending on extending a cemetery so that Muslim graves could be positioned to face Mecca.  The screwball idea is obviously a pandering to middle east influences and fear according to one observer, ‘ they daren’t say no in case they come under fire’ he said.  A council member accused the plan as wasteful in these economic times and attacked it has being over the top.

‘ Council Snooping on the rise and all backed by the DWP ‘

Unlawful hacking of the Customer Information System which belongs to the Department of Work and Pensions is being looked at by council staff. The Database holds the records of around 85 million people. Some council staff were dismissed for looking at data on friends and family, but two thirds of them were just let off.  The DWP does not hold details on its own staff caught snooping through the data and it is easy to see why. There was 124 breaches by staff last year, the ones caught that is.  The DWP gave the pretence that they care, but evidence of this is not much more above nil.

‘ COUNCIL FRAUD EXPOSED ‘

BIRMINGHAM COUNCIL the accounting body responsible for ASTON PRIDE’S £55Million budget is said to have known about a breach concerning unauthorised payments for five months and did nothing even though a whistleblower warned them about it.  The payment of £100,000 was made to ANTHONY COLLINS, SOLICITORS without going through the formal tendering process.  Investigations have now been launched despite their reluctance to act on the information of a whistleblower.

‘ Judge tells expenses fiddle MP’s they must stand trial ‘

THREE MP’S AND A PEER HAVE VOWED TO SIDESTEP THE LAW by using old laws not really meant for covering up fiddles.  A judge said there was no logical, moral or legal justification for these cases not going to court.  Now taxpayers face a bill of £1million in legal aid because the politicians have applied for it.  MP’s David Chaytor, Elliott Morley, Jim Devine and Lord Hanningfield who are accused of expenses fraud and pocketing thousands as a result argue that they cannot be tried in a court according to a 300 year old law.

In the latest round of legal moves, it appears that the MP’s have lost their appeal to escape trial as the appeal judges ruled against them.  It is said they intend to take the matter to the Supreme Court next?

‘ 7 Council Housing Department staff are sacked ‘

BIRMINGHAM CITY COUNCIL sacked seven civil servants from their housing department after they landed the city with a £7.5million compensation bill over an issue where tenants were suing the council for the bad condition of properties that had been allowed to fall into disrepair.  Ironically, the manager of the 7 people team who were supposed to fight off the claims ‘ providing evidence’ took early retirement, and astoundingly, three of the seven now work in the same legal firms that launched the claims against the council they were employed by?

‘ Conservative Peer charged with fiddling expenses ‘

LORD TAYLOR OF WARWICK was charged with fiddling £11,000 of expenses.  Lord Taylor is accused of the homes and property swap scam in order to claim second home expenses.  Lord Taylor will appear before the Westminster Magistrates Court in September.  He is the second Tory peer to be charged with fraud since the expenses fiddle net began to find other rogues.

‘ Council behaves outrageously to pensioner ‘

MILTON KEYNES COUNCIL came under fire as it was revealed that they have barred her ‘officially’ from having friends around to visit, especially if they include the care workers or anyone off the council staff.  Councils already show little emblems around offices and public rooms saying ‘ Care in the Community and Caring for People’ but somehow Milton Keynes have forgotten this.  The only people 79yr old Brenda Coker sees are the people who come to care for her, and on her 80th birthday they prevented those who dealt with her needs and carers from attending saying it was contrary to the guidelines.

‘ Town Hall Pensions account for one quarter of the council tax ‘

A DISTURBING REPORT REVEALED that councils took the taxpayer for over £5billion in order to pay for pensions of civil service council staff and workers.  This sum is likely to rise rather than fall in the next few years, and the spokesman for the Local Government Association, a body representing councils, said ‘ the recession produced a fall in investment income while increased contributions from staff have only just kicked in’ which in essence means they realized how bad this would look if it became public knowledge.

‘ Libdem Councillor on Assault Charge ‘

CIVIL SERVANT COUNCILLOR CHRISTINE JAMES of Weymouth and Portland Borough Council was arrested by Dorset Police and charged with assault. She is reported to have attacked fellow councillor IAN JAMES from whom she was separated (married). Previously a supporter for battered women and campaigner for the Domestic Violence and Abuse Forum, doesn’t do her any favours.

‘ Tory Treasurer quits over revelations ‘

DAVID ROWLAND the wealthy Tory party treasurer as stepped down as reports name him the ‘ shady financier ‘ related to his string of financial affairs, business tactics and playboy life. He gave £2.7million to the Tory Party. Now the Conservatives are worried that they may be ‘tainted’ and see him as an embarassment.

‘ Council Watchdog over council spending is to be axed ‘

THE TAXPAYER’S SAVIOUR is no longer seen as being value for money by the government who have announced plans to scrap this department, which was set up to scrutiny council spending. The inspection duties have now been handed over to the National Audit Office. Some see this move as a deliberate attempt by the new coalition government to make sure the taxpayer is left in the dark and less able to know about what councils spend on services. Rather typical of a government after ‘an expenses scandal’ that left them bruised.

‘ Eurocrat Politicians about to get triple pay ‘

POLITICS IS INDEED A DIRTY AND CORRUPT PLACE, and one a variety of lawyers, ex-lawyers and business men like to get involved in.  Corruption surrounded the European Committee last year, but findings on investigations have just run aground and mysteriously disappeared? Now these MP’s from the UK and the rest of Europe are set to award themselves a pay boost. It is planning a 2.2 pay rise at the end of the year with bonuses in line to grab a further 1.3 per cent. Germany described this move as ‘ greedy ‘ and the European Taxpayers Association’s Michael Jaegar said the rises were unbelievable. The salary of the Director would take his pay to £18,500 a month?  It is already claimed that the highest paid civil servants are the EU Officials.

‘ The Benefits ‘Open Government ‘ policy that never was ‘

THE BENEFITS ‘TELL US ABOUT IT’ BOOK that claims itself to be transparent and happy to declare a designed box ‘OPEN GOVERNMENT’ really do tell a pack of lies.  It says they are committed to the principles of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information? –since when?  One has only to look at benefit staff fiddles and the expenses scandal to see this is false. They claim their staff will treat all people in a fair and courteous way, yet another lie, a lie that is exposed by the many articles on this page. It goes on to say — where a complaint is made about discriminatory behaviour we will ensure that appropriate steps are taken to correct and improve the service,  — yet another lie — as we have exposed the system as it closes rank to protect the civil servant passing the complaint around and around and shaking their heads in disbelief that a claimant could be accusing them.  It seems that the season of ‘rotten apples’ is more or less permanent with no signs of cure, pesticide or replanting, the civil service are most certainly corrupt and will go on being that way.

‘ Travellers win against council after 6 year eviction battle ‘

BIRMINGHAM CITY COUNCIL landed taxpayers with a bill for £200,000 after losing a six year eviction contest to get rid of the extended family of travellers, the Doherty’s. Birmingham housing councillor John Lines said ‘ I have just received a legal bill for more than £200,000 and must pay half of it immediately or face prison. This money will line the pockets of those squatters and their lawyers.’

‘ House of Commons Officer on the fiddle himself’

GOVERNMENT OFFICER ANDREW GIBSON who was responsible for looking into MP’s expenses is said to be facing jail for submitting bogus invoices himself. It says he created three fake bills in the name of MP’s who were retiring or leaving their posts to pay off gambling debts. The resources budget officer from the fees office was said to have paid £5,875 into a friend’s account. His bogus invoices  were only discovered during police investigations into the expenses scandal. Gibson and the friend were due to appear at Southwark Crown Court but pleaded guilty before the jury were sworn in.

‘ Lib-Dem Candidate accused of fraud ‘

LIB-DEM CANDIDATE DR VINCENT McKEE is under investigation for fraud a report says. Complaints by students and parents say their accounts have been plundered after signing up for tuition. One parent said she agreed to pay a bill of £380 for tuition through her bank, and found to her horror that £3,260 had been taken from her account. Others also complained of similar happenings in connection with the tuition fees and Mr. McKee. It says the Lib-Dem party have suspended him and that an investigation will be carried out.

‘ Corrupt Benefits Officer goes to Jail ‘

BENEFITS FRAUD INVESTIGATOR BADRUL ISLAM worked in the benefits division for many years including being one of its fraud investigators, yet he succumbed to corruption by fraudulently obtaining £200,000 out of Newham Council. It was only discovered when one colleague spotted a £13,000 payment to a landlord which did not make sense. As they investigated, the entire benefits staff came under suspicion until they identified the authorization code which pointed to Badrul Islam. The payments of around £75,000 were being paid to a letting agency — Eurobanga Letting, and a further £125,000 to Elite Property Services. Difficult as it was, especially a seasoned operator within their own department able to dodge and falsify, they linked Badrul to the two men of each Letting Agency. A court sentenced Badrul Islam to 2years and four months imprisonment.

TAXPAYERS GET THE BILL FOR LIMOUSINES ORDERED AND USED BY CABINET MINISTER JOHN REED – A bill of around £4,000 was presented to taxpayers so that Reed could attend football trips according to report. A person speaking for Lord John Reed said it was necessary in order to protect the minister?

MP DAVID CHATOR GOES TO JAIL — former labour minister David Chator was sentenced to 18 months in prison for his part in the ‘ EXPENSES SCANDAL ‘  It is stated that he swindled £22,000 of illegitimate expenses, and declared he was not guilty of any wrong-doing — like so many of them. Southwark Crown Court heard how he faked bills to back up his claims. Bogus rent claims — imagined computer services — is the first of four cases to be heard on fiddling MP’s.

THE MURKY WORLD OF MP EXPENSES IS BEING SOFTENED AND HIDDEN as secretive repayments are made by MP’s who don’t want to appear before the courts, and luckily they have been provided with a get out of jail card free.  16 cases of secret repayments were exposed –MP David Tredinnick paid back £755.50, MP Anthony Steen paid back £561 and MP Janet Anderson paid back £5,700. The report says that were attempts made by the Labour Office to suppress this information.

MP’S ARE BILLING THE TAXPAYER FOR £500,000 OVER SPIN TRAINING — A report reveals that Spin lessons for MP’S are costing around half a million pounds. The Deal with CAPITA was taken out by MP’S for a two day course on influencing and persuading techniques.

COUNCILS ARE SPENDING £315MILLION ON CCTV in order to spy on civilians, despite cuts in public services and other slashes in their budgets. A survey of 336 councils shows why their are concerns over the system dubbed as ‘ Big Brother is watching you ‘ The UK’s surveillance society shows no signs of stopping, and more alarmingly they find money for it no matter what cuts are made elsewhere?

CIVIL SERVANTS ‘require resilience training’ TO HELP THEM COPE?…..Yes, those weary jobsworths are being offered courses in resilience training to cope with situations of work pressure.

‘ TORY COUNCILLOR JAILED FOR DRINK DRIVING ‘

OWEN CAMERON a councillor on Thanet District Council quit his position after being jailed for four months for drink-driving. It was said that he arrived at the court drunk? as he appeared before Margate Magistrates.

‘ Labour Peer dismissed over expenses fiddle ‘

BARONESS UDDIN has been removed from the House of Lords after being exposed as a cheat who took £40,000 of expenses cash. She has been ordered to repay £125,000 and is suspended for 18 months. Lady Uddin claimed she was too poor to pay back the money?

‘ Council waste Taxpayer’s cash  on legal squabble ‘

GREAT AYCLIFFE COUNCIL in County Durham have spent £50,000 of public money arguing over a chair in a battle of who sits where.  The pathetic scrap ended up at a tribunal and council members, Lib Dem Billy Blenkinsop and Labour’s Dorothy Bowman being the two on the council who were running up time and money. It is said this squabble and costs have been going on for 16 months? all on the taxpayer.

‘ Wife and son of MP lie over drink/drive charge ‘

MP BRIAN BINLEY’S wife and son – Matthew Binley are said to be facing a prison sentence after making false statements to police after a drink/drive incident. FORMER POLICE CONSTABLE MATTHEW BINLEY crashed the car into a bollard while over the drink limit. He was bailed and charged, but two days later his mother arrived at the police station saying she had been driving that day, and made a statement to that fact. They only charged the former police constable after finding a ‘draft statement’ in his handwriting so that his mother could copy it. They were both charged and appeared before Northampton Crown Court. Interestingly, MP Brian Binley did not appear at court but information says that he paid back £1,500 in the expenses repayment having breached the rules.

‘ MP Woolas thrown out of party over lies ‘

MP PHIL WOOLAS left the labour party in disgrace over stirring up racial tension in a bid to win over voters. Woolas often appeared on TV programmes shouting down opposition and arrogantly twisting things so that he appeared to be right. A specially convened court agreed that he made false statements about a rival in the election. The immigration minister lost his seat and banned from the house of commons for three years. His appeal against the decision was turned down by judges.

‘ Ex-Ministers are caught in sting over cash for access ‘

MP GEOFF HOON,  MP STEVEN BYERS and  MP RICHARD CABORN have been disgraced after being caught on secret cameras touting themselves to firms offering access to parliament and favourable deals. Geoff Hoon was banned for five years — Byers was banned for two years, and Caborn was banned for six months.

‘ Civil Servants are incapable of ‘waste-cutting’ report says ‘

OUT OF EVERY £7 OF PROMISED SAVINGS ONLY £1 WAS ACHIEVED. — A damning report revealed that civil servants are incapable of addressing the situation. The Public Accounts Committee delivered a verdict on labour’s pledge to produce £35billion on savings as unattainable by civil servants.

‘ Council spin job to go ahead despite protests ‘

A £120,000 salary spin job has been given the go ahead with councils despite all of their promises to help cut back on waste. The Local Government Association is to re-introduce the council post of ‘ Director of Strategy ‘ after being give a rough reception over the soaring pay of chief executive John Ransford.

‘ City Council in £15,000 job farce ‘

Taxpayers are footing £15,000 on finding a new executive only to find that the man appointed was already doing it. Confused? yes you may well be. Salford Labour council were looking for an ideal candidate for the job of ‘ Director of Children’s Services ‘  — the same department that had dismissed its previous Director. Suddenly, the post was given to Nick Page who had been ‘ Acting Director ‘ for a year.  Is this called wise spending?

‘ Southend council comes under heavy fire from taxpayer ‘

Taxpayer Brian Ayling of Essex says the rot must be stopped. He points out that an enormous amount of public money is being wasted by his local council — Southend. He goes onto say the council are spending money on expensive schemes of no benefit to the local residents. He openly says that councils like Southend have developed over the past twenty years like a malignant cancer, with departments growing out of all proportion to their necessity. Councillors have been swept along on a tide of ‘ grab what you can’. Mr Ayling we must point out does not say these things from a position of mere onlooker, no — HE WAS A COUNCILLOR HIMSELF IN 2000.

‘ Jobcentre tells woman you can’t have a job until you are on benefits ‘

A desperate job seeker — Lynne Dawson was shocked to find staff at her jobcentre turning her request for help down.  The Jobcentre Plus in Derby said she did not qualify for a meeting with their advisors unless she was on jobseekers allowance.  She was angry that she didn’t want to be on the dole and wanted help for getting a job, and here was a sign saying jobcentre and if you weren’t signing on you don’t get a job with us. One staff member leaving for lunch told a reporter on the case ‘ the jobcentre plus is not there to help people get jobs. It is there to give people money and show them what jobs are out there ‘

‘ Not the exact truth on BBC’s Saints and Scroungers ‘

DOMINIC LITTLEWOOD MIGHT BE PLEASED WITH THE SHOW, but it isn’t all that he cracks it up to be. That is the problem with this ‘so called hero presenter’ — in it to win it is more likely. He presents the Benefits fraud people as they would like  to be seen, the warped and highly edited version. They show the scroungers being caught and lots of this ‘ Reconstructions acting ‘ all meant to represent the facts. But we have heard it from one former disgruntled investigator that not all calls made by the public are even listened to let alone investigated. For certain reasons top brass leave certain people alone without any explanation even though it is obvious that the suspect is clearly up to something. If one of the investigators or staff is caught fiddling, it has to be okayed by managerial staff at the very top and it has to go through a process known as ‘ damage limitation ‘ before the likes of Littlewood can have it on a programme. He told us that he came under fire for examining cases and asking questions, which resulted in staff and colleagues deliberately thwarting him. This eventually led to him being removed – transferred to another department without any reason being given. The DWP fraud investigation team do not like to be caught out or their work seen. Although Littlewood is right to praise the ‘Saints’ he says that the people and managers who turn down applications of the needy are not named or shown in the show, and that component is quickly left out and glossed over. So let’s have less of the drama and propaganda, it’s very worn and lacks the truth.

‘ One law for them, and one for the others ‘

HOW MANY TIMES DO WE HEAR THAT ONE AND HAVE IT DENIED? almost consistently by the courts and DWP — they believe their propaganda so much that they think it is the truth.  The trouble here is they can corruptly make it work their way despite feeling it has interfered with the rights of the citizen.  Judicial reviews are rare and costly, and it depends who you are in order to make it happen. The criteria is so complicated that it needs lawyers to use it or sidestep the process to actually benefit from this one.  Take the DWP, they can move an army against a suspect or claimant and we cite a case of last year.  A complaint was made plus allegations, against staff at a jobcentre. The person making these was escorted off the premises.  The complainant returned with a witness and asked to to confront and question the staff member — the police were called by the DWP to assist them throw out the independent witness and the claimant.  The claimant applied for and requested all documents in connection with the complaint and to see the file on the complaint. They were refused and told to write to the Freedom of Information in connection with this. This was carried out although very time consuming, and this was obviously what the DWP intended. A solicitor replied from the department saying that a fee would be required in exchange for some general information, but the file and notes of the in-house staff and managers were data protected and were not available despite them being a vital part of the complaint case. On the other hand, the DWP and Benefit Officers can seize all data on the suspect and claimant including personal matters, bank accounts and much more by their laws — with the assistance of the police of course. Some statements by them have been known to lie or appear fabricated after collusion to support staff, something we have come across several times. If you try to parade these in front of a judge he won’t listen and allows excuses like error etc. One other area that is fascinating law wise, is that the DWP can film claimants and suspects, follow them etc, but if an individual tries the same thing on DWP staff they are stopped by security staff and get a letter saying that they have breached the privacy act or committed harassment, and we have seen evidence of this, but you cannot reverse this when they hound you, because they say the law backs them up…so as we began, there really is one law for them, and one law for you.

‘ Council Chief Executive in rape incident ‘

CONWAY COUNCIL’S CHIEF EXECUTIVE Byron Davies appeared before Mold Crown Court on a charge of rape against a woman colleague. The council boss who lives Yelverton, Devon was said to have committed the offence in the Castle Hotel in Conway. The £100,000 a year executive was suspended from his council post.

‘ False invoices MP fiddled £9,000 ‘

MP JIM DEVINE got his opportunity to go before the court. He was charged with making false claim expenses of around £9,000. The list of false claims says Printing of leaflets, cleaning work etc. It is said that he acted dishonestly from July 2008 to May 2009 when he made the false claims for specified items that were not carried out or existed, the latter applying to the printing. The trial continues.

LATEST NEWS: Jim Devine has been found guilty of making false claims and defrauding the taxpayers.

‘ South London Councillor gets £118,000 in allowances! ‘

YES INDEED, the gravy train in government rolls on. Tory Councillor Steve O’Connell claims that he is not only entitled to make such claims but is also worth the money — paid by the taxpayer — who else?  The former bank worker, yes — bank worker, the Croydon Councillor claims expenses of £117,888.

‘ Labour Council Boss is paid £168,000 ‘

YET ANOTHER FAT CAT GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL — Despite the fact that his council, Hartlepool District Council, is facing cuts of 19 per cent in their budget in spending for the public, Councillor Paul Walker is set to have a pay rise that takes his salary to a staggering £168,000 per year.

‘ Government still continues to hoodwink the public ‘

In fact every government does it, and they have ever since they took their seats in the House of Commons, that is the nature of the beast that craves the power to control.  They think throwing two or three MP’s to the crowd in a sacrificial attempt to show good faith in solving the expenses issue of corruption and fraud will satisfy most of the public. Many others involved have in the main walked away and disappeared from view, and not by accident but by choice. Lies by government still go on, and the UK Government are masters of the art to deceive, they have had plenty of practice. The many articles listed on this page prove this and the many more that will be added can only point to this conclusion.  This article will not change anything, but we would rather it be seen than not so.

‘ Councillor unmasked as Outlaw Biker Gang Member ‘

TEWKESBURY CONSERVATIVE COUNCILLOR JIM MASON was discovered to be a member of an infamous outlaw biker gang named by Europe cops as a crime group who police have been trying to round up in connection with crimes; often involving rivalry between the hell’s angels bikers. He denied being a member when reporters asked him, but photos confirmed he had been a member. The Council and Conservative Association refused to comment about the ‘exposed double life of the councillor ‘

‘ Jobcentre tells transsexual to be a man to get work ‘

DARLINGTON JOBCENTRE in County Durham is accused of giving insensitive advice and ridicule by Andrew Cook (transsexual) who often goes under the name of Tina Cook. He says they wink at him and call him ‘ darling ‘ and recommend him for waitressing at posh restaurants knowing fully well he would not get the job. He has now launched a formal complaint against the DWP for disrespect and abuse.

‘ Council spending gone mad in several districts report ‘

WHERE AS ALL THE MONEY GONE? yes, that’s what taxpayers really want to know, and they were not amused to read a recent report showing that — LONDON councils spent £30million in three year refurbishing their plush offices for civil servants.  Hounslow council leader got £35,000 to improve his office, and Hillingdon council spent £30,000 on upholstering their chairs.  LAMBETH spent £550,000 on producing the council newspaper. BASILDON forked out £400,000 on illuminating a Hollywood style sign of 5 foot spelling out Basildon.  GOSPORT in Hampshire spent £7,350 on fact finding trips for staff. WILTSHIRE spent £475,000 on ‘re-branding and inventing themselves ‘ A new logo cost £179,227 and unused uniforms cost £113,327.  DEVON spent £500 on printing leaflets telling people they could not salt certain areas in bad weather. SCARBOROUGH spent £504 on monitoring wet weather, £235 on a water survey and £570 on shopping tips and advice.

‘ The smell of corruption cannot be hair-brushed out ‘

THE GOVERNMENT ARE CONSISTENT ON TWO FRONTS, trying to play down lies and hiding corruption by calling it mistakes and errors in judgement.  We now have fraud investigators raiding the treasurer’s office of the Conservatives.  A probe has been launched as part of a criminal investigation into nine people at the business premises of former Tory Party Treasurer David Rowland.  The FSO arrested the Tchenguiz brothers this month and is looking into how several major depositors in Kaupthing were able to withdraw cash holdings just as the bank went bust leaving millions of other investors to suffer a huge financial loss.

‘ Yet another Peer goes to jail for expenses fiddle ‘

LORD HANNIGFIELD was sent to jail by Maidstone Crown Court for dishonesty, for a period of nine months. He was labelled as a ‘benefits cheat’ by the public who sat watching the case.  This former leader of Essex County Council was found guilty on six counts of fraud — false accounting, — laughingly he had his sentence reduced on claims of poor health, something a lawyer would have suggested perhaps?

‘ Lying Peer and Cabinet Minister is jailed for fraud ‘

ELLIOT MORLEY another government expenses MP, who denied all charges, was said to have wept at the court’s decision to send him to jail.  Morley was sent to prison for 16 months when he appeared before Southwark Crown Court. It was said that he claimed £31,333 for a ‘ phantom mortgage ‘ and grossly exaggerated the amount he was paying for another property.  Lies, and more damned lies, seems to be a theme that exposes ministers, government employees, cops and lawyers, and we feature as much of it as we can, and we have absolute bundles we’re still working on.

‘ Tory Councillor in vote rigging goes to jail ‘

SLOUGH BOROUGH COUNCIL’S TORY COUNCILLOR DISGRACED ESHAQ KHAN was sent to jail for three and a half years by Reading Crown Court.  The Councillor and five others hatched a plan to use ‘ ghost voters ‘ to win the local elections. He was convicted of conspiracy to defraud and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and commit perjury.

‘ MP Huhne smiles on despite the many allegations against him ‘

GOVERNMENT MINISTER and Energy Secretary CHRIS HUHNE has over quite a period of time, been accused of lying over £60,000 concerning election expenses, and an inquiry was started? Then there was the criminal matter of a motor offence, in which his ex-wife said she’d secretly taped him pressuring her to accept his speeding points in order that he escapes a driving ban. But he continues to look as if none of this matters, and he might be right, he’s odds on to sail through this and become untouchable.

‘ 7000 Council Staff are given free mobile phones costing £1.2million ‘

MANCHESTER COUNCIL have issued their staff with mobile phones costing the taxpayer over a million pounds, while at the same time making cutbacks in their budget that affects the public.  It employs 11,500 workers and has given out 7,032 phones and 232 blackberrys.  The council have responded by saying ‘ mobile devices allow staff to work flexibly and efficiently ‘  Strange that, especially when their union are saying more workers are off ill due to stress and workloads. In today’s world most of those people already own a mobile anyway?

‘ Councils sell personal data to junk mail firms ‘

There is much said about data being protected, especially by councils, but it has been revealed that councils throughout the UK are selling it to make a profit. A junk mail company can by the public’s personal data for £21.50 and get 1,000 names and info.  Justin Basini of Data Company ALLOW said councils should not be allowed to sell lists of residents and give a company access to their details.  Council Lawyers who we challenged made excuses and pointed at data laws saying that the data protection act meant only a sanctioned data controller could see and use such data on individuals, and other use was strictly denied. — except to them and the council.

‘ Benefits Appeal Judge cheats benefits system ‘

TRUSTED CIVIL SERVANT and Welfare Appeals Judge SUSAN ELLIOTT-JONES who passes judgement on claimants, appeared before a court charged with falsely claiming more than £8,000 in benefits.  The civil servant from Ingatestone, Essex, pleaded guilty to failing to report a change of circumstances, and was given a conditional discharge and ordered to pay £100 costs at Chelmsford Magistrates.

‘ Councillor Jailed for Money-Laundering ‘

The former councillor for Nelson in Lancashire, MOHAMMED ANSAR was jailed for 10 months at Burnley Crown Court. It was heard that he laundered £92,000 in cash provided by the gains from his two drug-dealing sons, Shamraiz and Khobibe. It also emerged that the town councillor was dodging paying taxes.

‘ Payments made to leaving staff are not to be made public, council order ‘

A GAGGING ORDER was made concerning £400,000 of taxpayers cash involving 13 civil servants a report has revealed.  Council Boss Andrea Hill earning a staggering £218,592 a year oversaw ‘ compromise agreements’ totalling £400,000 paid out in just three months.  The ‘ Cash-strapped ‘ Suffolk County Council is already set to make budget cuts of £44million to public services refused to say who had authorised the ‘gagging agreements’ and individual payments being made to ‘leaving’ staff. The same council it is revealed, is facing a ‘sickness bill ‘ of £5m over ‘stressed out staff’.

‘ Official mistakes by staff add more to Benefits Fraud Bill ‘

CIVIL SERVANTS IN THE BENEFITS OFFICES are playing their part in soaring benefit fraud, a report reveals despite 23 years of concern from the watchdog who warned the Agency repeatedly. Official mistakes by staff are now at £3.3billion. THE DWP annual accounts for 2010/2011 show that the situation has been hampered by fraud and error since 1988.  Government departments have been aware of this for years, but tend to allow the DWP to do as it sees fit without any intervention.

‘ Gun possessing Councillor and child porn collector goes to jail ‘

JOSEPH SHAW, Wigan Town Councillor, was arrested by police after it was discovered he had over 2000 child porn images downloaded to his computer. After a search at his home by police a Smith and Wesson revolver with ammunition was found under his bed. He appeared before Liverpool Crown Court and pleaded guilty to 17 counts of possessing indecent child images for which he received one year’s jail, possession of a firearm – 5 years, and ammunition — another two years.

‘ Kent Councillor and Sheriff is jailed over child porn ‘

FORMER COUNCILLOR MARTIN FISHER of Canterbury, Kent, was sent to jail for ten months by the court after pleading guilty to five charges concerning the collection of child sex photos and indecent images of young children. He was also convicted of indecent assault against a vulnerable youngster. The court jailed the former Sheriff of Canterbury and local councillor for ten months and have banned him from working with children for a period of ten years.

‘ Government reneges on promise to be transparent on expense fiddle MP’s ‘

THE INDEPENDENT PARLIAMENTARY STANDARDS AUTHORITY have announced that they will not be ‘naming and shaming expenses fiddling MP’s because the think it unfair?  Apparently, Luke March the Watchdog’s compliance officer has done a u-turn on this in favour of the MP’s.  This allows over 40 politicians to walk away feeling pleased with themselves at having succeeded dodging the public just as they wished. This is yet another sign why the Government cannot be trusted.

‘ A catalogue of Government waste spending and no one cares ‘

It seems incredible that this country went crazy over ‘the expenses fiddle’ that involved crime by MP’s, yet the ball falls short at the net like a small kid who cannot concentrate. The public cannot see further than the end of their noses, and for the Government and other services, — this is a jolly good wheeze. Corruption will thrive, mainly because it’s a question of when and if, otherwise it’s business as usual for the Government crooks. An article recently exposed how the Government spent £3,500 on a computer when it could have got the same thing from PC World at £250. This Government spends around £16 billion of taxpayers cash on IT systems, many of such that are scrapped after purchase and others break down and do not work as hoped. Critics have pointed out that if such spending occurred in the business community, the firm doing it would go bust. But this will not happen for the civil servants, the money is like an ‘ever-filling’ well, and they have put in laws that say they can take it without your permission, a little like a criminal case of borrowing a vehicle without consent, but they don’t have to appear in court or face a charge, they can steal or borrow as long as they like.

‘ Cabinet Minister Chris Huhne and the Speeding ticket Saga ‘

There is much talk in the press about the affair of the lies, connivance and deception in the ‘speeding case ‘ surrounding politician Chris Huhne, who’s wife said that he’d lied and persuaded her to take the rap.  It appears that the strange, altogether — unclear file, has now gone from the police to the CPS (where it may just be possibly buried without trace) . He was also under suspicion of ‘expenses rigging’ but somehow even that has been watered down by the Electoral Commission to ‘ minor discrepancies ‘  It is speculated that Huhne and Miss Pryce (estranged wife of Huhne) could be charged jointly of perverting the course of justice and go to prison, but we can tell you here, that is not going to happen, the worms will slither beneath the soil and we shall hear no more about it.

MR.HUHNE brought more speculation about his honesty when it was discovered that he’d made a ‘gaff’ on an internet tweet and in it he said he wanted to keep his fingerprints off an unspecified story which must appear as if it had come from someone else ?  Normally when one refers to fingerprints in this context, it often means make sure I don’t leave a trace or can be identified in a crime.  He was questioned on the BBC, but looked very unconvincing with answers he gave to the interviewer.

Yet another delay, another false hope no doubt, as this MP tries to slip away amid more confusion brought about by the Legal Professionals. Headlines now refer to ‘Police want Huhne and ex-wife charged over penalty points deal’ — it says the police are trying to charge? Huhne and his ex-wife!! and claims that there is ‘plenty of evidence’ for charges of attempting to pervert the course of justice, but it is not happening, and the ball has been thrown to the CPS….and we know the bungles they do and the lean they have towards their paymasters in government, I think we can safely say this story and what criminal acts took place will never reach the court.

This case and story runs like a Whitehall farce — Huhne has now been charged along with his wife for perverting the course of justice, he has resigned his government seat…..and so the story goes on……..and do we have a conclusion to this?   NO………are we likely to?  NO………will we hear more of this?  DOUBTFUL…..not if the government have their way…..and accepting the fact they run The Justice Ministry…….the shredder is available!

The Chris Huhne Saga in the endgame:  Chris Huhne pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice when he appeared at Southwark Crown Court (Mon 4th Feb 2013)……finally revealing that he’d lied over and over about the driving incident…….the report says his constituents who backed him throughout the many years were now bitterly disappointed and felt conned by a man who claimed it was all a mistake and fabricated to get him.  as he left the court he said he was resigning from his post and ministerial position, but had nothing further to say on the matter.

‘ Ombudsman attacks failures of Hull City Council ‘

HULL CITY COUNCIL has been heavily criticized by the Ombudsman over the way they failed a 14 year old boy who was being threatened with a knife on several occasions. Knife Crime is supposed to be considered serious, but social workers failed to tackle the situation leaving the boy vulnerable to attacks and intimidation. It was said they completely handled the case badly and in turn the council did not consider this a priority, and where were the police?  — that seems to be a mystery…nothing from them at all…. it says quite a lot for that phrase ‘ care in the community ‘  evidentially — a myth and figment of the imagination.

Quango sucks cash from taxpayers in huge payoff ‘

£500,000 PAYOFF to boss of discredited agency is another huge drain on the taxpayer as the government carry on as usual. The South East Development Agency is to be scrapped in 2012, and as a result payoffs abound as the Government spends money like water.  The Agency staff has volunteered for voluntarily redundancy which means packages for 15 members of staff getting a handshake of £100,000 each and six others receiving £200,000 which is rather nice for these civil servants.  7 other regional quangos have taken £23.4million for 800 staff on redundancies, but these are dwarfed by other RDA’s who are paying 111 staff £51,461 each in redundancy, a total sum is expected of £5.7million in that area. So there you have it, civil servants can still rely on a gravy train.

‘ Job Centre Civil Servant in £8,000 Swindle ‘

CHRISTINE GREEN an employee of the Department of Work and Pensions Jobcentre falsely claimed £8,000 whilst being with the Benefits Staff. She appeared before Lincoln Crown Court charged with deception and fraud after falsely claiming Carer’s Allowance of £8,368 over a three year period.  The claim was spotted by another worker and reported to the bosses. She was given 50 hours of community service.

 ‘ Another Quango Pays itself £5.2million of Taxpayers cash ‘

TWENTY-FIVE OFFICIALS ARE TO RECEIVE £200,000 each in golden handshakes in redundancy payoffs. The Quango is a Government Spending Watchdog, THE NATIONAL AUDIT OFFICE.  Payoffs are said to go as high as £750,000 for some members of Senior Staff.  The Lay-offs are said to be part of the Governments drive to cut administration costs by 15 percent in the next three years.  It appears that Civil Service rules cater quite nicely in redundancy packages for their members, and cannot be questioned. It’s hard to believe that the tax system has been so badly corrupted by Governments throughout the years, and used to support the chosen ones and in other cases held back in order to subvert justice and deny those who can least fight back, but that’s Government Policy throughout the world, and not only just confined to the UK. Government corruption is like a garden weed, it flourishes, grows, and overcomes everything else in the garden in order to survive, and it’s no use to anyone?

‘ Another MP on Fraud Charges ‘

MP MARGARET MORAN a Luton South MP, was charged with false accounting in relation to £60,000 being falsely claimed in expenses. She faces trial on 21 charges including forgery and fraud relating to bills claimed on another home belonging to her partner between 2004 and 2009.

RECENT NEWS COVERAGE ON MORAN of Luton has stated that she defrauded taxpayers of £80,000 and forged invoices to do with claiming for dry rot treatment at the Southampton home, the subject of the ‘ flipping ‘ between the two properties.  She appeared before the City of Westminster Magistrates and has been duly transferred to the Southwark Crown Court in October.  She was apparently the MP for Luton South

‘ Government Health Care Nursing breaks Law ‘

The Minister responsible said the Law was there in place to prosecute, but he quickly deflected the matter to being one of co-operation and measures — all in the face of a report that has revealed that a 30 out of a 100 were failing elderly patients so badly that what they were doing was against the law.  But if you think these people or Health Authorities will be charged? you will have to wait a very long time, it just will not happen.  We’ve seen in the past where departments have not met the laws laid down have just got away with providing the minimum service required by law.  The law does not apply to them, it is a smokescreen, propaganda continually attached to most of what this government says. This or any government will not prosecute any of its own for just failing to give or do what the law says. they have provided for ways out of it long before they generated the farce of ‘ the law applies to all ‘ without favour.

‘ When a Council gets it wrong they don’t admit it ‘

In this case we are looking at Leytonstone/Waltham Forest…..and a bill (the dreaded council tax) presented to a pensioner who didn’t really owe it.  But of course, they insisted he did.  In fact the house had been sold and the new owner hadn’t notified them, whereas the pensioner had written and taken time out to actually be present in their local offices.  Even on telling them he was assured it would be put right, but hey presto, he got yet another demand…. for an increased sum…. with threats mentioned of court action.  Believing in the system, he thought this would right itself and all would be well.  Things went quiet….. until a bailiffs demand arrived saying a court action had been carried out, and that they were about to get the cash or seize goods.  After great difficulty going over the matter, it was discovered that the council had made an ‘error’ (yes, one of those) and without apology the demand was terminated….. and they never admitted that they got it wrong.

‘ Member of Benefits Staff defrauds system of £12,000 ‘

MARK GOLDSMITH-WHIITE a worker in the DWP at Plymouth Benefit Delivery Centre appeared in court charged with defrauding the benefit service of £12,000 by taking money on 22 occasions that he was not entitled to.  He used claims by people who’d stopped making a claim by keeping them active and paid the money into his own bank account.  He was told by the judge that a jail term could not be ruled out!

‘ DWP Cover-Up on Low Pay figures to hide facts ‘

It was revealed that an ‘Intern’ situation was hiding the fact that people were being used as a sort of job-training yet not being paid despite a law on the minimum wage. Some were being given expenses only and told that they were receiving valuable job training, and this also went for MP’s who in turn were found to be using unpaid people as ‘ Interns’ to do hours of work for nothing.  It was agreed this cut across the law and the DWP were actively breaking the law but covering-up this fact wherever possible.  The TUC called for more enforcement in the area of low pay in the light of the government itself taking unfair advantage of these ‘ Interns ‘

‘ Council use threats to curb citizen posters in public ‘

HULL COUNCIL are yet another load of bullies in our list, they threatened Nicola Bayston, a vet, who was putting up posters asking for people to help trace missing pets.   They said she could be fined up to £75,000 if she did not comply with their order.  Yet as she points out — they, these civil servants can and do put up voting posters and other such notices wherever they want, so yet again there is one law for citizens and no laws for the civil servants… at least no law to worry about with all that Crown Immunity.

‘ Another MP resigns amid accusations of dodgy behaviour in office ‘

DR.LIAM FOX – THE DEFENCE SECRETARY suddenly resigned somewhat days before an inquiry into allegations of misconduct.  Most of the case surrounded trips and a best man who appears to have been at 22 meetings and several other places. It also revealed the man had business cards saying he was an advisor to Mr.Fox, who actually denied he’d authorised any such post?  mystery abounds about the strange affair with very few answers being given.  But as we well know — this is normal in the realms of Government.

‘ Council Staff in £700,000 fraud ‘

SEVERAL COUNCIL OFFICERS from Wansbeck District Council are at the centre of a fraud investigation totalling more than £700,000  believed to have been pocketed by them.  The Senior Council Officers will have legal action taken against them at the Northumberland’s District Council — the matter surrounds inflated salaries and expenses — the file is reported to have gone to the CPS and Northumbria Police.

‘ Lewisham Council accused of fraud and illegal actions ‘

LOCAL COUNCILS TRAPPING AND FINING MOTORISTS? not just that — Beryl Mason says that Lewisham Council rearranged road signs in order to deceive, but she had photographic evidence showing the road as it was with the original signs. She says the council’s actions are illegal and a fraudulent attempt to extract money from many road users. The council are obviously hoping that no-one could go up against them or have evidence of a criminal act, but sadly Beryl, councils like Lewisham are corrupt.

‘ Shame of Bully boy councils who use bailiffs to harass and threat ‘

ROSSENDALES are a company that hides behind its own lies and the shirt tails of over 150 councils who employ them to seize goods and cash on their behalf — knowing that a good number of bailiffs act aggressively, threaten and do not comply with any regulations.  This kind of thing is being sanctioned by council solicitors who in turn threaten pensioners and anyone else they can derive their perverse pleasure from.  These bailiffs act like crooks, and ROSSENDALE’S have been carrying out the dirty work for these councils for years.  The fact that the council get some of it wrong in the first place doesn’t count.  Once they have instructed and contacted the ‘ machinery’ they just let it happen.  We showed you a case in ‘featured lawyers’ one solicitor Michael Smith who threatened a pensioner and told him not to speak to anyone about the case after his council paid out and had to right the wrong they did – the firm they hired? — yes ROSSENDALES.  150 councils are involved in this tyranny allowing bailiffs to act like gangsters.  Web pages are posted by thousands of victims who openly accuse ROSSENDALES of criminal acts that go unchallenged.  We heard that the government have delayed new laws on this subject — the reason is very obvious.

‘ Basildon District Council in Council Tax Cover-up ‘

The mis-banding of property values for council tax higher payments in Basildon was revealed by MP John Baron who said he had absolute proof that this kind of corruption practised by Basildon District Council was Government backed. He said they refused to correct the tax inspector’s errors to save money and face. He went on to condemn this deliberate deceit to taxpayers and said ‘the whole basis of a fair tax system is undermined if the state conspires to overcharge the public in this way’

‘ DWP Civil Servant in £40,000 Fraud ‘

CIVIL SERVANT JANICE LEE a worker in the Department of Work and Pensions was found guilty of defrauding the taxpayer and system of fraudulently claiming £40,000 as a result of lies over child-care costs. Teesside Crown Court heard how she claimed these benefits while she was employed to look at and examine other people’s claims. She was bailed to appear for sentencing, the judge said prison would not be ruled out when she appeared at the next sitting.

‘Erewash Council and Derbyshire Police under suspicion ‘

CORRUPTION investigations are underway by WebWatchers NAME AND SHAME who are currently looking into activities by council employees and Police Officers in the Derbyshire Constabulary.  We looked into this council and have the following results that indeed point to a good reason to suspect something.  One report mentioned that after Electoral Fraud Claims, a  journalist investigating was beaten up, and the matter was being investigated by the police?  in another — The Ombudsman was accused of being in league with the council in regard to Council Officers practising deceit and lies over the processing of public complaints. Trevor Nunn who began looking into it and collating material said there was proper and undeniable evidence proving this.  Another report featured Councillor Robert Dockerill who was fined £10,000 at Birmingham Crown Court for downloading Child Porn and indecent images of children from the Internet onto council computers.  The former teacher at Loughborough Grammar School, was disqualified from holding office at the council.

‘Corruption of Civil Servants’

16 Counts of corruption involving bribe payments to M.O.D employees were exposed when the FSO mounted an investigation. James McGeown director of VIS Security Solutions managed to acquire contracts worth £16.2million while paying bribes to William Marks, the Deputy Senior Commercial Officer for the Ministry of Defence.  McGeown pleaded guilty to corruption.  William Marks was paid £66,500. Another civil servant, John Symington received £18,000, he pleaded guilty to 4 counts of corruption. Carol Kealey, sister of Marks, obstructed the investigation police when they were investigating the financial affairs and it was she who conducted financial transactions for Marks through a bank account in her name.  McGeown was also charged with money-laundering, the case took six years due to the complexities involved.

‘ Derby Lib-Dem Council Leader is given Suspended Sentence ‘

DERBY DISTRICT COUNCIL BOSS MAURICE BURGESS was given a nine month suspended prison sentence at Nottingham Crown Court.  He pleaded guilty to indecently assaulting a 7 year-old boy twenty-three years previously. it was also read out in court that he had another conviction in 1971.

‘ Edinburgh Council Officials in Corruption Probe ‘

FIFTEEN COUNCIL OFFICIALS are being investigated for corruption at the City Council, and all have been suspended while the Lothian and Borders Police carry out an investigation. When claims of bribery being rife at the City Council’s Building and Conservation Programs Department were shown in a BBC Programme ‘ Scotland’s Property Scandal’ appeared.

‘Council ordered to pay £3,000 compensation for excessive delays ‘

BRIGHTON AND HOVE COUNCIL appeared in court after causing delays and unreasonable stress to a tenant who had to wait more than a year to return to his flat that needed urgent attention.  The tenant found himself subject to being fobbed off and disregarded each time he approached the council about the time it was taking to fix the property.  Staff were said to have engaged in using excuse after excuse without thought to the claimant’s well being or circumstances…. leaving the man with no alternative but court action.

‘ Lib-Dem Council Candidate and Canvasser jailed for 3 years for Child Porn ‘

KARL LINDON a candidate for Aylesbury Council was given 3 years in prison after being caught in a paedophile ring of 47 traffickers of child porn.  Police found 2,500 indecent images of children which he swapped with others online and by post.

‘ Disgraced Council Boss Investigated over Drugs ‘

FORMER GLASGOW COUNCIL BOSS STEPHEN PURCELL found himself being investigated by the police over drug use involving cocaine criminality, it was also stated that ‘other matters’ were also being reviewed and under consideration.  It centres around council contracts and that they may have been obtained corruptly in circumstances pointing to an irregular award for services.  As rumours and allegations arose, council members began ‘ the denial’ procedures often used in these matters.

‘ DWP Civil Servant steals £24,000 ‘

MARK HAMILTON, a JobcentrePlus civil servant admitted in court to stealing blank giro checks from the office and cashing over £24,000 for himself over a period of seven months at the Glasgow JobcentrePlus Office.

‘ 20 Members of Benefits Staff are Disciplined ‘

TWELVE MEMBERS OF STAFF IN THE JOBCENTREPLUS, Four from The Disability and Carers Services, Two from the DWP Pensions Department, One from The Child Support and One from the Department Corporate Centre were disciplined over breaches of data-protection and inappropriate use of personal data was admitted by Stephen Timms the Employment Minister in a public statement.

‘ Council Housing Officer in Fraud ‘

ANDREW MARSH, a council officer in Sheffield was jailed for two years and eight months for his part in a VAT Tax Fraud with a South Yorkshire Policeman.  He with others set up a bogus company in Sheffield called 2Go and set about claiming millions in VAT refunds on goods that were never sold or bought — there were 6,000 fake business transactions invented to make it all look legitimate.  The Police said it was one of the biggest tax swindles ever attempted.

‘ Council Tax Bailiff in Tax Fraud’

A Lancashire Council Worker, STEVE HARRISON, who was employed as a council bailiff was dismissed after being found guilty of submitting false documentation.  He pleaded guilty at Fleetwood Magistrates Court to aiding and abetting the evasion of liability?

‘ Story Suppression by Minister fails in court ‘

CABINET MINISTER CAROLINE SPELMAN lost in the High Court when she tried to keep a story concealed — It was concerning her son Jonny Spelman who played for the England Under-15’s Rugby squad.  He had been found taking a banned steroid drug, but Environment Minister Spelman sought a gagging order which was not given in court. The judge ruled that the public had a right to know.

‘Civil Servants waste £31billion over incompetency ‘

The National Audit Office reported in an annual assessment of government departs that £31billion pounds were wasted on poor skills within the civil service. It pointed out billions were squandered on 17 projects mainly in the IT area, the worst department coming under fire was the M.O.D.  The report concluded that these people were poorly trained or qualified in the areas they were dealing with especially in the contracts awarded and given.

‘ Conning the Public — Fiddling the figures ‘

MASSAGING THE FIGURES OR STATISTICS — is rife in public bodies as often suspected but never shown, the reason being for this is ‘TO LIE’ to conceal the truth — so we took a closer look at this and show just the little lies

THE POLICE SERVICE and The Facebook Racism incident claimed publicly there were only 150 cops involved; saying this over and over in various press statements.  We dug further and more widely to finally unearth one other report saying it was 187, the figure had been changed so that 37, twenty-five percent of it just vanished.

Staying with the Cops –We have the Met Spending Fraud inquiry that announced publicly that 40 cops had been investigated, but further digging revealed that another out-of-the way statement admitted to 60 cops, so there had been a third drop in the public statement, 20 had vanished.

The HMRC were into the same lying procedures too, allowing a drop in the publicly stated figures of civil servants dismissed or disciplined by changing the offences — downgrading as it is called!! re-modelling the system of accountability to only reflect on those that could now be downgraded to error or mistake in the new appraised system of fiddling.  On one set of publicly claimed figures the claimed 100, but digging around it changed on another statement to 369.  Later public statements widely publicised said 116 members of staff had been dismissed, but after some digging around it changed to 294.

The DWP annually change their figures, altering reports and again, issuing a public statement that has false figures — but not according to them! as they have re-assessed offences in the staff Disciplinary process downgrading a sizeable figure to ‘ errors and mistakes’ thus being able to take them out of the figures and tell themselves convincingly it isn’t a lie and they haven’t conned anyone?

Well it doesn’t wash, it is false accounting (a criminal act in other situations) they should learn that they must tell the same lie all the time in the hope to get away with it convincingly, but even then, websites like ourselves will expose them for what they are.

‘ £438,000 of taxpayers money spent on renting trees?’

A DOZEN RENT-A-TREES have been contracted by MP’s for their offices down at the side of the River Thames it has been revealed. This report has come to light only because of the Freedom of Information Act, otherwise it would have been nicely hidden out of sight.  It is said they feature in the courtyard of Portcullis House, and were imported from Florida.  Their maintenance per year is around £32,500. Even the cost of Portcullis house was £235million way beyond the first costing price of £165million estimated.

TOWER HAMLETS COUNCIL AGREES TO £1,000 a day DEAL for aide to Mayor — The council is said to be cash strapped and in poverty. MP Eric Pickles accused them of wasting taxpayers money saying it was astonishing how one of the poorest boroughs could squander public cash in this way.  — They can and do Mr.Pickles!

COUNCIL ROW LEADS TO PUNCH THAT BREAKS DENTURES — Tory Council member Penny Jackman slapped UKIP member Mike Beggs at a ‘counting session’ for the seat on Lymington and Pennington Council in Hampshire. Mr.Beggs who received an apology afterwards is considering legal action after he discovered he had a repair bill of £1,000 to his dentures which were broken in the fracas.

KENT COUNTY COUNCIL FACES TRIBUNAL — Geoff Stevens took the council to an employment tribunal for discrimination. He claimed that Chiefs in the council were monitoring his phone calls including a call he made to his doctor to see if his claimed condition was true. A council spokesperson refused to comment on the case.

£8.5MILLION SPENT BY MINISTER ON OFFICE RENOVATIONS!! — Cabinet Minister, Francis Maude was in charge of eliminating and cutting down waste of taxpayer’s money, when it was found out that he was having millions spent on renovations at Whitehall. A spokesperson claimed that there would be no savings really if they didn’t go ahead with the renovations!! …. maths is obviously not a strong point in the Government.

‘MP in £13 expenses scandal ‘

MP ADRIAN BAILEY a labour MP claimed £13 for attending a Remembrance Day service — The MP Chairman of the Commons Business, innovation and skills Committee earning around £80,000 a year tendered the expense along with a donation of £3.15. It was revealed that he often claimed on coffee, cake and other snacks, which is approved by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority?

‘ MP in assault-brawl case avoids jail and resigns ‘

LABOUR MP ERIC JOYCE escaped going to jail after appearing at Westminster Magistrates Court where he was given a fine of £3,000, a 12 month community order and three month ban on entering public houses. He was convicted of brawling when he assaulted MP Stuart Andrew and then political aides — Luke McKenzie, Ben Maney, and Labour Whip Philip Wilson. He pleaded guilty to four counts of assault and was ordered to pay compensation to his victims of £1,400. The former soldier of The Black Watch has now resigned from the Party.

‘ Major donation for access gaff embarrasses Tory Party ‘

The conservatives found themselves being branded as the ‘old values – old ways’ party not to be trusted when Tory Treasurer PETER CRUDDAS was caught on secret cameras offering to connect the donor with a special seat and invitation to see David Cameron or any other Cabinet Member.  For £250,000 he said he could arrange this as he talked to Sunday Times Investigate Reporters who posed as donators interested in getting special favours for a financial donation to the Conservatives.  He has since resigned when it became publicised, but on top of that came Cameron’s refusal to name the donators he entertained at special dinners. Then hours later having seen this as a glaring mistake, he offered up just a few saying that this was open accountability?

‘Ministers in Cover-Up over council tax Scandal ‘

UP TO 700,000 RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN OVERCHARGED BY COUNCILS — The wrong banding tax, wrong assessments have been going on under a cloak of secrecy — Ministers have been accused of hushing the matter up, and they knew about it in 2005.  They implicated the HMRC who hide in the shadows on this one, who did nothing to urge councils to come clean.  The matter was exposed when ministers were forced to reveal the papers and notes of a Whitehall Meeting.  It was said by Caroline Spelman ‘ The Government has been caught red-handed’ fiddling council tax to make families pay more’ — using their misguided legal powers to extract cash without question.

‘Retirement Plan for Council Staff well funded by Taxpayer’

The taxpayer again pays out something in the region of £1 billion so that staff retiring early can benefit from a full pension. This is said to have been casually going on for three years, and all perfectly within their own rules as claimed by the Civil service.  40,000 staff had their pensions topped up who were leaving before their official retirement age. The figures gained by The Daily Mail as obtained by the freedom of information act are as follows:  Financial Year ending 2011 — Wiltshire £2.4 million — Stoke-on-Trent £3.1 million — Tower Hamlets £3.4 million  — Islington £2.85 million  — Hertfordshire £6.3 million — Gateshead £3.5 million  — Cheshire East £2.7 million — Bolton £4.45 million. 167 other local authorities failed to give any figures.  Some good money there?

‘ Care Quality Commissioner Inspector took Bribes ‘

A Northamptonshire Care Home Inspector ‘not named’ has been arrested over faking of reports and money laundering by the City of London Police.  It is stated that a whistleblower reported the 43 year-old woman who works with the CQC. They said they had investigated the allegations concerning the Inspector and found them substantiated and immediately terminated her employment before referring the matter to the police. They added that the Inspector failed the providers and the organisation and failed to protect the vulnerable elderly who use those services.

‘ Councillor takes feud too far is convicted of harassment ‘

BRENAN MURPHY a former Conservative Parliamentary Candidate appeared before Chester Magistrates Court and was found guilty of prolonging a hate and victimisation campaign against his neighbour. Murphy who’s garden backed onto the Disley golf-course in Cheshire was fined £300 and given a two year restraining order banning him from speaking to neighbour Christopher Boyd. He was also ordered to pay prosecution costs of £1,500. He was charged with ‘ committing harassment without violence ‘

‘ Ex-Cop and Benefits Fraud Investigator caught cheating ‘

IAN HARRISON a Benefits Fraud Inspector with the DWP, formerly a Police Officer, appeared before Blackpool Magistrates Court charged with obtaining disability benefits fraudulently. The claim for a back injury originated from when he was in the police force….and claimed benefits….however, he got better and still went on claiming and incredibly took up employment as a Benefits Fraud Officer going after false claims!!  The court sentenced him to a nine weeks suspended jail sentence —suspended for two years. It is reported that the 70 year-old has paid back the improper payments (he received £10,000 the higher rate disability allowance per annum).

‘ Town Halls to be curbed yet again in regard of snooping ‘

Yet again we have the old snoopers game going on, which was going to be curbed before, being promised to curb their powers again……with what success?   Councils and Town Halls are reported to have accessed private data, and civil liberty campaigners want them barred from getting Internet e-mails, texts and more. The Police have jumped up from their guns and truncheons to say they need to get at publicly private info because of terrorists!   The report says 400 councils are able to access all electronic private data made available to them using the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act. In 2011 134 councils snooped into more than 1,800 items of electronic data using the Act to absolve themselves and cry ‘special privilege and Crown Immunity’ so as far as we can see, they will carry on as usual.

‘ The one that will get away — Expenses cheat deemed unfit for trial ‘

FORMER MP MARGARET MORAN has been said to be unfit to stand trial in a result of cheating her expenses by £80,000. The Luton South MP is said to be in poor health and suffering from heavy depressions.  Her condition was submitted to Lewes Crown Court through consultant forensic psychiatrist Philip Joseph.

‘ Council Finance Officer steals from the vulnerable ill ‘

CHRISTINA HOOLIGHAN, a council finance officer with Trafford Council in Greater Manchester, appeared before Manchester Crown Court charged with theft. It was heard in court that she faked documents in order to pilfer cash from mentally ill people who trusted her.  She handled the budgets of around thirty people who could not and didn’t have the capability to understand such involvements.  It is said she grabbed more than £10,000 over a ten month period. She admitted to four counts of fraud, and was told she could face prison when she returns for sentence on the 23rd of May.

‘ DWP and Jobcentre rewrite Human Rights to include ‘ forced work’

One equates ‘forced work’ with prisoners in a time when they could give ‘hard labour’ as a sentence, and refusal meant flogging and abuse to the offender in any degree of inhumanity the prison decided. The DWP are in a report; are saying two strikes and you work unpaid — meaning two failed interviews or drop outs of a work programme and you do unpaid work for the benefits for up to 30 hours a week.  Jobcentre staff already have too much power as we have already shown, this only turns them into the prison staff of the bad old days enacting their sadistic nature on those they want to hurt, because the state gave them the power to inflict acts of retribution and get it wrong without fear of consequences.  When one reviews the Charter on Human Rights there is no clause where it says another person or state official can impose their will and conditions by force at the detriment of another except by order of a court having been found guilty of an offence.  So, yet again, we have DWP Lawyers and Managers licensed to interpret and rewrite or create an unmentioned clause to the Charter.

‘ Council Manager steals £117,000 from disabled ‘

MANAGER FOR THE DISABLED at Bristol City Council, STEPHEN PARRY was found guilty at Bristol Crown Court on serious charges of theft against the vulnerable.  Parry was in charge of allocating funds to improve disabled people’s homes, but he decided to help himself in a home improvement for his own £300,000 house in Wells.  The court found his actions despicable and sentenced him to 20 months in prison.

‘Brown has a selective memory at Leveson Inquiry’

GORDON BROWN faced the tribunal, looking at times uneasy, yet still able to avoid and leave out things that might have had some relevance to his credibility as a ‘proper witness’ — Michael Guy a former News Corp World Editor remembers Brown saying he never got too close in with Rupert Murdoch (18 months earlier) and goes onto say he contradicts himself now — Brown attended a conference in Idaho and the Hayman Island do, which Tony Blair flew half way around the world to attend to persuade Murdoch to support Labour. Brown, four years later, made the journey himself to make sure Murdoch remained onside with Labour. Brown was lavishly entertained by the Murdoch Corporation and threw himself into question-and-answer session on whether Britain should join the Euro. He gave all the right answers Murdoch wanted to hear, yet at the recent Leveson he made no reference to this meeting or trip to Murdoch in Idaho?

‘ Council Boss Jailed ‘

BARNSLEY COUNCIL’S COMMERCIAL MANAGER FOR TRANSPORT was jailed for two and a half years when he appeared before the court.  ARTHUR MULLETT stole £173,526 over a period of five years it was said — instead of banking the entire income from services and MOT’s etc, he placed cash and some cheques into his own bank account.  He was only discovered when a ‘Line’ Manager found things did not add up in the accounts.

‘Councils at war in ‘dirty tricks’ game claim it’s good ‘Honest’ fun? ‘

TWO COUNCILS — SKEGNESS and BRIGHTON, are locked in a tourism campaign according to a recent report, and this involves ‘rubbishing’ the beaches claims. It was said Skegness did posters using images of graffiti covered walls in Blackpool and Brighton to reflect a bad investment for the holidaymakers money, and the posters also included the words ‘ For sights you will want to remember’  — Visit Skegness followed this to indicate that tourists should avoid the other two.  Blackpool and Brighton are said to be annoyed and are not seeing the affair as banter or good clean fun.  One paper said it was a ‘tacky’ spectacle to say the least, but strangely, this kind of thing if it had been the work of the public or an individual, would have led to the courts and council lawyers would have been having a great time categorising this as a slur, defamation and even an offence taking the most serious view….yet when a council does it, it is said to be ‘good honest fun’

‘ Senior Civil Servant Jailed for Fraud ‘

SENIOR CIVIL SERVANT COLIN PEARSON of Hull, was jailed for a period of three years over a £1.9 million tax fraud.  He appeared before Hull Crown Court where it was heard that he had posed as a Tax Advisor and ran a pensions scam.  The Foods Standards Agency Officer set up false companies saying they were based overseas.  He conned the HMRC into getting the companies being qualified for a recognised overseas pension scheme.

‘ Redundant Council Boss gets £589,000 Payout ‘

THE TAXPAYER’S GRAVY TRAIN ROLLS IN TO PLATFORM GRAB IT — For Council Boss Katherine Kerswell, who was on a four year contract with Kent County Council.  This open council refused to say how much they’d paid out saying it was all very confidential.  But new rules under the ‘transparency in Government’ proposals by the coalition forced the secretive council to come clean despite their reluctance.  Lawyers or the council did make every effort to impede the request it must be noted.

‘ Haringey Council not so honest and bullies to boot ‘

News comes in that this ‘middle of the road all pleasing council’ are not that at all.  It appears that they make up their own law with the help of their legal department and onboard solicitor at Haringey Town Hall.  This emerged as questions arose about their ‘controlled parking scheme’ covering parts of North London including Crouch End. A local boiler repair man fell foul of their restrictive parking nonsense and they sent him two demands for payment, £165 plus a further £150 if ignored. The man appealed against it direct to the council but was rejected, and in manner became very condescending.  The man’s firm took up the issue with PATAS a Parking Tribunal.  Haringey offered no proof of the alleged offence and the tribunal threw out the case….they came to the decision that the allegations and contraventions had not taken place as no-one produced the ticket or copy of. There is serious questions of honesty that this council must be subjected to, was a ticket issued at all? and why must most victims of this kind of thing have to face paying without ever being able to challenge these council fines? It also raises the point that councils like Haringey, Walthamstow and Leytonstone go unpunished…..and get away with it absolutely free.

‘ Councillor convicted of harassment ‘

Parish Councillor and leader of Enborne Council, near Reading, Chairman Douglas Staple decided he could not tolerate a fellow member whose presence he detested.   Marllyn Ray after retiring from her seat had sent in 70 complaints herself, even though she had been on the council.  This infuriated Chairman Staple who after resorting to revenge by using a website found himself before the magistrates. He had apparently enrolled her onto a sexy singles website which in return sent the woman replies from interested parties leading to suitors bombarding her with propositions causing her distress.  Found guilty, the councillor was asked to resign and was banned from being in contact with Marllyn Ray. He was ordered to pay £735 in fines and costs.

‘ Council Cover-up on Water Park Scandal ‘

As former Water Park CEO Dennis Grant went to jail — the question of a £165,000 payment from the council to Watermark emerged as ‘missing’ — meanwhile Gloucestershire County Council were ‘forced’ to hand over a land deal legal file claim; they apparently did not want seen!   As in usual cases with council staff, getting straight answers was impossible, and they all appeared to have something to hide?  Accusations of obfuscation by those in power at county and district level were posed — and a demand to know what their public servants had been up to were asked.  By simply throwing Mr Grant into the slammer so that he could be consumed by the wolves in the hope it would all go away was simply ludicrous — as corruption will be unearthed and those behind it revealed……..when we have more on this we will be back to update this.

‘ Land Registry Pays out £36 million in compensation for mistakes and fraud ‘

In the light of recent communicates on this, we shall feature more wrongdoing by this government body, but first we look at this item ……… Among its failures, it allowed ‘anybody’ to change house ownership details without any checks or proof being asked for — and bogus signatures were not checked or challenged.  Julie Jenkins Head of Fraud at the Land Registry has only called for a ‘balance’ of protecting the individual and protecting property?  she added that the Registry were there to protect people’s assets!  (concerning Julie Jenkins we have learned though not confirmed, that there are rumours of that she is being investigated for fraud — and we are looking into this).

Before we feature the next case on the Land Registry you would be well advised to go to the Featured Lawyers and read what retired solicitor Michael Josephs reveals about conveyances (The Conveyancing Fraud)

‘Fraud and Corruption at The Land Registry ‘

COMPLEX AND CONFUSING? not really, it’s another case of ‘Land Theft’ made to look legal, orchestrated by legality and done for money…….. What we have here is really beyond just the sub-title, and its implications are far reaching for those that own land or buy land unaware of the dangers that lurk unseen or not imparted by the Land Registry, a Government Department that has very little accountability.  We have many players, some central to the plot and others that have done their utmost to hinder and muddy the waters in an attempt to confuse.  The subject is a piece of land, not all that big really, but its importance lies in the fact that is vital for access to the road and adjoining property, which has been effectively ‘stolen’ with the help of the Land Registry and the parties that required it…thus ‘imprisoning’ the real title holder and making other users impotent in their own plans having to rely on the good will that doesn’t exist.

The strip of land is wide enough for vehicles and horses to travel to the adjoining field or road…it is a matter of being several yards long……….. the chronology is thus set out below of events that seem unreal.

Wrong charges were put against the registered title causing mistakes and mix-ups.

The Change of name by another party (surname being altered to real title owner’s name) appeared to be and was effectively seen to look like the real title holder.  The aforementioned ‘Changeling’ proceeded to initiate a charge against the title.

A Postcode wrongly recorded at the Land Registry went on file —- An enquiry by the real title holder quoting the proper postcode and title number to the Registry was not challenged; in fact, it was accepted, and they confirmed ownership — a new document requested confirmed that errors had been corrected since the first registration………things seemed okay now.

But then. without consultation or notice, the Land Registry surveyed the land on the request of a neighbour who proceeded to put a claim in for this strip of land for which they were not entitled…….it was now to be disputed.

The real title owner called for an immediate investigation which was soon passed onto the Adjudicator — out of the blue came another assault on the title and ownership — the registered land was passed on to these neighbours!   because in the interim time the Registry would not provide documentation or assist the DPA.

Corporate Lawyer for the Land Registry Michael Westcott-Rudd at Peterborough was horrified to learn that the ‘missing’ conveyance (requested by the original title holder) was with the Land Registry.

The matter was then subsequently put before Detective Sergeant Ian Jarman, Head of the Economic Crime Unit, who said that the document must be returned to the rightful title owner.  This eventually led to a copy being given by the Land Registry very reluctantly.

Now we arrive at the next phase, a trip to The Great Grimsby Combined Courts where the persons granted false title to the land ‘lied on oath’…..things were not looking good for the real owner, it was one against many!

The upshot of that move was that the Adjudicator refuses an Appeal, which in turn lets the Land Registry disengage itself from coming clean and being properly accountable (a get out of jail card nicely sewn into the fabric of stretched legality).  Later, a confidential letter to the Land Registry Executive Dr Catherine Raines is opened and read by many of the staff, much to the annoyance of Dr Raines, She then requests for a re-send of the letter — what follows is silence….she then ignores contact and further correspondence.

Now the case turns again to a sinister aspect — Police harassment no less!  they tell the rightful owner not to make the issue a criminal matter — the forged conveyance document  is suddenly claimed to be true? now the real title holder is subject to being held in the police station who refuse to provide notes etc.  Threats of arrest follow if the real owner uses the registered land as access — then enters the Judge, who threatens to have the real title holder imprisoned….and why? because she entered a document into evidence — the real title holder looked on the Internet prior to the hearing looking for guidance and information.  Seizing on an item from a web page called ‘ Cook on Costs’ a legal help advice forum, she downloaded a relevant article by Judge Cook written to another enquiry concerning land problems etc.  The threatening Judge accuses the real title holder of ‘forging the Judges signature?’ on a copy of info copied from the Web!

The next stage concerns three police officers — all have the same surname (incredible eh?) who visit or speak with her — differing threats of arrest, handcuffing and being dragged to the police station ensue.  The use of scare tactics began to emerge in order to persuade her to drop the matter.  Another typical attempt to harass comes in the shape of scruffy Pc Steven Morris (brother of Inspector Morris) — he threatens the possibility of arrest while the neighbour at a distance shouts that he must ‘get the deeds’  — more arrives in the claim by the Constabulary that Constable Hanson and Sergeant Patterson visited the real owner on site…but this didn’t happen…it was a false claim….she never met with the Sergeant and the meeting with Constable Hanson took place at Mablethorpe Police Station.  Letters were now being invented to suit every occasion.  Strangely, and completely ignored by the ‘opposing annoyance’ the original evidential letter by the vendor’s solicitors, confirmed along with plans, that the land belonged to the real titleholder.  In court the neighbours used the firm of John Barkers Solicitors — solicitor Ian Robinson threatened the title holder (in 2010).

Many other things happened such as the mysterious ‘anonymous letter’ which was tracked down by Chief Inspector Phil Vickers — who did not reveal the author’s name.  Original landowner Mr Wilson who sold the disputed land was not interviewed!   Even now as we close this article, the subterfuge still goes on.

The cautionary tale here is that anyone could end up with someone else’s legal charge on their home and land, and if there are hidden facts and conditions about your property — then you could lose everything — and some do while the Land Registry stands back and does nothing.

NB: The above article is only believed to be correct, as we requested proof in the form of documents which showed corruption in regard of persons and institutions accused beyond reasonable doubt…..these were not sent to us though we requested them by e-mail and we were assured they had ‘proof’ we could see.

THE SECOND CASE:  ‘ The South Wight Borough Council and Planning ‘Harassment Claims’ Isle of Wight.

The dispute centred around the land known as the Forest Haven Nursery in Freshwater and Mrs Burchell-Lockwell (Complainant).  The whole thing began in 1981, and the 280 page documented file finished in August 2000.  During this long battle, the council got very angry about the ‘corruption claims’ — especially Shirley Smart a ‘LibDem Chairperson in Council planning.  In 1999 Mayo Perkins, Solicitors for Mrs Burchell-Lockwell wrote to the council expressing that their client believes that members of the Planning Department acted in a deliberately obstructive manner, impeding any sale of Forest Haven.   Mrs Burchell-Lockwell previously wrote to council officials, David Jagger, C.Boulter, M Jordan and Mr Cornwall at The Planning Dept giving evidence and offering proof of her rights, saying that ‘she never once disobeyed anything the planners asked her to do (27/1/1996).   The Island’s Senior Planning Officer, Colin Attrill admitted that South Wight Planners made an ‘error’ when they relied on incorrect information that was given.    The file (we have) also reveals that the council got the police to arrest Mrs Burchell-Lockwell, and in 1993 July she won the right to stay in her home — she told The County Press ‘that she had been victimised by the Planning Dept — she was pleased that she had won her appeal against their eviction notice.

The above case and file tells us there are great problems in the Planning Systems with councils and ultimately – The Land Registry often leading to ‘cover-ups’ and council agenda’s that are carried out by stealth and underhand tactics of ‘the Big Brother/1984’ style.  Lastly, one council official, case officer, Mr C.Boulter comes up time and time again (a little too often to dismiss as coincidental) who seems to delight in being ‘the villain’ always impeding and stirring things up, who at times looks to be on a personal crusade against the woman……and as Mrs Burchell-Lockwell says ‘harassed her and promoted actions against her using his position’

Note:  We are told these kind of cases are happening all over the UK and nothing is being done to stop it.

Solicitor Michael Joseph was right about the ‘Conveyance Fraud being manipulated by solicitors and councils, and it is still going on now! ………this is your early warning wake up.

‘Buying Planning Permission — who really benefits?’

CHALLENGES DESIGNED TO FAIL —  The Government have (with expensive lawyers) made it deliberately costly for people or groups to take on councils that make ‘suspicious’ or controversial decisions that do not stand up to being logical, cost effective, or in the interests of the public who they are suppose to serve.  The opposition at ‘citizen level’ have to show, prove or demonstrate a council’s decision is improper to withhold certain ‘bias’ information at an inquiry — with mainly three considerations being applicable: Unlawful, Perverse, or not within the correct procedures.  This is called a Judicial Review in the High Court, the cost being around £500,000 and above to the losers! and in most cases it is not the council picking up the tab — and should they be wrong, the council’s legal defence or challenge is paid by the taxpayer? and those legal departments at the council charge around £150 plus an hour for clerical work on the case….and the average brief can be from 600 to 900 pages and documents. 

THE PLANNING PROCESS DISTORTIONS — The thoroughly ‘Rigged’ planning system in Britain at first glance appears to be balanced and fair to all ( but in reality it is biased and it is in the fine print those add-ons and double-talk references that hold the key — they are legalistic and make no sense to the average Joe, so people just look at the key words thinking they are safe, they little realise that interpretation is all and the lawyers have it fixed….though some of them can hardly understand it especially if they’re not Government or council lawyers). Britain ‘hides’ one fact from its citizens, and goes against EU Protocol on Planning — and one should be asking why?  All the other EU countries allow the public to challenge a council’s decision using the Planning system itself to object without the public having to bear the costs of disagreeing with their so-called representatives, whose wages and salaries are paid by those citizens it cheats and lets down far too often.  In the UK, the only cost-effective challenge left to the citizen is the Local Government Ombudsman (and the council have already weighed this up knowing that the case is in their favour).  The Appeal is somewhat flawed, as his powers are very limited.  His decision can only be based on the narrowest of technical criteria — mainly looking at provable maladministration, and if your case strays or doesn’t match the criteria strictly…hey presto, your case fails.

BUYING PLANNING PERMISSION, WHO DOES IT? — Often its the Developers who have their eye, or should that be ‘financial greedy eye’ on a piece of land, building or likewise.  These wizards of ‘gameplay’ are often adept at waiting for the right moment (especially if they get the word the council need cash or are looking for their coffers to be added to.  They wait as the objectors steam in until they become tired or depleted of finance knowing the time is right for the local authority to grant them permission.  Councils under an economical squeeze are reluctant to take on the developers, and shudder at confrontation, becoming passive and often partners where they both emerge gaining from the arrangement…leaving the public to suffer ‘just another blow to their pride and aspirations’……..the following case exposed this cosy arrangement…possibly revealing that it goes on frequently This case ripped open the hidden agenda and Council Planning system much to their embarrassment — We call this ‘THE NEWBURY SCHEME – AND SANDLEFORD’  A lawyer acting for a competitor in a Construction Company who tendered a bid, became suspicious at the Planning inquiry and asked who was paying for the council’s Barrister?  A question that would not normally be asked!  taking into account that the Liberal Democrat Council’s expert witness and barrister supported Sandleford Developments.  Those mere mortals who were observing thought the answer simple…. obviously the council and ratepayers? but NO, the council looked nervous as they revealed that Sandleford’s Backers — a company called TRENCHERWOOD HOMES, had made a contribution to the council’s legal fees and had also footed the bill for the council’s Landscape Official…. and what’s more, it turned out this had been going on for two months….some un-named council officials had been in negotiations with Trencherwood, they claimed it was to ‘save on public expenditure’…..but to those present they decided it was ‘a conflict of interests’ which was quite a reasonable charge to make especially as this was done in secrecy – the Chief of the Environment Committee told the opposition and disgruntled campaigners that ‘It would have come to light in the fullness of time!’ (oh yes, pull the other one).   This prompted a backlash and the people wanted to know how many other payments were made by Trencherwood to the council?  Officers then became evasive and were finally forced to admit that their Agricultural Consultant had been paid too!

IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST OR CONVENIENTLY SHOVED TO ONE SIDE  (2006) — In a communicate to the then Home Secretary one Charles Clark,  Mr D. Law of St Ives in Cornwall wrote to the MP wishing him to be aware that there was a conflict of interests — ‘A Conflict of Parliamentary Status’ in relation to a matter of H M LAND REGISTRY who he alleges allows and accepts the first registration of unregistered property and land with false documents and false statutory declarations — who refuse the affected party, redress, and wilfully allows the situation to run on with conveyancing solicitors able to re-register the blighted properties in the knowledge that they know the situation is not right or correct.

In his letter to Charles Clark he offered to supply evidence!

He furthermore says that from 1990 he had evidence of false documents sent to The Land Registry, named solicitors — and relevant government departments — and the Police who ignored the situation.  He quoted the Criminal Law Act of 2000 showing that it was an arrestable offence in regard to ‘false instruments’ etc, and wrote to Michael Townsend, the Home Office Solicitor asking for clarification and an explanation?

But nothing came of this, even though he had carefully notified them of ‘the victims’ in this matter, their losses, litigation costs and acts of maladministration perpetrated under the radar without question or redress.

THE UNPLEASANT, UNDEMOCRATIC PLANNING PERMISSION SYSTEM — Ordinary people’s anxieties were thrown to the wind as councils saw developers as ‘the golden goose’ to their financial shortfalls, allowing ‘a concession in the regulations’ for planners to accept ‘help’ – meant council officers could save time and money.  The ‘Buying of Planning Permission’ wasn’t an issue, especially as many councils were accepting ‘help’ – so local authorities thought nothing of being in an ‘enabling role’ for developers.  It was easy to see why people became worried about the power and influence of these developers, the political influence and money leading to abuses and distortion corrupting development policy in the UK.  The Conservatives cared very little, they prided themselves on making speeches about ‘the free market’ and its principles — self sustaining — and not needing government support.  But in reality, this led to a situation of ‘sink or swim’ attitude, with small firms suffering while the giants took everything including support from the government (in terms of financial bailouts etc).  At the time, the final voice ((government) in Planning matters was Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, Secretary of State for the Environment…..he was judge and jury.  But it was said by many that his department were placed in a situation of ‘a conflict of interests’ being a Regulator of Planning — and weirdly promoting these developers.  Under John gummer in 1993, his Department for the Environment boldly said it was the ‘Construction Industry’s Advocate within Government’… to promote policy and improvements in the Planning and Development area, and instantly, began a review of the legislation ‘TO REMOVE UNNECESSARY REGULATORY BURDENS’ — in other words, make it easier for the councils to run roughshod over protest groups and do alright with the developers – thus creating a new situation within government to remove most of the legislation that was intended to defend ordinary people’s rights.  It took away the burden of enforcing these to something new which was taking away rights and giving them to the civil service who could rely on developers to help them out financially when the need arose.  It is interesting to note that this ‘conflict of Interests’ within the Planning, Councils, Developers vs the People, gathered momentum under the Conservatives while they were in government and worse…… It actually blossomed under Labour!

‘ The Green Arrows — exposing corruption in councils and Government ‘

We were so impressed by a colleague site, that was clearly doing more into exposing council corruption that we feel they should have a mention here.  It, the web page is called ‘Liars, Buggers and Thieves’ and it has a massive content covering court cases and tribunals on councillors and councils.  So if you want more go to  http://liarsbuggersandthieves.blogspot.co.uk   

‘ Councillors investigated over Corruption ‘

TWO BURY COUNCIL EXECUTIVES were arrested by police in a raid concerning bribery and corruption.  Council Leader, Bob Bibby and Jim Taylor are facing an investigation over planning applications.  It is said that Councillor Bibby took a £10,000 bribe in connection with an application tendered to build 200 homes and a warehouse on a site in Bury Road.

‘ DWP Benefits Advisor caught fiddling benefits ‘

DEAN WOODS an Employee of The Department of Work and Pensions — A Benefits Advisor Officer in Preston was pulling his own scam whilst dealing with claimants.  He was claiming £15,000 in benefits for over four years. Ironically he also got his bosses to foot a bill of £40,000 to specially adapt a work station for him. However, it was a tip-off that led to a raid on his house which uncovered a rather different style of life to that of an invalid who had a bad back that meant he could not walk or work well. Film was found of him cavorting about around a snooker table and photos depicting him in various physical jaunts, all current. Preston Magistrates jailed him for 60 days after he admitted to having not notified the Benefits Section that there was a change of circumstances.

‘ Councillors pay themselves a rise of 28 percent despite recession ‘

We visit this topic over and over again, the Councils that have no regard to taxpayers whatsoever. They talk about recession and cutting back on services yet when it comes to more pay — they are there voting for it to be higher.  It seems 28 per cent isn’t really enough for many of them as they set their sights on even more cash later.  Hundreds of councillors are all to get more in expenses! allowances!    The report says that one government minister Bob Neill says the rises are ‘unjustifiable’  — Six Government departments including the Home Office and Ministry of Justice have enjoyed considerable pay rises…..some of which have been masked as ‘grade’ payments.

‘ The Government and its Secret Courts ‘

BRUTALITY AND COERCION have been levied at a system of Law only thought to be in the hands of a dictatorship or third world banana republic (Singapore?)…..  Mr Justice Mostyn presiding over a case in a Secret Court told the defendant (not really the right word) that the mother should not know of the order for a C-section and authorised ‘reasonable and proportionate force if required.  The Court of Protection…. and one asks who is it protecting and who from?  possibly the law itself.  Because this is a move made by the State and it goes against natural justice…and the court operates under an enforced veil of secrecy.  The Alessandra Pacchieri Case shows what happens….. so you should scan the Internet for more on that, providing the Authorities have not taken down pages on it.  Secret Courts are very questionable because they are a step back into the dark past when the law did unspeakable things to prisoners and the accused…. using position and power to rid themselves of any person that might challenge their way.

‘The UK Border and Home Office Fiasco ‘

IMMIGRATION CONTROL? —Well, one former Met Police Border Control Officer has told the newspapers a few simple truths….Firstly The Home Office  He says that genuine foreign students seeking papers are treated appallingly, especially in their dealings with the Home Office.  They are often cut-off during phone conversations or cut-off after a recorded message.  He says some staff are openly hostile.  He says this talk of ‘Bogus Students’ is mainly a ruse to cover up the fact that foreign students are more likely to be singled out and stopped.  The results of ‘bogus applicants’ being discovered has been minute.  (Chris Hobbs. London W7)

‘ Atos the benefit assessors were planning to go ‘

DWP Ministers claimed they were dropping the ‘Benefit Assessment Company Atos’ over troubles that embarrassed the government, but Atos leaked the information that they had tried to leave the deal some months earlier.  Atos were hired to determine fitness in claimants, which of course could and did affect claimants, some who said they had been subjected to cruel heartless decisions, which led to public anger and demonstrations against the firm (run by the French).  But the real villain here is MP Ian Duncan-Smith….the man who denies that his Universal credit system is not up to speed…..only 3,200 people are on it in the country…… and he’s still calling it a pilot scheme.

‘ Councillor on three charges of theft ‘

DERBY COUNCIL’S FORMER CHAIRMAN ROBIN BALDRY failed to enter a plea when he was charged with three counts of theft at Derby Crown Court.  The Court heard allegations that he stole thousands of pounds in expenses totalling £5,056.71 from the County Council.  It was also noted that he had been suspended from the Conservative Group until the case is completed.

‘ Kent County Council give payout to Official of £420,000 ‘

She just worked 20 months for Kent County Council — Civil Servant Katherine Kerswell, the County Chief walked away with a generous settlement of nearly half a million pounds!  Then she just walked right back into another government post which earns her £142,000 — and they say they are not in it for the money?   Her job is believe it or not!  ‘to reform the civil service’ 

‘ Expenses MP resigns ‘

DENIS MACSHANE LABOUR MP who submitted false expenses claims for three years resigned from office. He had been found guilty of submitting 19 fraudulent claims plainly intended to deceive it was said.  There were calls by the Conservatives to re-open the case and have the police bring criminal charges.  The one-time councillor and former minister for Europe said he had considered continuing as an MP for Rotherham, but finally decided to stand down.

‘ One year’s Expenses claimed in one go’

THE SAGA OF MP MARGARET MORAN rolled on at the trial where it is said she claimed £60,000 in expenses, one invoice being £22,500….around the maximum annual expenses allowed to claim in 2008.  Because she claimed to be ill just before her trial, it was decided that it would still continue in her absence.  Some of these expenses included the claim for ‘dry-rot’ at her Southampton home. She was accused of committing 15 charges of false accounting…..the jury must now decide if she committed the acts and fall within the charges that were made?

 Yet Another Expenses Cover-Up? — So it Appears ‘

As we indicated on the first article we published, The Expenses thing would move on to another after they worked out what way they could conceal things from the public.  Now it is ‘Renting to other MP’s, claiming expenses, and having it kept secret’   News fresh from parliament snoopers say that the Government officials are refusing to give details about several Mp’s who are renting second homes at the taxpayers expense.  The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority issued names of around 270 names renting homes at the public expense along with info on the landlords.  What followed after this was that Parliament blocked the release of data on 51 more MP’s………. and so it goes on again!

‘ Civil Servant and Government backed ‘Gagging’ Orders ‘

THE TERM OPENNESS AND TRANSPARENCY suffered yet again as the emergence of an NHS Whistleblower revealed that this government lie quite frequently and cover-up facts quite often.  GARY WALKER a former Chief Officer at the Lincolnshire Hospital Trust revealed amid breaching an agreement, that he was paid £500,000 in a package that swore him to secrecy about matters in the NHS.  He claims that he has some 3,000 pages of evidence but risks being sued by NHS Lawyers.  He was sacked in 2010 for allegedly swearing at a meeting…. he was dismissed and gagged from speaking out in what is termed as a ‘settlement deal’ for unfairly being dismissed from his employment.  In a BBC interview he said ‘ one must not embarrass a civil servant or a minister, as it could prove damaging ‘  Since the interview he has been threatened with legal action over the interview.  He claimed that he decided on this stand because of a danger to his family?…..The NHS through a spokesperson admitted that there are ‘gagging clauses’ in some NHS Contracts!….and that they are going to look at these in the light of this case.

NEW NHS WHISTLEBLOWER TELLS OF FIXING THE FIGURES – and the attempts of bosses to gag her.  Mrs Haynes Kirkbright said bosses at the NHS tried to silence her. She spoke out and said that the ‘NHS broke every rule in the book’ when she worked with the Royal Wolverhampton Hospital NHS Trust. 

NB: No matter whether they look into this, the jack is out of the box, and this proves they are still doing things in secrecy and operating covert situations…..in order to keep things out of the public gaze.

‘Immigration Executives accused of Misleading Parliament’

Not surprising really, especially as a report accused the Border Agency of incompetence and inefficiency on a huge scale citing a catalogue of errors.  It went on to remark that the UKBA operation was inept that 150 boxes plus containing letters from asylum applicants, and their lawyers etc, were in a Liverpool Office, and none had even been opened.

‘ Wasting Taxpayers money — just consult the councils ‘

A Programme looking into how the councils waste taxpayers money revealed some interesting things one would have thought un-necessary if ‘transparency’ actually worked, but we all know it doesn’t and never will where there is money to be misappropriated.  WIGAN COUNCIL came in for a buffeting as it was spending huge amounts of money on its trips oversees to its ‘twinned’ town Onjey.  It was said it puts aside £25,000 a year for a group of councillors to go out to be in the twinned town.  It was also revealed there is what’s so wonderfully termed as a ‘council credit card’ ……and 432 councils spent £440 million using this card to fund trips, meals, hotel receptions and other extras.  One Council actually spent cash on golf lessons, while another bought football match tickets.  In one case a councillor for Brent was actually living in Brighton.  The Rev David Clues was still being paid £8,000 a year by the London Council.  He said he’d resigned and claimed his allowance was going back to the Lib Dem Coffers….but an investigation revealed no resignation, and that he was still entitled to claim his expenses, so in fact he’d lied on camera.  Wirral Council were featured especially as in 2008 four Senior Council Officers had been suspended over irregularities found in a £40million road contract with Colas….one of those suspended accepted a ‘compromise agreement’ and received £151,000.  It was found that there had been 36,000 deals like this entered into by councils costing the taxpayer £260 million pounds.  The agreement is like the ‘Gagging Order’ the person signing agrees not to take legal action and is not allowed to whistleblow on the council.  It was also discovered that some £30 million of taxpayers money had been spent on ‘Chauffer Cars’.  So there you have it, just the tip of the iceberg…..and it’s set to continue growing in this country.

 NB: The Coalition Government has made moves to scrap The audit Commission who more less kept an eye on Council Spending…..and this will lead to councils ‘policing’ themselves…….and you know what that will mean!

‘ MP’s Policy Chief in no motor insurance incident’

ED MILLIBAND’s Policy Chief Jon Cruddas appeared before Westminster Magistrates Court after being caught in a vehicle with no valid insurance and an expired MOT certificate.  District Judge John Zani gave Cruddas an eight week driving ban and fined him £300 — but as he had six penalty points already, the six for the offence triggered the driving ban automatically.  He was driving in his Land Rover through London when he was stopped by police.

‘Tory Minister takes Developer’s cash)

A Report says that Tory MP and former Cabinet Minister SIR OLIVER LETWIN accepted a £124,000 donation form Ilchester Estates Property Company to the West Dorset MP’s Conservative Party Association.  The Company through a subsidiary known as Ferrybridge Development LLP, has been ‘sitting’ on a site, with planning permission to build 30 new houses in Dorset for more than two years?  It says further to that, the daughter of Viscount Galway who own Ilchester Estates has also donated £15,000 to Letwin’s Constituency Association…and it was the Chancellor PHILIP HAMMOND who asked Letwin to chair an inquiry into the problem of developers sitting on sites with planning permission but failing to build on them?

‘ Brentwood Council answer Information request with 425 ‘blanked out’ pages ‘

THE GOVERNMENT were always happy to boast about transparency and The Freedom Of Information Act’ saying that it would now enable people to get answers to questions they wished to serve on councils etc, but Russell Quirk found the awful truth of this Act really meant the reply documents e-mailed to him by officials at the Essex Council took an hour to print?  because 425 of them were blanked out with black print using his inks…..and to add a poignant note, Russell Quirk is a Conservative Councillor in Brentwood who, worried by the fact that taxpayers in his constituency could be short-changed in a deal to build a cinema which was costing millions on the council owned land, so he asked some questions….and even though he knew maybe some might not be, he was stunned to find most of them blanked….and it must have taken a great deal of council time to do it, he said. The Council said some of the information was deemed too sensitive for the Public to have?

‘ PM sidesteps issue on DWP job Fiddle ‘

AT PRIME MINISTERS QUESTION TIME in the House of Commons (12/12/2012) A backbencher raised the question of statistics and wanted an answer to what was in a story printed in two newspapers — The Record in Scotland, and The Mail…who said that Job Placement figures were being manipulated in order to meet DWP targets.  David Cameron responded by completely dodging the question of manipulation by praising the lowering of the jobless figures he’d already touched upon…….as to the real question posed?  that sank without a trace.

GOVERNMENT ADMIT INVOLVEMENT IN MURDER — Cameron apologised publicly for the State’s involvement in the murder of a solicitor in Northern Ireland.  The results of a report into the man’s death found collusion with the police and security (Army etc) being steered by the Secret Service (MI5 and MI6), who actively engaged in a murder plot…….The PM said this was unacceptable?

Around the Web — ‘ The Elite 635 ‘  — The Peter Prankerd File:

THE ‘ELITE 635’ THAT’S THE GOVERNMENT — The House of Commons we are informed.  Who says that they make sure that their pensions are well provided for — and also that everyone else has a situation of being worse off.  He tells us that they are the ones who arrange and pass new laws to keep us in line!  But, apart from this he wanted us to know something overlooked for obvious reasons which we should have access to, and for everyone now reading this here goes:

84 MP’s have been arrested for drink driving offences.

21 are currently defendants in ongoing lawsuits.

8 have been arrested for shoplifting offences.

14 have been arrested on drug related charges……taking and supplying.

71 cannot get a credit card due to bad credit history.

3 have served prison time for assault.

17 have directly or indirectly bankrupted at least two businesses.

9 have been accused of issuing and writing bad cheques.

7 have been arrested for fraud.

29 have been accused of spouse abuse!

And collectively he states — they have cost the taxpayer some £92,993.748 in expenses.

‘ Man wins legal battle against Wiltshire Council ‘

MOTORIST John Samuel was fined over a £1 parking fee after he parked his vehicle by Tesco’s.  The sign was obscured and he didn’t know he was liable to pay anything, but Wiltshire Council had attached a £50 penalty notice to his car.  He was still unaware of a sign, and after some difficulty he found one at almost ground level on a low wall.  Not wishing to do battle, he took photos of the obscured sign and a cheque of £1 to the council.  As per usual with council responses, they rejected his claims and said he would have to attend a Penalty Tribunal up in Bristol!   At the tribunal were two officials from Wiltshire and they submitted a 74 page dossier.  However, all did not go the council’s way (as they thought and expected), the adjudicator decided the sign was not in a good position and inadequate.  She cancelled the parking ticket issued by the council……the council would not say how much the case cost their taxpayers (which also had the cost of two reps and the huge amount of paperwork)…..so there you are…….no accountability or transparency.

The Westminster Council and the ‘fiddled accounts’ ‘

OCT 2012 — An article tells of one Council Finance Chief Barbara Moorhouse of The Westminster Council who manipulated the accounts to falsify a bleak picture of affairs that could enable her to force cuts to services etc.  It is said that she ordered staff to ‘doctor the numbers’ and hide some £18million to throw off questions and deceive others into believing things were in disarray.   Peter Duncan former financial analyst at the same council told a tribunal that she provided misleading figures to councillors who had influence over decisions.    He told the tribunal he was victimised for whistle- blowing.  He said she told him to implement ‘unlawful’ manipulation.

Other strange comments and facts connected are that Mr Duncan’s Lawyer Paul Grant of Bernard, Chill and Axtel were ‘two days’ late in presenting his case.

And that in the Scandal of Dame Shirley Porter’s Homes for Votes (and three cemeteries) sale, that the terms of settlement of the claim against her is to remain ‘A Secret’ for 100 years.

Although you can’t be certain about who, why and what here, you can be certain that the government will always claim they are transparent and open!  ………………while all the time, lying through their teeth.

‘Council Staff pay in just £1 for every £4 to cost of their pensions ‘

It’s not really a surprise to the public that council staff (civil servants) do very well in the pension stakes.  Looking after themselves is more than a hobby, it has been going on for ages.  A Report says something like £6 billion of an £8 billion scheme is paid for by the taxpayer giving every indication that the public employees are getting special treatment.  The Government Communities Department said in the last financial year, the Local Government Pension Scheme put in £1.84 billion towards the maintenance of staff pensions whilst the State’s contribution was £5.92 billion.

‘Child Sex Abuse Ring in council care homes to be investigated ‘

A new Report (2013) says the Police are to investigate a ‘paedophile ring in the establishment’ that being in council care homes for children.  This is not the first or second case or investigation into child abuse by a council run care home, Portsmouth had one and tried to cover it up in the 60’s/70’s.  North Wales had one, and that just came to a ‘fade out’ despite hype saying it would be fully investigated.  Here now, we have another 1980’s case of child abuse returning to haunt the civil service and councils…..the re-opened investigation centres on the Grafton Close Children’s’ Home in Richmond, South West, London where boys were taken to the Elm Guest House to be subjected to sexual abuse.  Rumours abound of visitors for that pleasure were two high court judges, foreign office official, former ministers, police officers and others.  The Inquiry is now to interview the boys at that time……..Grafton Close was shut twenty years ago….so they are not looking to anyone after 1993. In 1988 the reports of abuse were raised, and a file prepared, but leads were not followed despite the conviction of Peter Righton who was importing child pornography which gave the police ‘clear intelligence’ of a child sex abuse gang working in the Barnes area not far from Richmond. 

‘Fiddled figures were quoted in earlier warning to NHS’

COLCHESTER HOSPITAL are said to have manipulated cancer patients waiting times, and that patients records were being altered.  Apparently Whistleblowers were not interviewed and the management would act very oddly by demands of ‘show me the evidence of wrongdoing’ knowing that the staff would not come forward fearing for their jobs.  Such a state has been fostered by the NHS and attempts to be rid of it are still meeting with manager resistance.  Quotes of a patient contacting Dr Coutts in 2011 about his medical records got a negative reaction in that he required the patient to provide proof of alteration before he would investigate.

‘ Corrupt Council Manager and Financial Officer ‘

This caper outdoes many for inside jobs!  it stars PETER NICHOLSON OBE, The Head of The Youth Offenders Team at Newham Council and his Financial Officer operating a fraud scam within the department.  He took on the position in 2000…..by 2006 he was billing ‘business trips’ to Canada to the council…inviting family and friends to come along.  A rather good expenses situation, but this wasn’t the end of it, with the aid of his Finance Officer who could watch his back they invented ‘ghost employees’ with real salaries.  Sherin Basrakar had a little side business, an employment agency….and soon they had ’employees’ on the council payroll — Sharon Brown (did not exist), and David Tuck (he did exist but no-one ever saw him, nor did they see any work he did, supposedly did) one got £43,000 and the other £100,000.  Timesheets for them were signed by Nicholson, applications were made by Nicholson……further investigation revealed a third ‘Ghost Employee – Alex Brown.  The trips to Canada were around £6,000 each, and three of them showed no real claim on the council funds.  In April 2012, they along with Tuck appeared before the Crown Court on charges of fraud and money-laundering…..Nicholson got five and a half years in prison, Bazrakar four years, and Tuck eighteen months.

What is ironic is the fact they were managing a youth offenders team!

‘ £22  Million paid out by councils for road-damage cars ‘

A Report has outlined the serious cost being borne out by taxpayers for the councils with bad roads that are causing damage to vehicles in England and Wales.  Compensation of £22.8million is being paid out to drivers who made claims for damages as a result of ‘pot-holes’ in 2012.  Despite the amazing ‘differential’ tariff on road duty for vehicles, the money is being adequately spent on road repairs, according to WHICH Magazine who carried out the survey and Freedom of Information request.

‘ Council wave £286,000 Credit Card bill by former leader ‘

ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL can be nice to some people, so long as it’s one of their own of course.  Their Former Leader Lord Hanningfield has been excused from paying off his £286,000 credit card bill, and they have decided not to pursue him over it……..and he was actually jailed for expenses fiddling!   It later turned out that the Council had also paid his Westminster Bar Bill of £4,600…….and as if this wasn’t enough, it turns out that Audit Committee has revealed that his staff at the council had claimed £70,000 for things like restaurants, trips abroad, Ascot, and nice hotels……..not bad eh?

‘ 100 Whitehall civil servants dropped for £2.5m…and then rehired ‘

PUBLIC MONEY is a wonderful thing, especially if you’re in the civil servants and have the power to spend it with the civil servants in mind……100 staff were given a nice ‘redundancy’ of around £2.5million by the taxpayer, and when that was achieved, they were then rehired into the service for a nice well paid salary to reflect how they care for their own.  There’s a nice little clause in their redundancy deal, and that is if they are not back within 6 months they can be rehired without having to return or give back the payoff!

‘ Man’s long battle with council ends in victory ‘

It’s always well to know that a council will fight someone against them for as long as they can, and stretch it out (something advised by their devious lawyers) to wear the opposition down…..after all, they just dip into public money.  NOTTINGHAM COUNCIL did this, but chose not to inform their legal department for some time, hoping that their civil servants could tough it out.  This incident happened in 2010 November, and the snow was on the ground and those council traffic wardens were out in search of victims.  But this day of fleecing the motorist did not quite go to plan, and they were observed by Tony who filmed them.  Misconduct is a mild term, as they traffic wardens spent time on ‘fixing’ the situation.  A motorist arrived when the snow had fallen and parked near to others unaware there was lines……but the wardens waited, and then went to clear the snow so they could claim the motorist had deliberately parked knowing there was a line…..and then put tickets on the vehicle.  Later when Tony challenged them…a man and woman warden they denied having brushed away the snow…..even the council defended the ‘bent’ officials despite being sent a copy of the filmed footage….and said they were satisfied with their decision to fine the motorists…..despite persistent lies coming out from Nottingham Council, he had a copy sent to their legal department, and they went against their own council colleagues, and the fined motorists were reimbursed……as to those wardens……nothing was said!

‘ Taxpayer’s £400million goes on ‘ Snoopers’ Charter ‘

A report says it hasn’t even begun, yet it has already cost the taxpayer £400 million….revealed as being run up by the Home Office.  This is the legislation to collect personal data via pc’s and e-mails…plus phone calls it claims.  And this amount is calculated to only represent a quarter of the bill so far (£1.8billion)…showing that the financial predictions of the scheme were not trustworthy.

‘Police and Crime Commissioner Candidate accused of Fraud ‘

EX TORY MINISTER MICHAEL MATES hoping to secure the post of Police and Crime Commissioner for the post in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, found himself on the other side and under investigation for Electoral Fraud.  He was a candidate for the £85,000 a year job until a former lawyer challenged his application saying that Mates had lied on his application about his address, which was not in Hampshire as he stated but in West Sussex…the matter is being investigated by the police……… the ones he wanted to be boss over, which is rather ironical!

‘ Council Reneges on promise to the Homeless ‘

WEST BERKSHIRE COUNCIL/NEWBURY COUNCIL promised there would be help provided for the needy and homeless, and that there would be no need for any one to sleep out rough during Winter…… but suddenly they broke this pledge and announced they had changed their mind? and that the resources could not be found to honour this promise…… the leader came out with ‘economic climate and tough decisions’…. no surprise there.

‘ Pensions ‘Protector Group’ and Kodak Deal’

THE GOVERNMENT’S PENSION REGULATOR came under heavy criticism over a holding back a report into it’s handling of the Kodak Retirement Fund.  The deal amounting to £419 million paid to Kodak’s Parent Company in the USA under a UK scheme has alarmed observers.  The scheme which affects 15,000 pensions should have been allowed to enter the Pensions Protection Fund while the Regulator was pursuing the £1.9 billion legal claim against Eastman Kodak in the USA in the bankruptcy court.

‘ Labour (former Lawyer) Councillor tries to Gag Press and story ‘

LABOUR POLITICIAN TESS GANDY fought for a year to stop the public and Press from finding out that was due in court on charges of being arrested for being drunk and in charge of a toddler.  The Press made the mention that she had been cautioned over a similar offence……THE FORMER BANKING LAWYER used her skills to prevent her identity being found out and applied for reporting restrictions.  Magistrates however, refused to grant this…so she then went on to seek an injunction in the High Court, and they ruled against her too.  She had fought for twelve months after being arrested in ASDA in August 2011, being later fined £100 and ordered to pay £85 costs plus £15 victim surcharge. (She also, assisted by fellow solicitors gagged their local paper The Lowestoft Journal and Eastern Daily Press, preventing any publication of the case)…..such is the way of this species!

‘ Pensioners betrayed by the Government ‘

It was a promise that could not be fulfilled, and the guaranteed over-generous payouts in pensions were leading to disaster.  The Equitable Life Pensions were experiencing a crisis, and Sir Peter Davis of The Prudential knew this was facing him, and to make matters worse, inflation and interest rates were falling.  Millions of people were relying on these pension payouts — Equitable reacted to the dilemma in a way their clients could not foresee.  Equitable and their Lawyers applied to the courts to have the payouts to their clients ‘limited’ (reduced) (fixed) and in secrecy they were negotiating a take-over by other insurers.  It was 1997, and Labour was here with Shadow Chancellor Gordon Brown, his department was using the accountants Arthur Anderson, to search out new sources of tax income (Andersons failed the Delorean Sports Car firm in Ireland in its role as auditor, the firm went bust).  Behind the scenes and highly embarrassing to ‘New Labour’ two tax proposals ‘highly sensitive’ (in the run up to the Elections) were put forward — One, a proposal to remove the dividend tax credit (a measure that would realise several billion pounds to occupational pension schemes, a mainstay in Britain’s retirement pension system.  Secondly, being a less ‘disturbing’ tax was proposed using the profits generated by the Power Utilities, many now controlled by Foreign Interests, who were paying out huge bonuses to Executives who were making excessive earnings.  But this possible scandal never hit the headlines.  Only a few years earlier in 1991, The Mirror’s Maxwell caused a huge pension scandal, so Labour were not interested in bringing themselves down by having the new scandal being aired at the elections; the matter had to be kept silent.  As Labour basked in its winning glory, the next ten years saw the pension system failing and falling into crisis, followed by the credit crunch of 2007 to 2009.  It was to lead the way into misery for millions of people who thought they had safe pensions, and why?  —- the government, MP’s with self interests, inaction and penny-pinching were out to deceive and ride the situation out no matter what it did to pensioners.

See ‘The Great Pension Robbery’ by Alex Brummer – Random House Books – 2010 ISBN 9781847940377.

‘PENSION COMPANY DROP IN INVESTMENTS BY £370 MILLION — Pensions Giant HARGREAVES LANSDOWN had £370 million wiped from their investment portfolio in shares on the FTSE on the Stock market.  This was a drop in their pensions and savings by twenty percent.

PENSIONERS DATA SOLD FOR FIVE PENCE — A report has highlighted the situation of companies breaching the Data Protection Act as they sell pensioner’s pension details……and as little as 5p per pension….the Information Commissioner’s Office says it is investigating these claims and spells out that it can fine these companies up to £500,000….if caught.  The Newspaper Industry said that their reporters could get hold of 15,000 people’s pension pot details sidestepping any checks…..and that many of these sell offs were being instigated by the telephone ‘cold calling merchants’

‘ New Cash-for-Questions Scandal involves Labour Peers ‘

A SITUATION ONCE SAID TO BE OVER, and vows that they had learnt lessons fro the previous scandal seems to have just blown away in the wind……as a documentary involving investigative reporters expose that MP’s have not learned anything at all.   Two Labour Lords and a former Cabinet Minister fell headlong into the ‘sting’ carried out by TV Journalists out to prove ‘where there’s money, you’ll find a willing politician ready to take it even if it is immoral ‘     The three Lords are Lord Mackenzie, President of The Police Superintendents Association, and once Law Advisor to Tony Blair.  Lord Cunnigham, Agriculture Minister and Unions man, and Lord Laird once a member of the Northern Ireland Parliament in 1970.  All three were asked how much would it cost to do some favours that would be financially beneficial using their position and influence……and you’ve guessed it, they all deny wrong-doing!  (May 2013)

‘ £74million cost of fiasco fighter plane goes to the taxpayer ‘

THE TAXPAYER IS PICKING UP THE BILL for the Royal Navy’s new carrier project in acquiring the new type harrier jump jet plane — the USA built F-35 joint strike Fighter plane instead of the more capable F-35C version.  It was blamed on immature data and flawed assumptions of which the subsequent work cost £74million.  The National Audit Office said the results of this were -wildly over optimistic assumptions….and that this saga continued to be a terrible waste of public money.

‘ Britain’s Complicity in International Child Kidnap ‘

CERTAINLY CIVIL SERVANTS, LAWYERS AND JUDICIARY HERE — This is the story the Government are hoping only a few will see, but we will let the World know — and we begin with the man they are victimising and making life for him as unpleasant as they can:

NIGEL COOPER has gone to great lengths to get his daughter returned to him, and he mistakenly trusted the British Government and Legal Profession to act honourably.  Mr Cooper lives in Belgium (almost in exile) as a naturalised citizen. He served in the Royal Navy for 22 years, has thirteen Military Medals, and worked for NATO which should qualify him for respectful and proper treatment from Britain.  But no, they don’t want him here, and they obstruct legal representation being obtained, which under International Law, he should get.  His Marriage was not entirely successful or as well as he’d hoped and he parted from his wife. They had a daughter, Bailie, who he was granted custody of, and he took the child to live with him in Belgium because his former wife had alcohol problems etc,   Bailie enjoyed being with her father, and she too was granted naturalisation and was a Belgium citizen.  In a ‘better time’ the former wife visited Nigel and Bailie in Belgium, and things took a turn for the worse.  She snatched the daughter using subterfuge and made false representations including forging etc, to whisk her back to the UK without Nigel being consulted or actually being aware this ‘kidnap’ had taken place.

Of course, this move was illegal, and against the sovereignty of Belgium, so Mr Cooper began the long and time consuming journey of going down all the proper channels to have his daughter returned. But everything he did met with little respect for his rights, which has now forced him to make an appeal to The Crown here in the UK.  There was a case, involving Judge Justice Maylan before the Family Division, Newcastle (Case No UP12C00002) on the 22nd of March 2012.  Despite a Bench warrant in the name of his Royal Majesty King Albert the Second of Belgium ordering the immediate return of Bailie Cooper, Justice Maylan decided to throw the International request Article 11 of Brussels Bis 11 (abducted minors) to one side (virtually ignoring it) and let the abductor have the child.  The Order was made known to the Royal Courts of Justice?   In April Mr Cooper wrote to Lord Justice Thorpe’s Office (11th April 2012) highlighting that a miscarriage of justice had been made, and Lord Justice Thorpe concurred that the Belgium International Order by Judge Hiernaux had adopted the correct due process in accordance with EU Internal Law and Treaty’s.

Mr Cooper continues to fight for his daughter’s return, yet Sunderland Social Services refuse to comply with the International Warrant even though he has bent over backwards to meet their terms, terms they create that are impossible for him to meet (because he cannot get back into Britain), and they know it.  What they are doing is ‘maladministration’ and they are not being brought to court for this offence.

Mr Cooper tried to get lawyers in the UK to do something, and found out that the Legal Profession will not take on the case — and learnt that they must not take on ‘his’ case if they want to remain in practice.

Nigel Cooper appears on the Web on Video to explain his case, requesting that the UK Government put a halt to this nightmare and comply with International Law……but to no avail…..by their inaction they put themselves squarely in the collusion and aiding and abetting a crime of the kidnap of a citizen of another country.

Update: it is now April 2013……well over a year and this recent communicate shows what the Judiciary are up to

The Uk have frozen me out, they have refused my judgement which is impossible to refuse, I’ve been refused legal aid, I’ve been refuse legal assistance, I’ve been refused at all points of the UK legal system.  someone does NOT want this judgement serving on the Uk.

It’s time Britain and it’s Judiciary be brought before The International Court in the Hague.

‘DWP to blame for benefit misery to thousands ‘

More than 40 percent of appeals by benefit claimants are successful against The DWP it is said, but they are still firmly fixed on making life a misery with claimants….and in this they are making wrong decisions the Public Accounts Committee have said.  Problems with the government targets to force people back into work by any and most means are causing assessments to be grossly exaggerated, wrong and causing vulnerable people on the sick and disabled, and those needing support allowance.  The CAB have said that there has been an 83 per cent increase in the number of confused people now seeking help in this area of benefit.  They said ‘ We found the department to be unduly complacent about the number of decisions upheld by the tribunal and believe that the department should should ensure that its processes are delivering accurate decision-making and minimising distress to claimants’

DWP AND GOVERNMENT IN DENIAL OVER FAILING WORK SCHEME — Not surprising really when one actually tries to communicate with any civil servant in the Employment Sector of Benefits — This fiasco and cost of the multi-million programme is now showing results of only 3.6 percent of claimants on the scheme have found employment in the first fourteen months.  It is said by the Public Accounts Committee that this work scheme is failing the long-term unemployed. Margaret Hodge, the Chairperson threw a broadside when the DWP were denying this failing by disclosing that ‘Not one of the 18 providers had met its contractual obligations and targets, and that the DWP published ‘invalidated’ data from a trade body representing The Work Programme, it’s just not on she said.   ‘Misleading and Deceitful’ come to mind……but that’s how the DWP do things.

BENEFIT CLAIMANT TAKES DWP TO COURT AND WINS — In the appeal court on Tuesday 12th of Feb/2013, a claimant won her case over unfair work practices ‘ BACK TO WORK SCHEME BROKE THE LAW’ — Judges ruled that it was against the law for the DWP(Government) to force someone to take a job without pay, with a sanction of removing benefit if she did not accept it.

In a interview following the news, Government Minister for Work and Pensions, Mark Hoban MP denied that it changed the law and said it was ‘ a mere difference of opinion?’…..challenged again that this was a ruling of law by the Justices at the Court of Appeal he then went into the ‘old claptrap’ rhetoric of party political training on how to repeat the best line over and over again…..he claimed what they were doing was right?

THE CONTINUING ONSLAUGHT BY THE BENEFIT AGENCY AND DWP TOWARDS CLAIMANTS:  The DWP are making it the rule that Jobseekers must travel up to 3 hours in order to secure a job, 90 minute journeys are not an option or they risk losing benefit…..all claimants must take up job offers immediately and expect to work up to 40 hours or more on ‘the minimum wage’ and must report in for work at any time demanded by the employer, which surely must breach Human Rights’ but the UK don’t really adhere to that, they carved up the Human Rights thing and only chose what they could get away with….using those Lawyers at the DWP to do the dirty work.  What they don’t say in this travel thing, is who pays this 90 minute travel each day back and forth, and we discovered that hardly any employer gives a guarantee allowance of travel when they have other employees walking into work and others coming by car….One Employer said ‘ We can’t be expected to give a travel allowance for just one or more workers when we don’t’ give it to the others, it’s not compulsory anyway, they would have to pay that themselves out of their pay, it’s not down to employers’  We pointed out that someone might get £250 (minimum pay) a week but use £20 to £30 a day in fares to travel 90 miles…leaving them with around £100 net pay or less,,,,,the answer was ‘claim benefits to top it up’  (and just how does this person working all hours 90 miles from their home town claim this…they can’t attend the Jobcentre and wait for an advisor…who would calmly tell them they’ve been signed off and no longer a claimant……so DWP and Duncan Smith…..what the hell do you care……you don’t…..and you don’t have the answer either!

‘Jobcentre and DWP Culpable in Job Scam that ripped off seekers ‘

PROMISES OF EARNING £30,000 and even an interview office in the Job Centre — Yes, KALMINDON used the jobcentre to place adverts of ‘guaranteed jobs’ all sanctioned by the DWP.  But there was no job, and every unemployed applicant was asked to pay £2,500 to be on ‘a training course’……the man behind this ‘assisted’ scam was COE James Akin, he was later prosecuted for fraud.

‘ Wadebridge Councillor said disabled children should be put down ‘

COUNCILLOR COLIN BREWER claimed he did nothing wrong in making the comment and refused to resign amid calls to do so.  The remark was said to have taken place in 2011 at a disabilities charity.  He said he’d already wrote a letter of apology to The Standards Board after the formal complaint was made by The Charity’s Rep’ Theresa Court. In the speech he said ‘disabled children cost the council too much money and should be put down’……’I don’t think I have done anything wrong’ he said.

‘MP’s problem over sex charges gets worse ‘

NIGEL EVANS THE DEPUTY SPEAKER IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS was already having a rough time trying to fend off last months accusations of male rape and assault by ‘friends’ he knew for many years.  He denied all the allegations at the time and the furore died down, but just as it was safe to go out again he was re-arrested  by police investigating three new allegations of indecent assault, which now brings the total to five charges.

‘ Lib Democrat and the Child Sex Offences ‘

DORSET COUNCILLOR RYAN HOPE was suspended from the council in the light that he is facing serious sexual offences against children.  The Councillor representing Weymouth and Portland is facing 7 charges including rape…..it was noted that the council took a long time before they took the suspension action?

‘ Fraud Cover-Up by Whitehall ‘

GOVERNMENT COVER-UPS ARE NOTHING NEW — News that £80,000 was misused involving one of the ‘ free schools’ brought about the revelations of false invoices submitted by Whitehall Staff.  It says that some of this money went on the usual such as parties, furniture for staff and first class rail travel….all done before with councils and government (Which can be seen on this page).  It says there was a catalogue of irregularities at The Kings Science Academy in Bradford. Some accused Michael Gove of suppressing  this two year old case for five months (after receiving the findings of an Internal Investigation).

‘Inconsiderate Council Lose Ticket Case ‘

ISLINGTON COUNCIL in North London lost a parking ticket case they brought against Mr Watson.  He was ticketed by council wardens despite having the invalid blue badge which was for his mother’s use, and although a 4pm system operated, they slapped a ticket on his car at 4.4pm……they sent him a fixed penalty of £130, which stated it could be reduced by 50percent if paid within 14 days.  David Watson wrote to the council, but they refused to acknowledge the circumstances or situation.  David went online and found Barry, a sort of expert in this field who was willing to represent his case, but couldn’t get there on the day,  Mr Watson went alone and the chairperson at the appeal ruled in favour of Mr Watson.

‘ Parking Ticket Council Scam .

COUNCILS READING, HAMMERSMITH & FULHAM TOOK CENTRE STAGE…….. They grabbed a massive £4.5 million in fines in just the period of one year.  In fact it was revealed that they’d recently increased the price of a traffic tickets.  29,000 were given penalty tickets for being in a box junction, which almost qualified for a ‘trap’ in many ways as motorists trying to negotiate a turn found themselves held in the box due to oncoming traffic not giving way…..the stranded motorists were then caught on camera and fined.

NB.  In the programme is was revealed that the Hammersmith Mayor’s car had been caught, but was later exempted from receiving a ticket?

One comment from some irate motorists wanting to challenge…was that councils refuse to co-operate with legal requirements in The Freedom of Information Act…..many do not give information and some do their damnedest to not co-operate, balk enquiries and actually deny such requests.

‘ Council’s Traffic Warden jailed for lying ‘

SHROPSHIRE COUNCIL’S ticket warden Karl Crompton duly received a prison sentence for the blatant lies he told when he fabricated a report saying that a motorist ran him over.  Backed by the council, he actually brought charges against the motorist Mr Phipps in October 2011.  He said that Mr Phipps had run him over due to a dispute over a parking ticket.  The Jury could not help coming to the conclusion that in his position as a Council Employee he had delusions of the power he assumed it gave him, and believed he could actually get away with the claim.  He told several lies to the Police in Telford in order to ‘frame’ Edward Phipps…..police only became suspicious when some of the allegations did not match the event after interviewing Mr Phipps. Luckily for Mr Phipps, CCTV revealed there had been no such incident at the time given by the Council Warden…so they dropped the case against Mr Phipps and turned their attentions on the ticket warden, and later charged him with attempting to pervert the course of justice.  He denied the charge even though a jury at Shrewsbury Crown Court convicted him at a previous hearing……he was jailed for four months, the council said he has been banned from being out on patrol and will face a disciplinary tribunal…..they also said ‘all our civil enforcement officers are fully trained’………you can bet they are!

‘The Pothole Scenario — Councils pay £2.5million to Motorists ‘

COUNCILS AND POT HOLES?  back on the agenda as it is revealed that councils paid well over £2.5 million in compensation to motorists.  A survey revealed that around 2000 adults had their cars damaged due to bad roads with holes strewn about in several places.  Some said that in some cases ‘avoiding a hole was impossible’ and that some holes just couldn’t be side-stepped due to danger.  Councils in Britain had received 32,000 complaints with compensation claims attached…….A motor Organisation said there was too much ‘short-term fixing’ going on in councils which meant that the repair did not last and the problem resurfaced, along with more claims.

‘The Expenses thing takes another turn for the worst ‘

NEWS THAT THE £98MILLION MP EXPENSES BILL IS HIGHER!  Yes, it was announced that the new 2013 expenses bill will be 7 per cent more in newly acquired figures.  They are saying this is mainly down to larger staffing budgets needed to run things?  The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority have agreed that spending is now higher than in the run-up to the scandal that shook Westminster in 2009.

THE EXPENSES THING LIVES ON — 2013 and we have a Tory MP Nadhim Zahawi who claimed expenses to help run his stables…… the taxpayers have been paying his electricity bills to keep his horses nicely warm in his stables.  He presented an expenses bill of £5,822.27……..for oil heating on his estate!  He later claimed he was mortified by ‘the mistake’ and apologised.

EXPENSES MINISTER FACES JAIL — Former Labour Minister Denis MacShane was found guilty of creating false claims in his expenses.  The court found him guilty of making false receipts to the amount of £12,900.  2009 seems long ago when the government were caught in a huge expenses fiddle, but four years later as we predicted at the time, it would happen again.  The ex-minister used the money to fund trips to Europe and other petty indulgences.

MacShane was jailed for six months by a judge who said the MP had a ‘flagrant breach of trust’ in making false expenses claims when MacShane appeared at The Old Bailey.

‘ Parish Council act unreasonably towards teenager ‘

DERSINGHAM PARISH COUNCIL complained to Police, and had teenager Kurtis Green grabbed and questioned by police.  Their hope was clearly to seem him charged, but not all teenagers misbehave…..in fact Kurtis did unpaid work for 12 years on the Memorial in Norfolk, and the 19yr old was actually authorised to do it…..so what was his crime?……..he’d been accused by the council of possible theft and causing damage?…..the theft was water!…..he and a pal had connected a water supply for the flower beds around the memorial…. The village War Memorial?…….the police said that a file would not be going to the CPS…..as to the council…..they didn’t respond.

‘ Town Councils that should be ashamed, but aren’t ‘

WIDOW LEFT TO DIE BY COUNCIL — News of a house-bound pensioner given no food or medicine for 9 days,  Gloria Foster was that pensioner who is 81.  Gloria had suffered several strokes and was dependent on visits from carers who did visit four times a day.  Although she was assigned to the Agency Carefirst 24, it was shut down and she was unaware of it nor told…..but the Surrey Council knew.  The Social workers failed to read her medical notes clearly mentioning she had dementia…..they were going to phone her (one cursory call) but the social worker failed to carry this out…..and that worker went on holiday.  The council attempted to make a log look as if a call was made to Gloria….but phone records showed there had been no such call.  Mrs Foster died of pulmonary thromboembolism and deep vein thrombosis…..the council said ‘she slipped through the net’

COUNCIL TELLS CARE WORKER TO LIVE OFF TAXPAYERS — BASILDON COUNCIL IN ESSEX feature here in this incident where a care worker was told she would be better off quitting her carer’s job and going on benefits.  Single mother Chelsea Press was struggling to make ends meet despite having a job as a carer part-time…so when enquiring about advice on earning more, an officer at the Basildon Council told her she ought to sign on for benefits…….later, the Deputy Council Leader Phil Turner said he was surprised to hear this!

‘ Bolton Council ‘court secrecy over two tax dodging councillors’

One wonders what it took to get the court to grant two councillors anonymity when they had been found guilty of not paying their council tax.  The two council officers owed £4,660 in arrears for the period of 2011/12/13… the Judge presiding said ‘shaming them and revealing their identities would violate their human rights.  One was a Labour Representative and the other Conservative.  It was later revealed that the council’s lawyers had made a request to be involved in the decision making process at the court tribunal.  Bolton Council would not comment when approached by the Newspaper ‘Bolton News’

‘ Lib Dem Party Senior Exec Investigated for touching Women ‘

AN INVESTIGATION HAS BEGUN amid revelations that Lord Rennard the former Chief Executive has been accused of inappropriately touching women by Bridget Harris who worked as a Special Advisor to Nick Clegg when she did an interview on Channel 4 News.  She said she had been the subject of unwelcomed sexual advances from Rennard. at a conference in 2003.  Similar allegations were made by Alison Smith, a Politics Lecturer at Oxford University. She said the incident took place around 2007….and had reported the matter to Paul Burstow the then Chief Party Whip…..but never heard anything more of it.  Lord Rennard’s Lawyers have replied by saying their client has always behaved appropriately and was unaware of any complaints made against him. However, the Liberal Democrats have confirmed they are launching an investigation into these serious claims.

‘ Advisor to Cameron is accused of Harassment ‘

PATRICK ROCK Parliamentary advisor to the PM has been accused of harassing a colleague.  He was also detained by police in February about the matter of porn when the cops searched the Downing St Computer according to the report.  It is then said he tendered his resignation 19 days after the incident….Mr Rock was involved in drawing up proposals for Internet porn filters……the delay has fed speculation that there was a cover-up by the government put into action during that period to help him. 

‘ Downing Street Cabinet Officer in child porn case ‘

CIVIL SERVANT Whitehall Communications Officer Sebastian Crump faces a jail sentence after being caught with around 400 child porn images on his pc.  Amazingly enough, the civil servant was advising the government on its websites.  At the Westminster Magistrates Court it was heard that Crump had around 400 indecent images of children and animal abuse.  He is due to appear before the Crown Court later.  It is said that the Government kept the story secret for six months……. and furthermore, Patrick Rock the deputy director of the No 10 Policy Unit was arrested on child sex charges….on suspicion of hoarding images of naked children, and he was involved in tackling online child abuse images, giving advice on safety to the young against paedophile advances and activity.

‘ Bail given to ex-deputy speaker ‘

MP NIGEL EVANS who appeared in court accused of sexual crimes against seven men was granted bail at Preston Magistrates Court.  It is said that he denies the rape and sexual assault charges made against him.  The Former Deputy Speaker at the House Of Commons was visited again by police after the first charges were made against him, and this resulted in more accusations which will be heard at the Crown court.

‘ HS2 Cover-up — Ministers accused ‘

MINISTERS and Civil servants are usually behind such things…. so here we go — A secret report into the failings of the Railway project has had some of its details ‘leaked’….. suggesting major concerns about the risky time table, the costing and management.  The news is that Ministers are trying to block the publication of the Major Projects Authority Report before the Commons vote on the £50 billion project…… and it suggests that PM David Cameron has sent out secret memos……warning of the danger politically…… not much of a secret now is it!

‘ Brawling ‘Bar Crawler’ MP is let off ‘

MP ERIC JOYCE was reported for being involved in a drunken brawl in the House of Commons.  He was later arrested on suspicion of assault when he fought two officers.  This as the story goes, wasn’t the first time, a year earlier the Falkirk MP was forced out of the Labour Party over something similar, when he head butted a Tory MP and assaulted three other politicians.  Apparently, he admitted four counts of assault and given a community order, fined £3,000 and ordered to pay £1,400 in compensation to the victims…..but as to the Commons Brawl,…he has been banned from purchasing alcohol.

‘Fraud MP denies charges ‘

MP PETER BONE of Wellingborough denies committing benefit fraud.  Police raided his home and put him through three hours of questioning he said.  Surrounding this case is the talk of a long standing dispute with Northampton County Council concerning the funding of care for his mother-in-law, which i8s about to be heard in the civil courts.  The charges centre around the question of assets his mother-in-law has before benefits of around £100,000 were given.

‘ Former Lawyer and Labour MP accused of fake identity on Wikipedia ‘

MP CHUKA UMUNNA, who represents the constituents of Streatham, and considered a rising star in the Labour Party is accused of ‘doctoring’ his own Wikipedia Page to include him being compared to USA’s Obama.  It says he uses the pseudonym ‘socialdemocrat’  The former Lawyer says he cannot recollect tweeking the details on the site, despite him being hauled in to apologise for describing patrons of the nightclubs as ‘trash’ and ‘C-List wannabes’   Another MP said that Chuka seems to be more interested in shameless self-promotion.

‘ MEP in Money-Laundering Inquiry ‘

FORMER MEP NIKKI SINCLAIRE who represented UKIP in the Midlands as an Independent has been charged with misconduct in public office and money-laundering by the police.  It yet again surrounds that old ‘expenses fiddling’ — it is said there were false expense submissions and suspicious transferrals through a bank account?

‘ Honesty classes for MP’s…..what a joke’

The thought of this is laughable…..mainly because its not in their nature.  Of course, these Honesty classes are only for ‘new MP’s and recruits’….. and they are being made compulsory according to the article.  This idea if it is an idea, comes from the Chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Office, Lord Bew…..which he says is to avert another major scandal like the ‘expenses’…….which one ought to tell him…. still goes on.  Lord Bew is apparently a lecturer in History and Politics at Queen’s University in Belfast.  

PS: Having looked into some of that History ourselves, the centuries are littered with Political Scandal, covering illicit obtainment of shares, concealment of truth, fiddling expenses, false claims and not acting in the public interest just to name a few of the actions engaged in by MP’s.

‘ Somerset Council unlawfully detains autistic girl ‘

COUNCIL ACCUSED OF SHODDY WORK BY JUDGE — The case of an autistic teenager taken into care by Somerset County Council angered Judge Nicholas Marston.  He said that they had wrongly taken the teenage girl and banned her parents from seeing or having access to her.  He also came to the decision that their actions had arbitrarily harmed the girl rather than the council’s assertion that the family harmed their daughter.  Lawyers for the family maintained that the case was one of the most serious cases of the deprivation of liberty seen by a court.  He blamed council staff for taking decisions that resulted because of a flawed investigation.  This led to a 14 month battle by the parents to get justice.  The couple from Yeovil are suing the council for damages.

‘ Mayor receives fine over taunt ‘

TOWN MAYOR JASON WARD  of Southam, Warwickshire, issued the taunt while he was refereeing a youth game of football.  He was fined by the Football Association £35 for taunting the boy, Johnny Adair who suffered a broken leg, and neither stopped the game or showed the appropriate duty of care…..it was later found that the 16yr old had suffered a shattered tibia on the field during a tackle with another player.

‘Council accused of a ‘clear violation of public trust’

THE MUSEUMS ASSOCIATION accused the sell off of a statue was a clear violation of public trust, they said that Northampton Borough Council’s decision to sell an ancient Egyptian statue for around £16million was taken without consulting them properly.  Despite it being sold partly to fund an expansion programme at Northampton Museum and Art Gallery, the Museums Association has banned the council from its membership for five years.

‘Lying on oath MP has conviction reviewed?’

JAILED IN 2011, TOMMY SHERIDAN of the Scottish Socialist Party — former leader, was found guilty of perjury during a second defamation action against the News of the World, now defunct paper….he apparently lodged an appeal to the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission….apparently he won some £200,000 from the Paper but ended up on perjury charges and was found guilty in 2010.

‘MP spends a night in the cells over attack’

CONSERVATIVE MP DAVID RUFFLEY Former Shadow Police Minister was arrested and cautioned by police after attacking his artist girlfriend.  After an argument broke out he demanded that she leave his luxury flat, and went to get ‘help’ to remove her, but his rage only led to her phoning the police who arrived and arrested him.  The police later said ‘ the police attended an address in Marsham Court, Pimlico, and arrested a 52 year old man on suspicion of common assault.  He was taken to a central London police station and has since accepted a caution for common assault.

CAUTIONED MP DAVID RUFFLEY STEPS DOWN — The MP announced that he will be stepping down from office at the next election….it is said he had been summoned to a meeting of his local party in Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk.

‘Secret Veto for Chancellor enables him to put ‘no go’ on fraud investigations ‘

The message to the public couldn’t be more clear, Government can and do hush up and hide facts especially if it doesn’t look good for them.  George Osborne under an agreement with the Serious Fraud Office means that they must get authority to launch ‘sensitive or complex frauds’ through the Treasury first……and that the treasury may keep the facts secret, and the decisions of those investigations locked away without public scrutiny.  The Report says the Government have already done this in the past with several inquiries it has deemed ’embarrassing and politically damaging’…….it was said this information was discovered by the Shadow Attorney General, Emily Thornberry when she was dealing with funding and the SFO.

In conjunction with the above ‘secrecy’ by a Minister we turn to a recent piece of history!

‘Home Secretary Suppresses Vital Material ‘

THE MICHAEL HICKEY CASE — The Police Prosecution looked quite overwhelming for Michael Hickey — and Why?   well thanks to THE HOME SECRETARY MICHAEL HOWARD  who it appears (confirmed by the Judge in the case, Lord Justice Brown) suppressed material vital for the Defence Solicitor Mr Jim Nichol.  Justice Brown said it was ‘unfair, and clearly exceptional’   He ordered that the Home Secretary release the documents back to The appeal Court.  Justice Brown said The Home Secretary’s decision not to allow him to see statements by an alleged victim was ‘irrational’    Solicitor Jim Nichol said ‘This means that the Home Secretary can no longer keep secret vital documents in a court case, people are going to be quite horrified at what the Home Secretary has been sitting on’

Comment — Sadly, not so, the people are quite blaze, and in the main don’t care a jot…. they forget about it a week later… and that’s what the Police and Government rely on.

‘ Town Halls carry on fleecing the motorist infinitum ‘

PARKING CHARGES, in fact any such charges, approved of and enforced by their ‘expensive lawyers’ are and have been going on for decades with councils, so recent news declaring that they earn £340 million from parking fines is not a surprise to anybody.  An article labelling them as GREEDY COUNCILS is fairly tame in reality, and the right word would be ‘EXTORTIONISTS’  The report says some councils have more than doubled their incomes in the past twelve months with parking fines.  MP Eric Pickles says that councils were being actively encouraged to break the law by their overseeing body The Local Government Association.

£10 BILLION has been raised from stealth taxes a study reveals….. the Audit Commission says that some of the councils are using parking and other charges to boost their income because of the cuts ordered by the coalition government.  A fifth of council revenues are paid for by these moves to boost council coffers by fines and parking charges.  But this it says might be in jeopardy due to a proposed ban on spy cameras used for the imposition of parking tickets as a crackdown on town halls using the system unfairly.  It will allow those who have been hit by the council with unfair fines to get back double on appeal.

TOWN HALLS CONTINUE TO SELL DATA — It’s a fact that if you want data from a council they will try not to let you have it quoting the Data Act…and even when you use the Freedom of Information Act…you could be ‘blanked’ or find most of the pages blanked out in black ink covering every line except ‘dear sir’….they routinely send out this kind of crap knowing quite smarmily that they have provided the request with nothing and charged for it.  Yet by the same token, this precious private data is sold by them for as little as five pounds to a private company….mainly resulting in people’s junk mail getting larger.  2,700 individuals bought the names from the register over the past five years and the council took in excess of £250,000………YOU GET NOTHING.

COUNCIL’S AND THE £502 MILLION PARKING RIP-OFF — Not a new subject, merely an addition to what is already known by us, and published by us so far.  This time it is The town Halls of London, of which there are many within the Greater London area.  The report says that the ‘On street parking schemes’ are raking in huge sums from the motorist….. and that their revenue from this went up by £7million from a year earlier when the pot was £502million in 2013.  Kensington and Chelsea seem to be doing rather well from this act against motorists.

COSTLY ‘ERROR’ BY COUNCIL COSTS THE TAXPAYER £50,000 — Newcastle City Council sent out the wrong information to around 200,000 local residents in how to register their vote….and the wording was incorrect.  It has now corrected the costly error and resent out the new guide to changes on how to vote.

‘ Judge goes against Home Office over misuse of powers ‘

AN IMMIGRATION JUDGE has ordered the Home Office to bring back a deported family immediately…Theresa May’s Department has been told that they overstepped the law and their powers when they deported a family back to Nigeria.  He ordered that the family be returned to Britain in a landmark ruling that has shook the UK government.  It is said that the Home Office will face ‘contempt charges’ unless the woman and her five-year-old son are located and transported back to the UK at the government’s expense by Thursday.   Theresa May and the Home Office declined to be interviewed or comment!

‘ Government Gagging Orders deliberately played down ‘

TO BELIEVE IN YOUR GOVERNMENT, IS TO BELIEVE THAT PIGS MIGHT FLY — You should never trust MP’s or Government….you will end up lied to or severely disappointed.  A report has just revealed that Government Departments spent around £28 million using secrecy clauses (confidentiality clauses as they put it) when awarding severance payouts to civil servants.  This method has gone on for the past three years costing the taxpayers dearly.  Approximately 1,053 civil servants were given a nice payoff in return for signing that they would not discuss council business, rows, faults etc, stopping them from talking about their departure….and for this they could expect a good reference too.  These compromise agreements have been used for a good number of years, well before the figure of 3 years was put forward, but the government and councils have made the subject taboo, and the legal departments have enforced this strictly.  It also by its very nature of being a ‘gagging order’ helped the government push the subject aside…..hence their new rush to quieten it all down since a few whistleblowers have opened the can.

NHS DELIBERATELY GAGS 266 WHISTLEBLOWERS — On the subject of ‘Gagging Orders’ a report has revealed that £4 million pounds has been spent by the NHS on ‘secretly’ gagging people who want to tell it like it is.  This kind of expense has gone on for the last three years mainly to stop workers who care from exposing the worst of patient care.  These Doctors and nurses have been paid off in return for their silence the report says. 

‘ Cameron and the false promise ‘

THE 2014 WINTER FLOODS — The Prime Minister made TV speeches that there would be no limits on spending as far as ‘The Flooding Problem’ and those who have suffered…..money was not the issue he said, time and time again….and as he was saying this, it was revealed that some councils were charging flood victims for sandbags!  Many places were left unprotected for two to three months…and the Environmental Agency were used as the Scapegoats…..and being blamed at a time when the Agency was having its budget cut and losing 1500 people who were being made redundant.  Eric Pickles slammed them one minute in a TV interview and then in the House of Commons he praised them?  However, news leaked later showed that there was not going to be any new money found, and that spending was actually down…..so once again….the usual crap from politicians.

CAMERON AIDE COULSON JAILED AND FACES RETRIAL FOR CONSPIRACY — Former aide to the PM Andy Coulson found guilty in the ‘Hacking Trial’ and jailed, will now face a retrial for conspiracy in that he has two charges outstanding on conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office.

‘Home Office accused of misleading is stopped by ASA ‘

THE ASA attacked the Home Office Campaign in which they urged immigrants to ‘go home’…..and used misleading arrest statistics to con the public.  It was said that the Home Office used vans with posters in publically displaying posters through six London Boroughs during July….which attracted 224 complaints.  They depicted a person wearing a sign saying ‘In the UK Illegally? Go Home or Face Arrest’……and other info saying 106 arrests last week in your area…….the Home Office came out with the statement ‘ that they had not been found guilty of issuing something that was offensive and irresponsible?……how sweet!

HOME OFFICE CONDEMNED IN REPORT FOR SHAMEFUL ACT AGAINST ASYLUM SEEKERS — The Home Office is not having a good ‘press day’ as certain secrets are being unearthed about what it does behind closed doors with its solicitors and lawyers making great attempts to operate covertly. News emerging on ‘lost papers in a Government child sex scandal will undoubtedly find them trying to cover up as much as they can as that becomes more clear……however, to the Asylum Scandal…and the disgraceful conditions at Heathrow.  Four years ago revelations appeared about the ‘detention of children for immigration purposes’ (which we have covered)…..a strong worded report from the Heathrow Independent Monitoring Board says that it had seen many cases where asylum-seekers including children have been held for long periods in the small holding rooms, these have been described as cramped.

‘ What Democracy? asks battle-scarred weary ex-councillor ‘

ROBIN PAGE was a councillor who worked on the theory that they were there to help people, but now knows what they got up to wasn’t much use to any voter or citizen.  He tells of the huge waste of money spent on the wrong things and how most decisions on spending were robbing the needy.  He was once with Cambridgeshire District Council. He mentions going on a ‘diversity course’ in the evenings costing the council £1,900, which was held in a council chamber….and noticed that the furniture which had been replaced just after eight years was gone and the council had spent £45,000 on new decor.  He recalled an incident when he upset a fellow councillor and was summoned before The Standards Board….a Quango of ‘thought police’ introduced by the infamous loud man of politics, John Prescott, at a cost of £8 million a year.  The bemused councillor saw this as more of a ‘Kangaroo Court’  employing expensive ‘big wig’ lawyers who argued over the ‘meaning of words’…..after about six hours he was given a reprimand……he calculated that this case must have cost in the region of £5,000 and saw it as a waste of money……..which made him realise that local democracy had become a disgraceful charade.

 ‘£850 a day for a council PR specialist ‘

MONEY, MONEY, MONEY,…..and its a public nest egg…….ROTHERHAM COUNCIL thought nothing of hiring a public relations officer for £850 a day, even at a time when they are having this ‘child sex abuse scandal’ still fresh in the minds of their voters.  They say they need this man, Mark Fletcher-Brown to provide ‘specialist communications support’ to the stressed council……and they have already paid him more than £9,500 since employing him in November of 2014.

‘Council finally pays compensation after 32 years for failings’

The story of council mismanagement goes on and on and time and time again.  Four orphaned children were abandoned by social services have finally received compensation for their ordeal.  Their parents died in a freak accident leaving Anthony, Steven, Collette and older brother James to manage, but this was up to the social services too, and part of the duty of care the council should have managed better. Instead, they had to live hand-to-mouth on benefits, which left them with very little money to feed themselves on.  They became so neglected and in appalling conditions which Senior managers ignored.  Social worker BEVERLEY BURKE hardly visited the run down house in the years that followed and despite failing these children she rose through the ranks to become a well paid lecturer in Liverpool.  LIVERPOOL CITY COUNCIL were found guilty of neglect and gave the four a payout of just under £100,000.

‘PM decries Russia while Tory Donor negotiates deal ‘

BEING ‘TWO-FACED’ IS NOTHING NEW WITH GOVERNMENTS and this coalition is no different, especially as it is led by the Conservatives.  First we have Cameron demanding tough sanctions on Russia to the EU partners while hiding the fact that Britain was heavily trading in arms to Russia…and had issued more export licences than previously done.  We now learn of a Tory Donor who is negotiating to finance a Russian Oil Company targeted by the USA in sanctions meant to hurt Putin’s Government.  Vitol oil trader is about to lend Russia’s Rosnet $2 billion dollars in exchange for supplies of refined products over the next five years!  These new revelations risk embarrassing David Cameron and giving him a ‘headache’ with his US counterparts….but no doubt he will spin and weave a web of diplomatic deceit to say it’s not his fault and hope that will get him off the hook yet again.

‘Social Worker for council guilty of misconduct ‘

COUNCIL SOCIAL WORKER Suzi Smith was found to have falsely accused dad, Jonathan Coupland of abuse against his own daughter….. and at a Disciplinary Hearing she was found guilty of misconduct where she was told that her fitness to practice was impaired, yet she was not struck off or suspended….she was just given a three year caution order?  The Panel held in Kennington, London, decided she had made the false allegation against Mr Coupland because she was angry after a clash of personalities.   As a result of her decisions Mr Coupland was handcuffed by police and questioned for ten hours at the police station.  Cafcass, funded by the Justice Department sacked Suzi Smith and awarded Mr Coupland £86,000 in damages.

‘Innocent man gets rough deal over Cameron ‘

JOGGER DEAN FARLEY became the victim of Cameron’s Police Security when he accidentally bumped into David Cameron while he was out running.  Not that interested in Cameron or politics, the jogger was arrested at the incident in Leeds after the police tackled and grabbed the man.  The North Yorkshire Police said ‘there was nothing sinister about the incident’ which in fact requires another look at it considering their History.  Dean was released later…he didn’t even realise he’d run into the PM as no-one he talked to knew that he was visiting Leeds.

‘Retired ex-council worker finds himself in court over false claims’

PHILIP GILBEY claimed false disability allowance from 2006.  The former Plymouth Council Officer was found to be ‘active and claiming’   He was finally pulled in for questioning in 2013 when it was discovered that the ‘invalided’ man had four allotments the size of tennis courts and grew prize winning vegetables….which he claimed grew in a window box.  He admitted to falsely claiming the allowance for six years, and was given a 12 month carefew award by the court?

‘ Ex -Council Employee was Fraudster ‘

THE COUNCIL HEAD OF CRIME PREVENTION — Was committing a crime himself, as he siphoned around £230,000 in funds meant to be going into new playgrounds for children.  DAVID ARCHER who worked for the ESSEX COUNCIL…..Chelmsford.  Was said to be impeccable in regard of reputation during the six years he was routing money to himself.  The Senior Manager appeared before Chelmsford Crown Court where he received a jail sentence of three years.  It was said in court that at one time he was Chairman of The Crime and Disorder Partnership with the local Police.

‘ Council offer damages of £500 for taking wrong decision ‘

THURROCK COUNCIL refuses to apologise publicly for the distress they caused Jack Barnes and Cheryl Rich when they decided to seize their daughter Misty, who they took away for nine months.  ‘When it was seen that they had got it wrong, they just wanted to hush it up and buy us off for £500’ said Cheryl.  The Judge described the events leading to the council actions as a ‘debacle’…..and even amid the legal moves the council had taken the decision to put the child up for permanent adoption.  The council already knew the couple loved their child but hardly helped them in their plight to secure a stable home for Misty, seeking to act otherwise and bar the couple from keeping her.  Social workers are said to have played an important ‘anti-move’ in all of this giving the couple a hard time.  The Judge said the social services had totally mismanaged the situation.  Its quite obvious there is much more, locked away in the council offices and which staff had a key hand in doing this to people who were ‘disabled’ from the outset, but legal services and a council boss will not want you to see the stuff!

‘Council fined over Health and Safety Breaches’

SOUTHWARK COUNCIL appeared in court charged with failing to take fire precautions in a tower block they owned and maintained.  It was said that a serious fire started which resulted in the deaths of three women and three children who could not be saved.  The court fined the council £270,000 with costs of £300,000 for the 2009 blaze.

‘ £17,000 perks from Tobacco Firm to MP’s ‘

GOVERNMENT ads say smoking is bad and in public want it gone, but away from the public gaze MP’s are accepting perks, or sometimes commonly called ‘freebies’ from Benson and Hedges a report tells us.  It says they took advantage of tickets worth around £17,000 to see Operas and The Chelsea Flower Show…Japan Tobacco International which manufacture Silk Cut, Benson & Hedges, Camel and Old Holborn have offered out these so called ‘gifts’ to Conservative MP’s……and three Labour MP’s included….are all quite acceptable to getting in to this offer……so much for their moral stand on smoking?

‘ DWP Fraud Investigator commits fraud ‘

ELIZABETH LEWIS a DWP Fraud Officer first appeared before Cardiff Crown Court, and later at Swansea Crown Court where she was given a suspended prison sentence.  She was found guilty of money-laundering despite facing two charges with her husband, ex soldier Mark Lewis.  They both ran a Charity called MSL Mountaineering which seemingly looked to help society.  However, in 2010 the Charity Commission began to have concerns about their accounts.  Digging deeper they found irregularities and inflated figures to ‘disguise expenditure and income’  Right from the start the Charity chose to make claims from HMRC and its gift aid scheme.   Even the trustees were hoodwinked when questioned.  From 2007 the pair made 12 claims for ‘benefit’ in the gift aid getting Government cash being around £800,000.  It was discovered by investigators that Elizabeth Lewis received £30,000 of that money into her own account.  There were also real and fictitious forms saying that donations came from stars of sport, TV and films….but on contacting 100 of these, they said they had not made any donations to the charity.  Mark Lewis was jailed for 4 years.

‘ Government’s Universal Jobsearch — third of jobs are bogus ‘

THE DWP kept the news of this mostly to themselves? as it makes the Welfare to Work scenario less convincing and a fabrication if looked at clinically….The DWP were forced to admit they were investigating 179 Employers on the site who were breaching the rules.  Claims that a third of a million vacancies listed were bogus and didn’t exist has angered and outraged observers who were constantly told that there was jobs out there for all the unemployed if they looked….but when it emerged that National Fraud Investigators are looking into this scam, which targeted the North West in particular…the DWP looked embarrassed.  Universal JobMatch was set up in 2012 requiring Jobseekers to apply in order to receive their benefit allowance. (2014)  

THE DWP AND CUTTING  THE YOUNG’S BENEFIT — News leaked says that this government are suggesting that apprentice pay should be axed (benefits) for those claimants under 18.  The ‘think tank’ are asking for the minimum wage requirement should be lifted and abolished in the case of those entering apprenticeships.  The GMB union spokesman Brian Strutton says that ‘if they get their way poverty would be normal and depending on benefits would actually increase, and be greater than it is already’

‘ The DWP Sanctions Scandal ‘

133,000 sanctions have been overturned and those people have to wait many weeks of clerical delay by DWP staff….such is the leaked information that now shows the DWP getting it wrong but saying very little about it in public.  This concealed information has revealed that many of those picked on by ‘adjudicators’ at the Job Centres etc, have had to turn to food banks in the interim period after the judgement has been overturned. The likes of Edwina Curry and Ian Duncan-Smith pretend that food banks are not needed…showing what little regard they have for peoples lives.  The government actually refuse to discuss the topic, closing all attempts by TV investigators to get dialogue or answers….which is known as ‘stone-walling’

The people ‘could’ answer this by voting out the Conservative-Liberal coalition…and that couldn’t happen soon enough…so in 2015 get them out and make the others promise to put the wrongs right or else!

PS read the stuff below if you’re not yet convinced.

‘ DWP fail claimant by refusing to correct a problem ‘

Sadly for one pensioner who died, the £20,000 PAYOUT BY THE DEPARTMENT OF WORK AND PENSIONS came too late.  This case highlighted the stubbornness of staff and managers to understand a claimant and how they treat a claimant when the problem was created by them and they refuse to correct it because they won’t.  All too common really with Jobcentres and the DWP — Parliamentary Ombudsman Julie Mellor who looked into the case said ‘ An elderly woman and her family were let down because of service failure and poor complaint handling’ she said her department upheld the claim and recommended that the DWP and its Independent Case Examiner apologise to the family and pay compensation of £26,514 plus interest to the claimant’s family.  The details of their efforts to wriggle out are as follows — The DWP failed to send a computerised prompt to the 90 yr old woman’s council (Essex) that would have triggered automatic housing benefit she was entitled to.  Her family realised the mistake and it took them 5 YEARS to battle with government officials from the Pension service who refused to correct the error?  In fact, the Pensions Service did not even consider the complaint until after the woman had died!   In an effort to thwart the family and crush them, DWP Lawyers and staff fell back on ‘policy’ and the Pensions Service wrongly claimed it prevented them from paying out compensation the next of kin of deceased claimants.  An Independent Claims Examiner was brought in when the family refused this decision, and to their disbelief, upheld the Department’s ruling.  So they went to the Ombudsmen, the final appeal, and won their claim forcing the council to pay up the money owed.

‘ Coalition Government force kids to rely on free school breakfasts ‘

2013 and the day of food kitchens, poor banks, and finally school children attending school early so that they can get a free breakfast.  Call me Dave and Nick Clegg are quite happy to see the British nation at the soup kitchens.  Blackpool became the first place where pupils are going to be provided with a free school breakfast.  Teachers have said this move was necessary to combat growing numbers of school pupils arriving at school hungry because their parents could no longer provide a decent breakfast in the morning.  The report says this initiative was followed up by a similar scheme in London, the country’s rich capital, and heartland of the Government.  The Blackpool Authority have said 500 pupils at their Primary School have taken advantage of the free meals.

The escalating need for FOOD BANKS is eroding the Welfare Safety Net — say food experts, who have now calculated that around 350,000 people are becoming reliant on handouts and help…..the Trussell Trust said that there was now a network of 345 food banks around the country having to supply the needy and vulnerable.

FOOD VOUCHERS FOR 100,000 — The latest report on this scandal is that The CAB are stepping in with help to people with 100,000 emergency food vouchers over the 2013 Christmas period (just a short-term relief), the  Charity Chief Gillian Guy says the need for so much help in emergency food requests is ‘extremely worrying’

CHARITY WARNS OF DICKENSIAN TIMES for people in need who are now flocking to food banks which are now opening in every town.  ‘We are reverting to work house scenes and poverty known in Dickens times due to Ian Duncan-Smith and the Coalition Policies’ says Action for Children.

FTD: The Flying Tax Duty — started in the latter half of the 1990’s at a rate of £5 — and what is the price now with this Government?  around £250 (family travel)  the highest in the world (along with petrol duty), making Britain the worst place to fly from and uncompetitive according the airlines….. and the government says they will kindly only raise the cost by one percent……not lower it……..so add this to the election blog.

MP EXPENSES ON THE RISE AS PUBLIC ARE DEFLECTED TO OTHER MATTERS — 2014 and the expenses thing now out of the headlines as the government hoped, top £100 million according to the latest figures.    More than £11 million was claimed on accommodation, travel etc, and another £11 million on office costs say the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority……and there is talk in the air that they are seeking a rise in salaries too!

‘MOVING THE GOALPOSTS’ something the government do frequently and have been doing for years, now in Jan 2013, the country is moving into a third recession……and growth in Industry is said to be ‘ticking over’ in a flatline situation.. and the economy shrank in 2012…..yet the government claimed recently that employment had gone up….but analysts cannot see how this could be when firms were not expanding in order to explain it…..another explanation could be ‘massaging the figures’, something that this coalition have done before now in order to deflect the public attention away from something more unpleasant?

‘WE WON’T ALLOW IT TO HAPPEN’  says DPM Nick Clegg — But that wasn’t strictly true, no more so than the failed and broken election promises on student fees…which is not forgotten.  And what won’t he or they allow to happen? the answer is — People to suffer as a result of benefit caps, but they did and they are….in fact there were 276 families ‘evicted’ or uprooted from where they lived….and some sent to live as far away as Birmingham having lived in London all their lives.  Many of these claimants on housing benefit etc, are having their allowance cut by over a £100…which is pretty disastrous.  Clegg’s Liberals broke many of their election promises in order to team up with Cameron’s Conservatives.  What is happening is very sinister and deceitful, people are being turned against each other by Politicians. the media TV and rubbish like The Mail…….to satisfy their own ends.

PS: In relation to the above, it is claimed that the cap in benefits were to help these people back into work, yet figures show that only 1 in 10 of those affected have a job as a result of this.

This lot said that Global Warming was coming, now they’ve moved the goalposts on this and say nothing as Winter now lasts almost 6 months, and farmers for a third year running are forecasting low harvest yields, more imports, and increased high food costs to the people; huge cuts to welfare benefits — just how long will this apathetic public keep paying huge rises in Electricity and Gas, wages  frozen or reduced and the worst future on record………they are indeed being manipulated by the Rich and Greedy.

Government MP’s want a 32 per cent pay rise!  An article says these top civil servants want a huge pay rise because they cannot manage on £65,000 (the average pay)…….the Conservatives say it should be £96,740!

Human Rights less important!  William Hague, the Foreign Secretary said that terrorism meant they had to forego human rights abuses by countries in order to fight terrorism.

Iain Duncan Smith Work and Pensions Secretary claims he can live on £53 a week, perhaps he ought to be given the chance in the next election by making him redundant…..sadly, this cretin is currently on £1,5581 a week and lives in a £2million pound mansion with pool, tennis court and more.

Iain Duncan Smith’s benefit reform wastes £40 million…..the computer system is not yet ready…..despite the fact he’s already started the cuts to the public.  And he maintains his reforms are still on track in the face of the farcical launch of the Universal Credit being in just one area of Britain — ‘The North-West of England’ 

Iain Duncan Smith’s new slam at Jobless could be contrary to Human Rights — Forcing the new ‘ Sign-on everyday or lose benefits’ could and should be challenged in the courts under The Human Rights Act.  The Government are putting in new rules to mandatory force jobseekers to travel everyday to sign on or lose their benefits.  It could easily cost a claimant £3 a day…..£15 a week in fares…..fares they are not prepared to cover or reimburse…..the benefit is calculated for living only….and does not carry the words ‘allowance calculated for travel’…..this would incur hardship of an undue nature…imposed by them, which could fall under and within the Human Rights on ‘torture and cruelty’ which should be tried in the European Court against Britain ASAP.

AIDE TO Duncan-Smith threatens to shut down food bank because he fears the ‘political harm’ that it might do as the election nears in 2015.  It is suggested by the Newspapers that responsibility lies with Private Secretary to Duncan-Smith, MP Andrew Selous….and when asked he got rather furious.  Mr Mould of the Trussell Trust who set up the food bank system  said he was approached by someone delivering a message from Ministerial level and it was said in anger.

There are 6.7 million ‘Working Poor’ in 2014, and these are official statistics, and it is recognised that low wages are creating this.  5.2 million families are below the living wage.  1.4 million are in a minimum wage situation getting just £6.50 an hour.  Yet the majority and higher earners are on £10 to £20 an hour, three times what a poor worker can get.  Incomes it is said have plummeted under the coalition government.  Amazingly, one Charity advert said ‘it was an absolute shame that in 2014 Britain, food banks were here’

CONSERVATIVE Duncan-Smith plans more welfare cuts of £12 billion if they get in at the May elections in 2015, saying also that there will be a two year freeze on benefits anyway.  Its probably time for Duncan-Smith and his cronies to be thrown out……they haven’t even noticed that petrol is back on the way up…. and Osborne is still pretending that its dropping lower…… and everyone is better off.

Those ‘suspect’ government statistics — claims of more in employment and a major improvement in the economic picture doesn’t impress Paul Kurland of Billericay…who had a closer look at the claims.   ‘How many of of those in work are actually underemployed in part-time low-paid jobs? and in addition, how many of those in full-time positions are on insecure zero-hours contracts with little or no employment rights?

Benefit Cuts hit poorest as council tax bills keep on rising — A report says more than 2 million of the poorest citizens are facing higher council tax demands in 2014….and it says those on benefit are having their allowances reduced amid this.  Some have had their allowance totally withdrawn…and there has been 16,000 people in London alone who have been the subject of debt and bailiff action for non-payment of bills (to the council).   The CAB have said that those struggling to pay their way has rocketed especially those receiving Housing Benefit.

Government neglects unpaid overtime  of 8 hours each week for one in five workers.  £640million of unpaid overtime was due to workers who were never paid it…..due to workers being required to put in extra hours only to be cheated out of payment.  The TUC around 331,000 workers didn’t get paid. 

£32 billion in overtime not paid at all — The TUC has said that one in five workers put in extra working time without it being credited to their pay……and in this present climate there’s no hope of it being remedied.

Emergency Fund for poor, and those in desperate circumstances is scrapped by Chancellor George Osborne.  He is scrapping the scheme which individuals were able to access in an emergency….the social fund has often been bandied about by this Government as somewhere the poor can go to if they are in need, but yet again, the coalition has set its sights on destroying the poor and vulnerable.  This valuable safety net is now up to local councils?

The Jobs Lie? …more people employed — Osborne Scam — most of the figures he uses to support this are based on people going ‘self-employed’ and starting their own businesses in desperation of not finding work.  The Small Business Federation will tell you that most new businesses do not succeed, and often close in or after just one year….some are ‘shoe-string’ run ventures that are mainly run on hope and have very little turnover, but Osborne says very little of this…..many ‘victims’ of failed business ventures finally have to face the prospect of ‘signing-on’ again…..so as we can all see…..these ’employed’ figures are temporary and no thanks to Osborne.

Councils are being given the power to curb civil rights by being able to ban protests — This action means that even peaceful protests could be axed, especially ones against corrupt councils…..which is what the government and councils have wanted for a very long time.  Civil Rights are an issue for this Government, they just don’t want them interfering with dodgy goings-on…. and being able to suppress them ‘lawfully’ is a dream come true… this news item emerged as new powers are being granted to councils by a back-door little-noticed section of the government’s anti-social behaviour, crime and policing bill.

Government exposed over claims of wage improvements — It has been revealed that if one took away the bonus culture, wages would not be above inflation, and it is this fact the MP’s are leaving out in the statistics.  The claim that the economy has turned is not as true as the picture they have painted says a new report.  One can clearly see that this is an attempt to win the nearing general election by any means,

DWP figures wrong again! — The Government constantly claim this and that, barking off statistics to prove what?  that they shout the loudest…. and what about those figures from these departments who never admit they get things wrong….the Department of Work and Pensions have been caught out and their figures disputed by the watchdog the UK Statistics Authority.   Iain Duncan-Smith bases his figures on certain factors that lead to ambiguous conclusions they said….and they were not correct.  In 2011 The Select Committee warned the DWP about inaccurate figures…and observers say they deliberately misled the public to support their policies.

Conservative Minister parks car in disabled bay! — Romford’s MP Andrew Rosindell was caught parked in a bay reserved for disabled drivers……last year it was George Osborne the Chancellor who did the same….. neither party though they were inconveniencing anyone!

‘The Charity £34,000 bungle by the Government’ — Now unaccounted for, £34,000 given to ‘The BIg Society Charity sparks investigation as it was discovered that the money wasn’t spent on what it was supposed to have funded.  The Cabinet Office admitted failing to follow its own rules in regard to funding when its Social Action Fund Grant of £299,800 was handed over to the Big Society’s parent company the Society Network Foundation in 2012.  The Childhood Fitness Project was never launched.  Strangely, the Foundation says it was given the authorisation by the Cabinet Office to move the unspent money into their general funds?…..do we have more ‘Porky Pies’ from the Government again?

Government create diversion as Election looms — Cameron says nothing as news comes in that the poorest in society pay almost half of their earnings in taxes due to the Government squeeze and benefit cuts.  As VAT remains the same and no pay rises, the poor are paying more to live than the ‘uncaring better-off households associated with the middle class’

As Election nears, 4,000 jobs are to go at Standard Charted again!  amid claims of more jobs and people in work this government are pleased this announcement was in the back financial city pages…… the chief executive has presided over dire profit warnings over the past year and says it must close the door on the bank’s loss-making and is cutting 4,000 members of staff from its branches.

Sleeping rough and homeless on the increase as Government breaks promises yet again — There are many rich and middle class people who like the MP’s couldn’t care less about the impoverished, so it comes as no surprise to hear that the number of those without a home and sleeping rough is on the rise.  It has now been revealed by The Department for Communities and Local Government that there are now some 2,744 people sleeping rough in England.  The years figure shows a rise of 330 more, an increase of 14 percent.  London alone accounted for 742 of those people….laughingly they say that this must be ‘a top priority’ for the next government?

Fuel Poverty affects more than a million families (in 2014) making heating the home too expensive as Winter looms, and many cut down on using it so that they can survive.  But the government just ignore this and keep cutting in the hope that the middle class and rich will support them at the elections in such a number that they can walk over the poor, having looked after their core followers.

Benefit amounts do not equal the actual costs to claimant — Corrupt ideas, Lawyers and MP’s have long thought they are immune by conning the public and actually creating diversions and fear in the Electorate — such is the UK — the latest move on claimants is to make them sign on every week!  shows the deviance of the Conservatives as they conveniently shove ‘The Child Abuse Case’ to one side in order to get elected.  Some claimants do not live near a jobcentre, and travel to sign on costing them several pounds, which the government will not pay or even consider an allowance.  The Benefit amount was decided on ‘What a person needs to live on’ according to ministers and solicitors…and no account was taken in regard to journey time or expenses paid.

Conservative Justice Secretary Chris Grayling says at next election they intend to abolish the Human Rights Act, which echoes the views of Home Secretary Theresa May wants the Party to withdraw completely from the European Convention on Human Rights.  Amnesty says this talk and ideas are making Britain look totally different from the rhetoric it throws at other countries about repression and the need to protect citizens rights.

Legal Aid was ‘reformed’ which really means cut so that only a minority can get it…..and no one knows who can get help, the government have not worked that out……they’re not sure!

The Government begin to erase internal record of speeches so that they cannot be found in future!   Typically, the Conservatives have pressed the delete and erase buttons in order to hide former speeches and press releases over the past ten years….. it is said the reason behind it is to stop opposition from revealing remarks, failures and lies being told…. along with ‘failed’ promised pledges……the article touched on claims that they had also tried to interfere with online Search Engines content……which they obviously deny!…..what else.

Veterans who fought for UK get bum deal from Government — they now face deportation from a country that quickly forgets, and wants to forget promises and kindness showed by outsiders who stood alongside British soldiers during the war.  Veterans Aid which helps ex-servicemen are coming to them for migration advice on issues of finding they are now facing deportation from the UK government.

Ex MP Tony Blair wants people and current MP’s to stop pursuing IRA terrorists who were given a deal by his government which gave them a ‘get out of jail card free’ and lets murderers walk around freely…..because he says it was done in order to get peace in Ireland…..and will now threaten that situation if there are any attempts to arrest the men given immunity.  ‘Ripping up the guarantees will harm the situation’ he claims……showing us his scruples and revealing the price he sees fit for the victims that died horribly at the hands of these criminals.

Council Workers enjoy good life in abroad trips as the taxpayer pays for their stay of boozes, sea and sun all on the pretext of being at ‘a property conference’ in Cannes.  This 2014 MIPIM event in France enjoyed only the best hotels and full credit card expenses….meanwhile, 235 local council officers enjoyed bars and restaurants with party-like jollies, as the Press put it.

NO HONOUR WITH CIVIL SERVANTS — Free travel and passes were something the Government dangled in front of Senior Citizens in order to get their votes, bribery in fact, but up to 90 pensioners in Barnsley found this right granted previously snatched away.  Their right to free travel had been arbitrarily withdrawn to save on cash of course.   They actually risked arrest according to the news item posted.  They protested at Barnsley Train station, and as usual, police, security guards and whoever blocked their entrance to the station.  It emerged that South Yorkshire Passenger Executive was withdrawing benefit on around 250,000 people in the area to shore up a council shortfall of £243,000 that the government had taken away!  They didn’t consider what effect that this would have on disabled passengers or very elderly, they just went ahead and did it.

SAME OLD GAME, SAME SITUATION, SAME DWP STAFF — Year after year the Jobcentre staff penalise and hammer claimants aided and abetted by Government.  These civil servants reckon to be like the public, but the only profession like theirs was the Gestapo.  We hear of a claimant doing a week’s work experience just to fill the holiday arrangement of a paid employee….and a man with many years of experience in house decoration being told he must take on the employment of a Santa in a store during Christmas or lose his benefit.  And as somebody pointed out, stand up or defy the Jobcentre Advisor and receive a sanction or lose your benefits immediately.  We learn that the DWP is working around the minimum wage as it conspires with companies to supply staff at little or no rates, and those zero hour contracts they claim work! have plenty of losers who do not know when they will be working…they trudge along to the factory only to be told there is nothing for them that day, and report in the next day.  We’ve covered their tricks and deceit on this page, so nothing they do really surprises us…..they never change.

ZERO HOUR CONTRACTS CAN MEAN NO WORK….. and people trapped in these are finding they have no rights at all….while their fellow citizens on good jobs and pay just ignore them in their ‘I’m alright Jack’ attitude that needs a good shake up.   Irregular hours can often mean working at all hours just to make ends meet, and the employment tribunals are doing nothing to force a ‘fair’ system because they are in the Government’s pocket.

MP’S AND THE CIGARETTE INDUSTRY — A report reveals that around one in four MP’s now voting on the ‘plain wrapper issue’ for tobacco sales have in fact links to these firms past and present…..it goes onto say that many who have abstained from voting have accepted gifts and hospitality from these firms since 2008, naming the MP Philip Hammond.  Interestingly. Ken Clarke was a former Director of British American Tobacco…and 22 MP’s out of 104 Conservatives have received hospitality from the Cigarette Companies.

GOVERNMENT LOOKS THE OTHER WAY AS FIRMS FLOUT THE DATA LAW — Councils and civil servants pay very little attention to the data laws on individuals, and only get rattled when you go after them, their lawyers immediately see this as a priority and send out threatening letters.  The Public’s personal data is almost up for grabs from anyone who wants to access it….and councils actually sell it off.  Public Bodies and corporations be it public or private (including Google and other Internet Search Engines) are flouting the laws consistently.  Data holders (administrators supposedly held to account and ‘authorised’) often fail to disclose the the private information they have gathered and stored on citizens….and did not enter a legitimate reason for not doing so when asked.  Researchers found that the so-called regulators were failing to safeguard the citizens rights in the Data Act…and legal obligations were ‘shockingly’ thrown aside or not adhered to….and this was happening daily.

The situation appears to be —  ‘We can have your data, by law if necessary, but you can’t have ours because we have Crown Privilege…and that over-rides any law you think protects your data’

NB: At the next upcoming election we will post blogs and Tweets about the above and other incidents such as the school tuition fees broken promise and the expenses scandal, the Land Registry Fiasco and more cases from our files, to give the Conservatives and Liberals some backing to their manifestos and future promises.

A SITE WORTH VISITING — all about MP’s…….  http://liarsbuggersandthieves.blogspot.co.uk   has the most comprehensive list on crimes that MP’s have committed.  It is a huge piece of work…..containing cases and facts on MP’s who have committed various crimes……. so go and have a look before the next government elections, we recommend this straight-forward site….and congratulate the editor who dared to put this together on the web.

‘ Councils fail badly for the Disabled ‘

Another report shows the failure toward the disabled who are left stranded by their local councils.  It says many are being left homebound due to a culture of ‘law breaking’ by councils over the way they dismiss their legal obligations towards the disabled.  They care very little about statutes concerning their duties, and neither do their legal departments and solicitors who continue to get top class pay deals.  It says two-thirds of councils are failing to carry out home adaptations within the one year legal limit…. and half the councils are making disabled people wait more than two years before carrying out the essential work.  This yet again shows that the councils think they are above the law….and in what we see, they certainly demonstrate this.  And where are these lawyers who actively make derail attempts….in their huge expensive 4X4 and Mercedes Coupe’s dreaming of the third house and a swimming pool.

‘ Devious or due process for Peerage Consideration?’

WHAT WILL £300,000 GET YOU? well, if its a peerage, you might well be advised to sink this kind of money into the Conservative money pot….one man did just two months before his peerage.  Michael Farmer donated £300.000 into Cameron’s support fund and received his due reward for being an excellent donator…it appears that supporter Mr Farmer has given the Tory funds more than £6million to this mob.

‘Former disgraced Tory MP bows out as nasty past approaches ‘

NEIL HAMILTON nowadays lording it around on TV shows with his wife claiming ‘celebrity status’ for god knows what, was forced out of the current UKIP elections in South Basildon and East Thurrock.  That nasty word he knew all too well, ‘Expenses’ came out of the blue scoring a broadside in the side of the smiling MP who was hit by corruption allegations.  The Deputy Chairman of UKIP was asked to explain his expenses claims by the Party’s Financial Committee.  Hamilton was ousted in 1997 from the Tory Party following the ‘Questions for Cash scandal which he thought had gone away amid his TV work!

‘Tory MP arrested in connection with rape allegations ‘

MP MARK PRITCHARD, highflier, and a former secretary of the 1922 Committee of Backbenchers was arrested when he reported to a North London Police Station.  This followed a rape allegation made against him in Central London….. The Met police confirmed his arrest to the House Speaker John Bercow.

‘Taxpayers pay over a £1million for ‘never-opened’ schools ‘

A Report says that FREE SCHOOLS that were planned for and financed, were never opened. Over a million pounds were spent on proposals……a dossier passed to the Education Secretary Nicky Morgan reveals the extent of finance.  It is expected to show that £50 million has been spent on Free Schools either described as inadequate or requiring improvement.  The sum of £1.043 million was spent on applications that later were cancelled or withdrawn……yet the government cling to the idea that the Free Schools have been an enormous success!

‘Whistleblowers — councils don’t like them ‘

Despite MP’s publicly claiming that whistleblowers should be protected rather than vilified…..the truth is that this isn’t the case at all.  Councils are bullying such people to the point they lose their jobs.  In a report investigators found that councils went to great lengths to cover-up information they had and went onto silence any of it that might draw attention to making them look ineffective or culprits of a wrongdoing.  Instead of welcoming evidence of something wrong, they were more prepared to bury it or make it inaccessible  to public scrutiny.

A Paramedic ‘Whistleblower’ Stuart Gardner revealed that he had been banned from two NHS Hospitals after revealing the conditions at A & E Units.  He furthermore revealed that the Royal Hospital in Worcester and Alexandra Hospital in Redditch banned him because he had upset staff over what he had said….and this kind of highlights the reaction of public bodies to people who stand up and reveal something that others want burying.

‘ The stench of something rotten in government ‘

POLICE DROP FRAUD INVESTIGATION INTO SERCO FOR THE GOVERNMENT — It should be hard to believe the Public accept such a situation as a blatant cover-up by police and the government, but they do, and will, without batting an eye lid.  Even the report on this matter cannot hide ‘that something is going on and the act of brushing it all under the carpet’ is all too clear.  The report, far from the front pages tells us that the government gave the Prison Group Serco ‘a get out of jail free card’ and had the police back off from the investigation over Serco charging the public purse for non existent tagging of prisoners who were actually dead and misled the Ministry of Justice……the police were called in to investigate ‘if there was criminal intent’ behind the fraud that was costing the taxpayer dearly.  The Minister, when the fraud was uncovered, said that had been a culture within parts of Serco (who have a £285 million prisoner transport contract) that has been totally unacceptable, and actions which need to be investigated by the police.  It was estimated that Serco ripped off the public, but police lamely said it found no evidence to support charges bringing against staff?…. and the Crown Prosecution Service have also decided they will not bring charges against Serco or its staff?……yet a fraud was committed.  Analysts at Liberum looking into the case said ‘there may have been controlling minds, ie. corporate involvement in encouraging people to act fraudulently’……and it is all being put down to a dreadful mistake!

‘ Straw in ‘I done no wrong’ stance in payments sting ‘

JACK STRAW, one time Home Office Minister is no stranger to controversy, and a sting by undercover news reporters from Channel 4 TV revealed that this man twists and bends when caught coming out with that worn theme by MP’s ‘ I didn’t do any wrongdoing’…….on the programme he seen and heard asking for £5,000 a day for doing a speech…..and said he used his charm and menace, because he works under the radar.  He said he’d helped a firm change EU regulations on behalf of a Commodities company ED&F Man who paid him £60,000 a year.

‘ The Wikipedia Case and denials by MP Grant Shapps ‘

A report says that Conservative Party Chairman Grant Shapps angrily denied making changes to a Wikipedia Account used to make unflattering comments on the online pages of senior political figures.  The owners of Wilikpedia claim they have now blocked a user account called ‘Contribsx’ after suspicions that it was being used by Mr Shapps… or someone acting on his behalf?  to edit his own page and those of Tory rivals.  It went onto say that activity revealed that the ‘user’ had systematically removed embarrassing references on Mr Shapps Wikipedia page about tht MP’s business activities under the pseudonym ‘Michael Green’….other info was also altered.  A Wikipedia spokesman said ‘the account is either run by Shapps or being run under his clear direction’   Although Mr Shapps alleges outsiders are smearing him, it must be pointed out that there are certain ways to get changes that can only be approved by ‘administrators’ who have names like ‘Midnight Dave’ who have been granted the editorial power because of the many inclusions having been accepted by a ‘Group’ in the Wikipedia powerbase…..so its not that difficult to find the right ‘administrator’ if you are well connected!

‘ The Great Big Motor Tax Fiddle by the Government ‘

NOT SURPRISINGLY this government…..which included the LibDems in coalition, found a way of taxing the motorist using their ignorance about changes (not greatly known or talked about) as they scrapped the excise tax disc.  There is now a ‘double taxing’ system which benefits the taxman and government to the tune of £38 million every year says the AA….motor tax is automatically cancelled on the vehicle the moment it changes hands to a new owner…..and deceitfully, the motorist selling the car can only claim a refund for a full month, and a seller would be very unlikely to get the timing right or have the application in time at the DVLA….lawyers for the DVLA would not answer our query regarding the ‘moral dishonesty’ involved.  Since the changes which no longer requires tax discs on the windscreen, Government Clampers have been on the increase and figures show that around 3,000 cars a month are being clamped (2014)….26,178 cars were clamped by the end of March…..Its hard to believe that we once had the private clampers as the menace to the motorist…..the Government have now taken that role.  (you can read about the devious DVLA in ‘Related Topics’ and what they get up to)

‘ £224 million IT Bill left for taxpayers to settle ‘

News says that Home Secretary Theresa May unlawfully cancelled a failing IT project leaving the taxpayer with a huge bill.   The Tribunal Arbitration Panel said that Ministers failed to follow proper procedure when they cancelled the £750 million contract with a US Defence Company, Raytheon who were to deliver the ‘e-borders programme’ meant to screen passengers entering and leaving Britain.  It appears there were lengthy delays that hampered the finalisation…and it was cancelled in 2010.  Apparently, the US company sued the UK Government and won the huge payout.

‘ Ministry blocks Prison Study on Abuse ‘

THE GOVERNMENT’S MINISTRY OF JUSTICE BLOCKED THE RESULTS OF A STUDY — Researchers were ‘barred’ from interviewing serving prisoners and could only speak to those who had completed their sentences.  The Howard League for Penal Reform published a report into abuse at prisons claiming that 1,650 prisoners may have been sexually abused during their stay in prison by other inmates and ?  The researchers were expected to rely on and believe in figures issued by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons!  The Researchers said they had been hampered by a lack of co-operation from Minister Chris Grayling’s Department…..in a Government that said at the last election…..’We stand for transparency and accountability’

‘DEATHS AT A RECORD HIGH IN PRISONS’ — A report shows that there are more people dying in prison than 30 years ago.  The figures released by The Ministry of Justice tell of 235 prisoners died in 12 months up to the end of September 2014…. a 19 percent increase.

‘ Block on Minister’s diaries is challenged and lifted in court ruling ‘

The government were able to block inquiries or investigations into diaries held by MP’s despite the Expenses Scandal…..but after a 2015 ruling Ministers must now reveal office diaries….following two landmark victories to stop the ‘secrecy and anti-transparency’ being employed.  The High Court came to the decision that evidence by the Prime Minister’s advisor on ministerial standards was way below what the public were entitled to expect of a senior civil servant.  The court cases came about as the Department of Health rejected a request under the Act for the diaries of former Health Secretary Andrew Lansley to be released.  The Government protested that this was and should be exempt from requests under The Freedom of Information Act….. they are are now urgently considering an appeal.

‘Held Dissident is given go-ahead to sue Britain’

Another one of these cases the UK government would rather have suppressed.  The man says ‘I WOULD ACCEPT A SETTLEMENT OF £3 IF THE UK GOVERNMENT ADMITTED ITS GUILT’  but as expected, this is not forthcoming from the present government,  Accountability and transparency is not here.  The man was abducted in 2004 and tortured in detention because the UK Intelligence agencies MI6 connived with Libya to have him seized, and that Jack Straw, the then Home Secretary sanctioned this.  Mr Abdelhakim Belhaj won his right to sue the Government by the Court of Appeal despite Government Lawyers saying others were also involved.

‘MP Alex Salmond keeps the £65,000 grant ‘

It would all be understandable if Alex Salmond after losing the Scottish Referendum really did retire as he said on television, but he instantly bounced back after pulling a sad face to viewers and is back seeking election as an MP.  The grant was approved to provide assistance to MP’s leaving politics as a golden handshake, but Alex Salmond says he is keeping it and refuses to hand it back.  The Scottish Labour Party said it was ‘a kick in the teeth’ for hard working Scottish families.  He is currently running for Independence Party Recognition, but funding he has already took hardly looks independent?

FAKE TWEETS INVESTIGATION LOOKS AT ALEX SALMOND’S TV SHOW — Ofcom the Regulatory body are investigating the ‘Russian-backed’ RT Channel TV show that former Scottish MP Alex Salmond is hosting.  They are looking into a series of mysterious tweets which appeared on the former Scottish First Minister’s show on November the 16th.  It is stated that the politician claimed he received an ‘avalanche’ of tweets from the audience.  One quoted by him didn’t exist and another was from an account that didn’t tweet that day, and another one from a tweet that hadn’t been posted?  so what’s going on Mr Salmond? is this part of your desperate attempt to stay a celeb?

‘ Expenses Scandal — isn’t finished as MP’s are chased for cash ‘

It is now several years on, and the full story of bent MP’s will never come out……but apparently the chase for those overpaid expenses is still on.  The news is that 38 MP’s are currently under pressure to pay back the sum of £22,000 to the public purse according to The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority.  (2015)

MP FIDDLES VEHICLE MILEAGE EXPENSES – A Conservative MP Bob Blackman is said to be facing a demand for around a £1,000 after claiming too much mileage allowance on his expenses more than 700 times.  The IPSA said that claims he made for travelling around his constituency over a two year period were not accurate in every instance.  He is the MP for Harrow East in London.

COUNCILLOR IN SEX LINE BILL SCANDAL — Independent Robert Bleakey is said to have used around £2,400 in a bill from a sex-lines phone in company — The Wigan Councillor gets an allowance of £11,000 annually to cover his costs.  He apparently attended just one council meeting in five months.  However, he cannot be removed under the council’s rules, and they are powerless according to Lord Peter Smith the council leader.  Mr Bleakey is said to have accessed and viewed the porn from his laptop and regularly phoned lines from his council mobile

MEGA-RICH TORY BACKER MAKES CLAIM FOR DONATION — Another expenses thing as super rich Iqbal Ahmed a Tory Supporter and backer made a claim on his expenses for the £12,000 donation he gave The Conservatives.

MP’s LUXURY GYM GETS A £1 MILLION FOR MAKEOVER — The House of Commons Gym where MP’s go to have a tone-up on first class equipment have now landed the taxpayer with a bill for £1 million so that these greedy politicians can upgrade and have a cosmetic cleansing of their amenities, to which they have become very accustomed.  They will have a new sauna, exercise bikes, a new ‘spinning studio’ and a complete upgrade of the facilities.  It had an original estimate of £250,000, but now stands at £1,081,379….apparently the membership to MP’s is just £38 a month.

‘Appeal Tribunals no longer affordable to mere mortals’

THE GOVERNMENT in their scheme to rid opponents to civil servants and officials, have yet again scored a goal against accountability and righting wrongs…. Claims are now down by 70 per cent at Industrial and Employment Tribunals as fewer cases are being launched by individuals because they have been priced-out of the system since the government began charging employees to bring a case…. which is £1,250 to gain access to a tribunal. Since this devious move began there have been 8,848 fewer cases….and those employment lawyers said it has dropped by two thirds especially in ‘sex discrimination’ cases…… and the blame for this ‘unfairness’ is the coalition government run by Cameron and Clegg….who often say they are building a ‘fairer’ society.

‘ Bad News ‘buried’ by Home Secretary Theresa May ‘

This news arrives as talk in the Political Arena tip her for becoming the next leader of the Conservative Party and possibly a Prime Minister, heaven forbid!  The report says she delayed and manipulated the publication of an inspection report on Britain’s Asylum system and immigrant situation.  It is said she is ‘sitting’ on five reports that are critical of the government…..one of which was done five months ago. Opposition MP’s are raising questions on how far will she go to control critical stories against the government in their six month run up to the elections?   Some might say this shows she has excellent credentials to make a PM.

WE CAN CERTAINLY CONFIRM THIS ‘ PRIME MINISTER MAY DODGES QUESTIONS ON FAILED TRIDENT MISSILE TEST’ — No matter how many questions were put to her, the true blue Conservative repeatedly failed to answer direct questions put to her on the ANDREW MARR SHOW, A Sunday political interview programme, and he tried four times to get an explanation.  Apparently, the super missile veered off course during a test…. and this defence missile system is costing the taxpayer £40 billion.

‘ Another Government lie revealed ‘

RECENT VIEWING of a TV programme dealing with Bailiffs exposed an untruth yet again rallied by the Government as a right……the coloured woman with kids who literally had no money to pay was turned out onto the street….and her local council said they were unable to find her accommodation…..yet we are supposed to have legislation and a safety net that takes care of the vulnerable…..the government says that under their watch they care about everybody and pretend that things are in place to see that no one suffers unreasonably….but what we have here is a lie, and a tragedy that the people of this country should be ashamed about….but sadly they’re not……had it been a foal, baby or something they could gain from….the public are all too ready to put on an artificial show of goodness!

‘ MP in assault case at Grocer’s shop ‘

When MP ERIC JOYCE appeared at London’s Westminster Magistrates Court he put in a plea of not guilty in connection with charges made of assault and criminal damage.  The Falkirk MP was accused of beating up two youths and causing £200 worth of damage to a Grocer’s Shop.  He was conditionally bailed to appear for trial at Westminster Magistrates on May the 1st.

‘ More councils turn off lights to save money?’

THIS LEADS TO LESS SECURITY for people having to negotiate pathways and tracks in the dark……and the public are not in favour of these cuts….as it leads to vulnerability of people coming home in the dark.  The government used to talk about safety and preventing crime, but leaving over a quarter of towns in the dark from 12pm to 5 am gives robbers and crime the best opportunity they could have.

‘Government Ministers in attempt to conceal arms deals ‘

Not entirely unknown or unsuspected, as the British Government are continually in the activities of concealing things from the public (as in the MP’s child sex abuse scandal).  A Report says that the Arms Trade between the UK and several other countries are being done in ‘secretive procedures’ which keeps these exports out of the public domain.   The sensitive nature of these deals immediately had the government adopt a policy of ‘What they don’t know can’t harm us or stop us getting re-elected’…..It says that exporters are being steered towards ‘open’ licences which allow multiple consignments to be shipped off to the same destination without their cost being publicly declared.  The Parliamentary Watchdog said of this, that it only serves to ‘inescapably reduce the transparency’ that this and other UK government’s have claimed when addressing the nation in elections and on TV interviews!

‘ Humiliation for District Council ‘

THE FOREST OF DEAN DISTRICT COUNCIL – Waste the taxpayers money for more than eight years it was revealed…..and it took this long before they were made to apologise to the voters.  As we have already said on many occasions, the legal department and lawyers to this council must have known and covered up for the officers, at least for those that were responsible….but couldn’t thank goodness prevent this day from coming.  The report says the council squandered around half a million — £500,000……and it was the Conservatives to blame according to the attack by Labour who pushed for the story to be known.  It says most of the money was spent on ‘cosmetic’ refurbishment of offices etc,  and it says the council hardly listened to anybody, especially the voters…..including ‘the shabby treatment of the public at open council meetings’……it is described as a scandalous waste, but they’ll get over it once its out of the news.

‘ Legal Battle against Council is won by vicar ‘

In a matter of principles battle, retired vicar Paul Nicolson 82, won a victory in the High Court over excessive costs.  The vicar discovered that millions of poor people often received unfair bills for costs run up by the local councils who automatically through their lawyers and legal department take action to collect unpaid council tax.  These actions are in bundles and presented to the Magistrates who rule on non-payment allegations (made by council officials…. who often make errors and deny it) and as a result they were failing to check the accuracy of costs bills tacked onto the application to have that person convicted….and flagrantly towards the law these people are not represented or know about it….but the council lawyer ignores this in his or her arrogance and proceeds anyway….on £45,000 to £70,000, why should they care!   When they get it wrong they don’t apologise and if claimed against, the lawyer issues threats that it should not be released to the Press or action will be taken (more threats) and then claims ‘Qualified Privilege’ if he or she is challenged about their conduct….which allows them to act on behalf of their corporate client in a ‘reasonable way’…..and ‘reasonable’ isn’t qualified or made plain in any of the British Courts……something the Law Society and Bar Council rely on to protect their members. Mr Nicolson claimed the HARINGEY COUNCIL were wrongly attaching large and disproportionate amounts on to legal costs bills as a ‘penalty’ imposed onto that person by the council and solicitors in order to show their strength and power over individuals and the poor who have very little say other than to vote at the local or National Election.    The Judge hearing the case said ‘ the magistrates had not had the relevant information before them when making the costs order against Mr Nicolson’  ……something the councils and magistrates have been doing for years without any challenges being made…….both these bodies have no principles!

‘ Illegal donations’ claim against Lib-Dems attracts Police Interest ‘

THE LIBDEMS besides alienating themselves from a public they angered over the student promise affair which they broke when joining the coalition are now embroiled in a Police Investigation over ‘Illegal donations’ says breaking reports.  It says that the way the Party is funded and rules governing this have been breached.  The Daily Telegraph have made allegations against the party and sent their findings to the Electoral Commission.  It seems that in a ‘sting operation’ Lib Dem’s ex chief fundraiser Ibrahim Taguri was filmed advising an undercover reporter on how to get round and circumvent the rules regarding donations, by making the donations through a cousin……..well, who would have believed it?

‘ Dorset Council Chief faces Court Trial ‘

A CONFLICT OF INTERESTS — ‘FAILING TO DISCLOSE FINANCIAL INTEREST’ that was the charge levied against Dorset County Councillor SPENCER FLOWERS who is now set to appear before Bournemouth Magistrates Court in December.  The Crown Prosecution Service have charged the Council Leader on three counts, in that he did fail to declare his interests in Zebra Property Solutions Ltd and Synergy Housing Ltd.  The charges relate to his position with both the East Dorset District Council and Dorset County Council.

‘ Private Landlords in the Benefit Trough ‘

The government and councils have been paying millions in benefit to landlords in ‘housing benefit payments’ and they’ve said very little about it until now, which in itself looks suspicious.  The Private Landlords waltz in and out of Jobcentres and councils quite frequently waiting to take on another family who need housing knowing fully well that this is another rich picking for their ‘run down or inadequate dwelling’ that is snapped up immediately because the council don’t have to do much.  Often furnished with cheap and often second-hand cupboards and moth eaten carpets, these people have their allowance deducted and transferred to the landlord’s account. A report says some of the rich and wealthiest landlords are being paid millions from the taxpayer, and its not the claimants fault in many cases, its often the work of a council housing officer having a deal with a landlord ‘who is on their books’ as being ready to take homeless or difficult families.  Private landlord renting accounts for 4.2million households….and £9.2 billion was paid to private landlords in 2013/2014.

‘ Civil Servants accused of wasting time and money ‘

It now appears in a report that the CIVIL SERVICE are spending many hours every week editing pages that are on the Wikipedia…… mostly trivial pages.  It says that there has been 600 Wikipedia edits, more than two a day that have been traced back to government departments and computers since January.  It suggests that certain edits go for controversial remarks including anti-establishment critics, erasing them or altering them….as claimed in ‘The Hillsborough Scandal’ when one 24yr old civil servant was dismissed.  It also says that questions should be raised over how civil servants are able to get away with wasting so much time on an irrelevant activity and to what end and why?

‘ Council accused of ‘Social Cleansing’ in tenant move deal ‘

Yes, a Conservative Council no less, who would have guessed it?  A report revealed that Wandsworth Council in South London are engaged in moving certain tenants to Birmingham if they accept £5,000 each.  A letter thought to be targeting Pensioners in the area sent by the council alerted Will Martindale a Battersea labour candidate to release this onto the Internet…..it offered cash to people with spare rooms to move out in return for moving into private sector properties ‘within or near Birmingham’  ……. a spokesperson said that this kind of deal has been in place for many years and that every other London Borough has a similar policy!

‘ Councils and the ‘Corporate Cards’ used on spending ‘

The question on council staff using corporate credit cards to spend on things for their own good as hit the news yet again, with accusations that it was spent on tattoos and other ‘unimportant’ items.  BRISTOL CITY COUNCIL was cited in this news item….and it said £680,000 of public money was spent by council workers on ‘eating out’ ‘hotels’ at home and abroad and even visiting the Amazon Marketplace along with iTunes downloads.  A council spokesman actually admitted that they’d spent £32,400 in Asda…….and they went onto say that the cards were used ‘appropriately’………yes indeed, that’s transparency?

‘ Payout from Council for killed cyclist who hit pothole ‘

NORTH YORKSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL sought to avoid a lengthy court case and paid out a six figure sum to the family of Martyn Uzzell, who was effectively killed by a pothole on the A65 near Giggleswick  in North Yorkshire while on his cycle during a charity ride.  The pothole caused him to be flung straight into an oncoming car.  An inquest heard that the council had failed to repair the hole despite a traffic cop bringing it to their attention after several reports.  Famously! in a protection move for the council, the CPS said the council should not face a corporate manslaughter case or any other charges?…….Kate the wife said  she was disappointed at this decision adding that this only served to show that no-one was being held to account at the council who appear immune from prosecution……the council or their lawyers declined to comment……..nothing new there!

‘ Inquiry report into Iraq delayed until after the election ‘

Ironic, but not altogether unexpected, and like the MP Child Sex Abuse Scandal, David Cameron does not want his chances being scuppered in May’s General Election.  Both reports are harmful and he knows it, but after the election it can be toned down and dropped into touch.  Governments throughout time have ‘fixed things’ and got away with corruption, History shows that and its not going to change in 2015.   The 2003 Invasion into Iraq was full of lies and backed with false information to benefit the Blair Government.  It came as no surprise that the report was going to be delayed by several months despite it having taken nearly 12 years….or four years since the 2011 encounter.  Its called ‘The Chilcot Enquiry’ led by Sir John Chilcot…..delays were conveniently blamed on disagreements between Whitehall Officials and The US State Department over declassification of confidential communications between Bush and Blair.

PS: The Tories have been voted back into Power by the stupid electorate (May 2015) forgetting what this lot stand for and the past indiscretions that will be sidelined and forgotten….the Conservatives have managed to make more people  ‘feel middle-class and richer’ at the expense of the poor…..who are not cared about by a large section of British Society….who have greed on their mind and to hell with anyone else.  Rhetoric will abound by those narrow-minded rich and bigots who want the welfare system to stop so that they can lord over others in their quest for power and possessions….after all, the poor and unemployed can have the low-paid jobs while the well off by bigger cars, holiday homes and reap the and rape the investment market by means fair or foul and stash their stuff in off-shore accounts….making sure they lobby an MP who will make sure the Law is written in their favour….a bit of ‘creaming off the top’ is good business sense if a lawmaker can sit on the benches of Parliament or House Of Lords….with their rich client in mind……Lawyers will soon cry ‘ he did no wrong’ and make out that constitutionally it provided an interpretation that can be argued in one of those huge expensive lengthy appeals and Judicial Reviews…..knowing the public have no real idea what it all means.

‘ The ‘Historic’ Child Abuse Scandal in Rotherham (leads to bigger problems)’

‘OH HOW WE PRACTICE TO DECEIVE WITH THE WEB OF LIES WE WEAVE’ — Staff at Rotherham Council it has been revealed, knew children were at risk over a long period of time, but chose to do nothing about it — they suppressed it instead with the help of council legal advice who told them that ‘this disturbing situation could well harm the council should it be dropped into the Media’s hands’.  It has now been revealed that over 6 years, 1400 youngsters were sexually abused.  The Police, Politicians and Council Department of Child Services knew about it.  Victims were brushed aside by the council and police when they came forward, and one victim said that she felt awful when he said ‘You must have deserved it’ and she was 14 at the time having been ‘used’ by a 24 year old man.  A former Executive with that council and now a Police and Crime Commissioner, Sean Wright, has been called upon to resign over it because he was their when it was happening a decade ago….he has refused claiming that others had fault in this!  Former Directors of the Child Services have been questioned but not named….so at the moment (Aug 2014) no one has been held accountable or charged with misconduct in public office….. and it will be interesting to see if this is swept under the government carpet?

Additionally, On this site we get used to all of the many denials by councils who claim they’re not involved in wrongdoing; be it in the past or now.  Their solicitors say to us ‘Prove it’…knowing full well they have the files and dossiers, and as one ex-lawyer said.. ‘If there’s something we don’t want seen in the firm’s files we shred it and tell an inquiry that the file has been removed…but nobody has signed it out.  They can’t pursue a charge against us because all they would have is conjecture and an assumption that cuts no ice in court’  And as this case shows, when the Media do get the goods those solicitors do not come forward and disappear in the dust storm.  Its quite obvious that they are now telling Rotherham Council Staff and Managers to say nothing.  Crimes are covered up by solicitors ‘quite legally’ because they are allowed to protect the interests of their client in any way they see fit…..and they’ve been doing this for a long time since The Crown granted them ‘Qualified privilege and Immunity’ from being prosecuted for representing a client who turns out to be a villain, or being sued for representing a client who deals in something criminal.  If it turns out their client is a ‘wrong un’ ‘ one has to prove the lawyer knew about this at the time….and all lawyers are trained to deny and professionally lie….its an essential part of advocacy and court jousting.

‘Computer files removed and recorded data wiped’ — happened in 2002 —  A ‘raid’ initiated by staff was carried out at the office of ‘Risky Business’ the council’s specialist youth service to remove a researcher’s draft report revealing evidence of a child sex scandal in Rotherham.  Professor Jay’s dossier looking into the matter and the unidentified researcher saying had this report been treated seriously at the time by both the police and council, children then and later would have been properly protected….. and the abusers brought to justice?  Interestingly a meeting was held at the time with the police district commander and senior council officials who told the researcher never to do such a thing again! who was suspended for an act of ‘misconduct’ and only reinstated at a later date…because someone spoke up and said she had done nothing wrong.  Despite this, she was  requested to rewrite or remove several sections and paragraphs of her report……both the police and the council are claiming there was no cover-up?

ANOTHER CHILD ABUSE CASE AT ROCHDALE…….. Nearly 250 children are at risk in the Greater Manchester area a report says.  111 of those sexually exploited children are deemed to be a ‘high risk’ it has been revealed, and Rochdale Council had the highest number of cases…….which is leading to the question, how many more councils are covering up or not admitting to serious faults in their childcare units?  And what about the unknown perpetrators and officials who have shredded or lost files?

NB: The only man who has reluctantly resigned over the affair is the Rotherham Police Commissioner Shaun Wright…..who held on until the bitter end refusing to go.  The Council Chief  Executive Martin Kimber stepped down from the Rotherham Council after it became clear he could no longer support his position to remain…. so it is just two out of many.

ROCHDALE OF COURSE had THE CYRIL SMITH CASE, and he was knighted during Thatcher’s reign in government.  This MP was high profile and virtually untouchable.  Yet, he was a child abuser and past allegations about his predatory nature into children was suspected by those who were around him.  It was said he preyed on young boys at the Cambridge House Hostel and the Knowl  View Residential School in Rochdale.  The Lancashire Police began investigating him and the then DPP ended the prosecution saying it would lead nowhere?

ORDERS TO LAY OFF MP — GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION? – A new factor emerged pointing to the fact that Government officials put the brake on inquiries into LORD JANNER and an Abuse Probe.  Mick Creedon who was a Detective Sergeant at the time (25 years ago) was investigating the abuse case at a Childrens’ Home in Leicester and boys being sexually abused.  The Manager Frank Beck was charged and convicted.  Mick Creedon now Derbyshire’s Chief Constable said that allegations were made against MP Greville Janner in 1989, and he was forbidden from arresting him or searching his home despite having reasonable cause…but the order to desist came down from senior officers, who got their orders from the top?  He says that those allegations would now today be considered very serious….Janner is now at the centre of a Leicester Police Inquiry called ‘Operation Enamel’  which has led to search warrants, rather late in the day…the Lord is 86, frail and suffering from dementia…..and somebody in the Justice Department will close the case.

ANOTHER  CHILD SEX ABUSE AREA REVEALED — As yet another council fears the worst in the publicity expose situation — STOKE-ON-TRENT are in the middle of a child sex exploitation scene as it revealed that there were 78 youngsters at risk in 2013 along with 27 children targeted in the city.  A council spokesperson replied in a statement that they’re doing everything they can to tackle the situation.

CHILD ABUSE AND COUNCIL RESPONSIBILITY RAGES ON — Try as they may, councils are failing to get this subject off the headlines in the newspapers.  ‘CARE WORKER ATTACKS REPORT’ — This comes from a whistleblower who helped expose this, Sarah Rowbotham says the investigation report led by Stockport MP Ann Coffey doesn’t offer solutions and doesn’t come out to support zero tolerance, and neither does it address the injustice of the Rochdale victims.  Coffey mentions that she only found 1,000 convictions in 13,000 cases of serious sex crimes against the under 16’s over six years in Manchester.  And we have ‘SEXUAL EXPLOITATION ‘NORMAL’ IN PARTS OF GREATER MANCHESTER’ a report by Theresa May (Home Secretary) that says on the Manchester streets, sexual exploitation of the young was alarming, mainly because of the attitude to it, being more or less ‘normal’ anyway.  She said there had been ‘unacceptable failings in children’s welfare’   Another report says there are ‘TWO MILLION CHILDREN REFERRED TO SOCIAL SERVICES’ and that the councils were well aware of the situation.  It appears that local councils were inundated by concerns about children, with an eleven percent increase in new referrals.  Poverty was an issue, and poverty caused by the welfare reforms that led to children being abused and neglected.  But the councils and Government shy away from any question of their responsibility often claiming that things are getting a lot better?  Then we have the Abuse Inquiry, still not operational because two people have had to stand down due to their status of ‘a conflict of interests’ not entirely sorted out.  Baroness Butler-Sloss  eventually went because of her connections with people at the time of the abuse, now its Ms Woolf (Lord Mayor of London) who has links to Leon Brittan, now a Lord, who himself had a rough time over a letter and lies that seriously wounded him at the time….and he was a Lawyer!….the people don’t want anyone who was part of that legal framework that let down those abused and actively binned reports.

‘MISSING DOSSIER’ found is claimed to be a aid to Child Sex Abuse Inquiry……The Secret File is said to contain the names of a number of paedophiles linked to the British Government at the time…and rumoured to be kept in locked archives at the University of Oxford’s Bodleian Library.

UPDATE:   ‘CHILD ABUSE INQUIRE SET UP TO FAIL’ says MP Simon Danczuk, in the latest twist on a case that could reveal all or be closed because of who it might point to.  NSPCC Exec’ Peter Wanless has been chosen by Theresa May to investigate….But Danczuk believes he has been chosen to fail.  The document handed to Leon Brittan is ‘lost’…..and Brittan was Home Secretary at that time also involved in the ‘letter and lie’ scandal.  The Paedophiles in ‘High Places’ will be protected and anyone thinking they won’t is kidding themselves.  No modern government will allow a scandal like this, unearthed at the wrong time’ to interfere with their plans, Cameron will say one thing and do another.

SIR ANTHONY DUFF and the dropped 1980’s inquiry into Leon Brittan and others:  there was a discovery of secret files, files that were said not to exist in Government circles in order to throw journalists off the scent…..Sir Anthony said of them ‘At the present stage , the risks of political embarrassment to the government is rather greater than the security danger.’  and he was the then Head of MI5.  These new found papers were said to be ‘a striking example of how crimes against children were treated much less seriously than they would be now, the risks to children were not considered at all’ said Peter Wanless the Head of the NSPCC and Richard Whittam QC.  The documents also referred to the former Home Secretary Leon Brittan, former diplomat Peter Morrison, Parliamentary Secretary Sir Peter Hayman and former minister Sir William van Straubenzee (all four men are now deceased).  Even though there were rumours and suspicion that certain evidence had been destroyed by those close to the Cabinet about Whitehall connections to a ring of paedophiles, the government were quick to throw any and all suggestions of impropriety and abuse of privilege aside and the inquiry came to a dead stop!

UPDATE to the above:  Under pressure it was found that government officials had discovered further files of ‘British Political life’ covering a fifty year period, and in this batch of ‘uncatalogued and unregistered’ 4,000 batches it did contain archive that civil servants did not wish to be divulged, because they were ‘too hot to handle’   even the ‘Cabinet Secretaries File’ contained letters, papers and memos on issues and controversies that were considered to be too sensitive to be catalogued or made public.

THE GOVERNMENT VIP PAEDOPHILE SCANDAL — Takes new turns as it enters an inquiry that suggests that three boys were murdered in order to keep the ring secret.  The Ring said to have members of famous politicians, judges, lawyers and military men, and cops in the mid 70’s and 80’s is getting more mysterious as it becomes more suspicious in that no-one has been identified despite a current police investigation.  The nephew of Savile, Guy Marsden says he was one of three boys being used by the ring, who claimed that no one could touch them.  He said that at 13 to 16 he and a group of boy were taken from Leeds to London where they would meet a man who would then take them to Dolphin Square, and a flat where sexual things would take place.  He said he attended around thirty parties in different locations around the Metropolis. ‘We saw people who were on TV, politicians and foreign dignitaries.  A boy then 7 said he was regularly abused by these men in Pimlico, and this went on until he was 16, Nick has come forward to aid the investigation the report says.  He tells of being taken to many parties at Dolphin Square, Pimlico, and says he witnessed a politician guest strangle a boy at a London town house in 1980 who refused to do as he was told and one boy of 11 was run down in the street by one of the ring.  He recalls being ordered as an older boy to thrash a younger boy, but refused and was then ‘sexually punished’ for his disobedience. But as yet, nothing is bringing the inquiry nearer to catching anyone?

THE BOY WHO DISAPPEARED? Embroiled in this Child Abuse Affair and parties involving boys for sex and punishment…..is Martin Allen 15, who mysteriously disappeared in 1979 without trace. 

30 YEARS OF CHILD SEX ABUSE AND PAEDOPHILIA AT DOLPHIN SQUARE — All in the policing area of Scotland Yard, who are a stones throw from Pimlico…..yet they claim they knew nothing, and Parliament with those Tory MP’s only half a mile away from Dolphin Square……..knew nothing?  Such a claim seems absurd.  The Paedophile Ring was operating around London, in Fulham and Palmers Green, Hampstead, besides Balham and Kensington.  Squads were picking up boys in Leicester Square knowing that something was going on….but the ring was remaining a secret……. there is much to uncover and more than will be allowed.

MAN NAMES 22 in Child Sex Scandal — John Mann the MP for Bassetlaw has according to reports named 22 politicians who he accuses as sex abusers of children in The Westminster Paedophile Probe.  The report says that he has asked police to investigate to investigate two suspicious deaths….one being a civil servant, Bulic Forsythe who was beaten to death at his flat in Lambeth in 1993….he reported told a colleague he knew about a Paedophile Ring closely associated to government figures….police said the documents had gone missing from his home…and the case remains unsolved!  Mann is also supposedly informed the police of information on three serving MP’s and three people in the House of Lords?  He also brought up the question of a caretaker murdered in an arson attack who obtained several videos taken at the parties…but these have vanished too….which again adds to the confusing mystery and one real outcome looming?   Mann went onto divulge that in looking at the situation he discovered that boys from a Lambeth Care Home were being recruited as ‘rent boys’ many of whom frequented Dolphin Square.  He said he called in the police and spoke to two officers from Streatham Police Station who promised to look into the matter…only to get a visit from them three months later saying they had been forced to close their investigation….orders had been given from ‘above’    It will all be swept away in 2015 in order to allow the forming of the next government……and no Whitehall Child Abuse ever existing.

THE WESTMINSTER MP CHILD ABUSE CASE ROLLS ON — David Cameron desperately hopes this mushrooming of the ‘historic child abuse’ situation will not touch present MP’s….but can’t be sure, especially the older ones who were there in the 70’s and 80’s.  Yet we are now told that the UK government failed in another child sex abuse case on ST HELENA a British Territory in 2002, and that some men caught were merely fined £50 and that was that.  It says the UK took 12 years to begin an investigation…. and this involved around 20 children who were sexually abused by men on the South Atlantic Island. 

TORONTO POLICE said they were surprised at the ‘Inaction of the British Police’ when they passed on vital information regarding child sex suspects….the report says cops here in the UK refused to answer calls or return messages…..yet they’d been given a dossier containing 2,000 names.  Raids by the Toronto police in a World Wide crackdown in 2011 revealed a huge database on the Web and the UK visitors were the majority of clients.

MP ADMITS THAT THE STATE CANNOT COPE WITH CHILD ABUSE INQUIRY — Finally we have confirmation of just how unlikely it is that anyone in past government will be brought to book.  Labour Backbencher John Mann MP says the state isn’t geared up to embark on lifting the lid on child abuse cases now, or in the past, everyone in government are just beginning to realise the scale of the problem……his comments emerged as he appeared on Radio 4’s ‘Today’ Programme.  He said the Government’s Child Sex Abuse Inquiry remains leaderless because of a ‘conflict of interests’…..and the Panel break-up is down to a question of credentials of some of those sitting on the Abuse Inquiry Team.  Its now months along and it is going nowhere…….as we indicated!

CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE OXFORDSHIRE — Whistleblower says he was silenced by council and managers when he raised the alarm…..and says senior staff in the council must have known what was going on.  The Senior Child Protection Officer in the police said he marched into the offices of the county council and demanded to see the director of social services….who was  Andy Couldrick to tell him how serious the situation was.  Dermot Norridge the whistleblower said he suspected that financial pressures were behind failures to give the child abuse their priority concern.  And as things progressed things turned against Norridge and he was accused of being unprofessional and ordered to stop sending e-mails to other managers in the council……eventually in 2013, seven men were convicted and jailed……. he still believes that certain staff acted indifferently and showed an amazing unconcern to his reports.

COP SAYS HE WAS ORDERED TO LAY OFF MP — in another twist, a former Chief Constable, Sir David McNee at the time he was boss of Scotland Yard speaks out on the time MP Cyril Smith was arrested at a Paedophile Party during a raid on a flat in Lambeth where boys of 14yrs were present in 1981.  Apparently, Smith was taken to a Westminster Station, but instead of being remanded and bailed, he was released without charge.  It goes onto say that all notebooks containing references to Smith’s arrest were taken along with video evidence, and officers were warned they could be charged under ‘The Official Secrets Act’ if they spoke of the incident, and the matter was dropped.  The DPP ordered a ‘lockdown’ on the case and asked police to lie if asked any questions.

THE JENNER ‘TIME-BOMB’ — ‘The downfall of a government’ — Maybe not the present government of Cameron and Clegg, who skilfully kicked this scandal around so that it would not interfere with the elections of May 2015.   It is quite obvious that powerful players inside the government have been at work covertly disposing of the documents and files that incriminate Jenner, and their own departments.  The CPS says Jenner cannot appear in court due to health, and that the Jenner family can claim he is innocent….which is technically right and morally wrong…..because the family know that.  Lord Jenner has been the focus of some child abuse inquiries and has walked away due to his position in government.  Amazingly, the DPP Alison Saunders admits that Lord Jenner should be charged with 22 counts of indecently abusing children carried out between 1969 and 1988, and that he should have been prosecuted in 2007….which he wasn’t and puts this down to ‘mistakes’ by the CPS which she will not go into or explain…..we also learn that in 1991 MP’s sought to disrupt and put down any talk of charges saying they were a wicked slur…..those MP’s are conspicuous by their absence?    The signs were there all the time and its highly likely that Special Branch knew and covered up the investigation, stopping it and removing files from the relevant Detectives who were looking into the case of paedophile groups operating around the Capital and discovered that prominent members were attending these activities.  Unlike ‘The Profumo Affair’ which did take down a government, politicians are more alert to publicity and prying investigators now and have the machinery in place to intervene before destruction…….The Jenner Affair is explosive, and what is happening right now only goes to show that there is corruption in the Westminster Society and that they can get away with it…..this Lord can and will walk away ‘innocent’ because he has used a system that works for the powerful!

SPECIAL NOTICE — What you see here, is but a fifth of what there actually is. We have contributors/agents in Bristol, Glasgow, Hampshire and Bedfordshire, which leaves many areas, towns and villages out of our radar and reach — so we do not see all press reports or incidents they publish — even though we do try to access information from all other areas.

We shall come back soon with many more cases of unaccountable civil servants.

Original source before site was taken down http://bentlawyersandcops.com/unaccountable_civil_servants.htm