In yet another ruling against the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) the Information Commissioner John Edwards has ruled that Disability News Service (DNS) was not being “vexatious” when it tried to find out whether the DWP had tried to encourage a national newspaper to stir up hostility towards disabled people.
In a decision notice, the Commissioner has found that DNS was entitled to ask the department what communications it had with the Torygraph [sic] in the months before the newspaper ran a “toxic” and “divisive” article which included using their calculator to “reveal how much of your salary bankrolls the welfare state” whilst also claiming that millions were claiming benefits “without ever having to look for work”.
DNS had explained in lodging its complaint to the Information Commissioner that there were concerns that DWP was “engaged in a campaign to stir up hostility towards disabled claimants of benefits” to act as cover for its planned cuts and reforms which had recently been announced, which “could have fatal consequences”.
DNS had asked DWP last July for details of all meetings, correspondence and calls between DWP ministers and special advisers and staff of the Torygraph in the previous three months. But DWP refused to comply with the request because it claimed it was “vexatious”.
This led to DPO Disability Rights UK describing its coverage as an “incitement of hatred” towards disabled people and claiming the aim was “to vilify people who are too sick to work by angering those who are paying taxes that go towards Disability benefits”.
More than 300 mental health professionals signed a letter raising concerns about the “benefit calculator” story, calling it “a divisive narrative last seen at the height of austerity politics, which is likely to lead to an increase in hate crimes and have a profound impact on psychological well-being and societal cohesion”.
The Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) received a “large volume” of complaints about the Telegraph’s “Exactly how much of your salary bankrolls the welfare state” article, but rejected claims that it discriminated against disabled people, because the article “did not relate to any specific individuals”.
Oh, that’s alright then?!
You can read the full story in Disability News Service.
Description of cartoon for those using screen reading software
Two men in suits and with ID badges identifying them as members of the Press are standing alongside Iain Duncan Smith, the Tory Pier. IDS is handing them pieces of paper with ‘work shy disabled claim millions’ and ‘exclusive – disabled taking your money!’ On the ground is a front page of the Torygraph newspaper which reads ‘Useless eaters are ruining the economy ACT NOW. One of the Press is saying to IDS: “I don’t know what we’d do if we didn’t have your made-up stories about disabled claimants!” IDS replies: “People will believe anything if you repeat it often enough!”
Crippen Cartoons 