Why I will not be voting on Nov 15th
On November 15th, we will be asked to vote for the first elected Police and Crime Commissioners. This new post was created with the stated aim of "giving the public a say in cutting crime", and the...
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More voting trouble - university photo competition
My university is running a photo competition and I spent a considerable amount of time choosing which photos to submit.It turns out I probably shouldn't have bothered, as the competition is badly...
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Absurd
This is not a parody image. It is actually taken from the Home Office PCC election website.Apparently, in this universe, if you don't vote there will be no more police.If this were not such a...
View ArticlePCC Elections - Bill Etheridge's manifesto
Bill Etheridge, the UKIP candidate for Police and Crime Commissioner, pledges (in addition to the standard things most candidates are saying):- I will demand tougher and more sensible sentencing from...
View ArticleIs the benefit cap really pushing thousands back into work?
Short answer: no. But a Daily Mail article nevertheless claims this is the case.IDS claims that the upcoming benefit cap of £500 pw is causing 'thousands' of families to look for work. So that's...
View ArticleProposed changes to child benefit - a reasonable idea turned nightmarish
Iain Duncan Smith has proposed limiting benefits payable for children in any family to a maximum of two children. If the parent or parents then went on to have more children, they would not receive...
View ArticleWatchdog clueless on statutory consumer rights
This week's Watchdog had a worrying story about Amazon Kindles breaking down after a short period of time.What they totally failed to spot, as seems to happen quite often, is that Amazon's claimed...
View ArticleBAS Parking Services breaching the clamping ban
Private clamping and towing of vehicles was definitively outlawed in England and Wales on 1st October 2012. Before that, it was legal in certain circumstances, but private companies overstepped the...
View ArticleThe main problem with universal credit
Universal credit is the government's planned replacement for several current benefits. It is due to replace them for new claimants in April 2013.Income support, income-based JSA, income-related ESA,...
View ArticleRotherham council and UKIP
The BBC is reporting that a couple in Rotherham have had their foster children taken away, because they are members of the UK Independence Party.If this is true this is extremely worrying, and legally...
View ArticleWhy the CAB was wrong to fight against protection for volunteers
X v Mid Sussex Citizens Advice Bureau was decided by the Supreme Court yesterday (12th December).This is a very sad case, where a talented volunteer with exceptional experience believed that she had...
View ArticleThe CAB's comments on its discrimination case are misguided
Following on from the last entry, the CAB has issued comments through its lawyer on its victory in X v Mid Sussex.Its earlier comments in 2011 were along the lines of it being a 'burden' not to have to...
View ArticleHow to make a Panasonic S29 region free using a Raspberry Pi
After my previous DVD player stopped working, I have been extremely frustrated by the region locks on the replacements I've owned. Region locks serve no legitimate purpose whatsoever today, and simply...
View ArticleExamining two of Lord Freud's assurances on ESA in 2011
1. In a Lords debate in May 2011, Lord Freud said this:The regulations do not specify the type of activity that we expect this group to engage in. Indeed, the definition of work-related activity is...
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Examining the government's claims for universal credit
I present what I will presently call 'Case 0':-This is the government's poster child for universal credit. On the face of it, it apparently shows that universal credit will meet the government's stated...
View ArticleESA and 'fit for work'
It is very common to see a statement that some whose ESA has stopped has been found 'fit for work'. This is not really correct and is worth examining in some detail.I think the problem is that the...
View ArticleWhy ATOS assessments get it so badly wrong - Part 1
I've been back working on ESA appeals, representing appellants, for a few months again now.In my previous post I looked at how ministers are very confused about what role ESA is supposed to have, and...
View ArticleWhy ATOS are getting it wrong - Part 2
P { margin-bottom: 0.21cm; }A:link { }2. LIMA, and abuse of the concept of the typical day When ATOS carry out an assessment, the assessor uses a computer system called LIMA. The manual is available...
View ArticleJSA sanctions and housing benefit
It seems to be a common misconception that if someone's JSA is sanctioned, then they also lose housing benefit. This was shown happening to someone on Eastenders, and the notorious @DietQueen bragged...
View ArticleWhy ATOS are getting it wrong - Part 3
P { margin-bottom: 0.21cm; }A:link { }3. Misinterpretation of descriptorsThis is something Greg Wood has talked about a lot, so I won't repeat it all in so much detail. I highly recommend his posts on...
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