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Monday, 18 November 2013

IDS to face tough questions in Parliament TODAY!

Did you ever read the "Where's Wally" picture books as a child?

You know, the ones where you had to search for a tiny, tiny wee cartoon man in enormous crowds?

Well lately, we have been searching for Iain Duncan-Smith high and low, but he's been nowhere to be seen.

- He lost a court case on "workfare" : Nothing.
- The DWP announce major delays to their flagship disability welfare reform (PIP) : Nothing.
- It's revealed that many more millions have been wasted on Universal Credit IT that doesn't work : Nothing. - A debate in parliament directly involving his department : Still nothing.

Much musing has taken place amongst geeky people like me and the hashtag #WheresIDS has been bobbling about on twitter for months now. Jayne Linney has done tremendous work to find out why, for instance, (via the Freedom of Information system) he STILL hasn't appeared before the Work and Pensions committee. http://jaynelinney.wordpress.com/2013/10/31/the-conspicuous-absence-of-ids/

Thanks to the eagle-eyed @imthenicenurse it would appear that he's s now prepared to appear before parliament today at 2.30pm. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmagenda/ob131118.htm

The questions MPs have tabled to ask are excellent and I can't wait for IDS to answer them!

Something is afoot. Possibly several somethings. I can feel it in my twitchy instincts. Have Conservative central office finally realised that IDS is a liability, not an asset? Did they want to reshuffle him, but he refused to go? Are they keeping him out of public view because his image has become so toxic?

Who knows, but either way, he's very quiet, even for a "quiet man".

You can watch the session in parliament this afternoon by clicking HERE

Buy popcorn.

Well done to Jayne and all the others who've kept up the pressure. Anyone who wants to tweet could use #IDSontheSpot

If you'll be live tweeting it, do send me a quick tweet or email to let me know, so that I can direct people who are interested to your timelines. Also, please spread the word amongst your networks so that as many people as possible can watch/listen to/record the session.

And PLEASE sign the WOW petition if you haven't already. We have until just the 12th of December (24 days, gulp!!) to get the remaining 16,616 signatures needed to trigger a debate in parliament. If you do think you've already signed it but can't be sure, could I ask you to try again, just in case somehow the signature wasn't verified or some other bureaucratic glitch failed to record your opinion?  You can sign by clicking HERE

Also, if you will be tweeting or reporting the session on Facebook or other social media, don't forget to use #DWPChaos or #IncompetentIDS here and there too.

Update : @susanas4321 will be live tweeting the debate. I'll update here as others let me know 






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18 comments:

  1. Anonymous18 November 2013 at 11:46

    And the knock-out question is: "When will the Secretary of State do the honourable thing and drink a gallon of concentrated sulphuric acid?"

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anthony Turtle18 November 2013 at 12:13

    Hey Drinking Game possibility!!!!

    Every time he lies to the Select Committee take a swig of your favourite alcohol, if you're not drunk by the time he's finished, you missed something.

    Unfortunately, I cannot take part as I am allergic to alcohol (well, on the first lie I'd be unconscious!)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Audio Coffee Productions18 November 2013 at 12:21

    Q. can we play a drinking game? every time he points a finger, take one drink, everytime he says 'I am proud of my policies' take two drinks.
    Drink your home dry if he a) has to be carried out by security, b) admits he was wrong and very wrong, recompensing people will start tomorrow morning or c) starts a fight..
    Can we also have an 'Order' count from the speaker?
    I guess I'm just angling for a fresher way of enjoying the afternoons viewing because if the right people are in there asking the right questions, it's going to make great viewing when he's shot down in flames!


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  4. HomerJS18 November 2013 at 17:45

    Key question was on deaths, but was fobbed off with a pathetically weak response of scaremongering. Should have been followed up with saying how the government are responsible for these deaths.

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  5. Nick18 November 2013 at 18:20

    i missed that bit

    IDS and co are responsible for ANY negligent or criminal negligent welfare death under UK law and is for a JUDGE alone to say if it's scaremongering.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Nick18 November 2013 at 18:54

    hi homer
    i have had a quick look at that 2'30 debate and cant find any mention of the key question on those that have died through welfare reform ?
    can anyone let me have at what point that topic was discussed

    thanks

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. HomerJS18 November 2013 at 19:11

      Hi Nick. The question on deaths came towards the end I think and from the Labour side of course. It was brushed off quite quickly by Mike Penning saying about scaremongering.

      Delete
    2. HomerJS18 November 2013 at 19:57

      Just checked and it is a question from Julie Hilling at the 55 minute mark.

      Delete
    3. Nick18 November 2013 at 22:53

      thank you my friend

      Mike Penning WAS WRONG to say it was scaremongering.the death rate is quite high for negligent deaths

      all deaths are recorded for the record by the UN FYI and when i find the i send them off to my contact at the UN and that;s the best i can do it's not much but it's vital for any criminal charges that may be brought against the government in the future

      Delete
  7. Martin18 November 2013 at 19:52

    I thought i saw IDS earlier this morning as i passed the town pond, but it was just a slimy toad. | think he was on the prowl at Halloween, trying to scare people as they passed the church graveyard :-<>

    ReplyDelete
  8. Unknown18 November 2013 at 20:38

    I have never listened to IDS till today. HOW does a man like that get to stay in office. I am not talking about exaggeration and story telling. I am on about the Seven Principles of Public Life, also known as the "Nolan principles". He does not have any of them. Not one and he is supposed to have and demonstrate all of them.

    Selflessness –
    Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest. They should not do so in order to gain financial or other benefits for themselves, their family or their friends.
    Integrity –
    Holders of public office should not place themselves under any financial or other obligation to outside individuals or organisations that might seek to influence them in the performance of their official duties.
    Objectivity –
    In carrying out public business, including making public appointments, awarding contracts, or recommending individuals for rewards and benefits, holders of public office should make choices on merit.
    Accountability –
    Holders of public office are accountable for their decisions and actions to the public and must submit themselves to whatever scrutiny is appropriate to their office.
    Openness –
    Holders of public office should be as open as possible about all the decisions and actions they take. They should give reasons for their decisions and restrict information only when the wider public interest clearly demands.
    Honesty –
    Holders of public office have a duty to declare any private interests relating to their public duties and to take steps to resolve any conflicts arising in a way that protects the public interest.
    Leadership –
    Holders of public office should promote and support these principles by leadership and example.

    ReplyDelete
  9. T-Childs18 November 2013 at 22:30

    IDS represents the patrician class, the people who have or make all the wealth, live wonderful affluent lives far from any mess their policies or political machinations or actions cause, and yet somehow always come up smelling of roses.

    The people who have any kind of power are the last people who should have it but often in this world we see that greed, naked self interest, selfishness, arrogance and contempt for people takes someone far further in business, political careers, and many other spheres of life than genuine concern, compassion and the desire to serve others and share the blessings they have themselves.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Debbie Sayers18 November 2013 at 23:31

    Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  11. Mike19 November 2013 at 10:32

    Thanks for letting us know about the question session. Unfortunately, I was so nauseated after about 20 minutes I turned it off. My impression was that the DWP team was well prepared with "answers" to deflect rather than answer criticism. Who exactly do they think they are fooling? But the format of questions rather than debate gives them the opportunity to say what they like without reply. Maybe they are fooling themselves?

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  12. JayneL19 November 2013 at 12:21

    Thanks for the comments sue - Debbie Sayers & I have slogged to get the 105,069 names to Parliament but..OUT TODAY - Iain Duncan Smith questioned on Universal Credit and DWP statistics http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/work-and-pensions-committee/news/dwp-ara-w-sofs/

    ReplyDelete
  13. Isha20 November 2013 at 22:08

    I use Linux not Windows, so was unable to view the live stream and I've looked at @susanas4321 and can't see any tweeting about the debate for 18th November. Does anyone know where I can read what was said or view it? I've already tried YouTube (nothing there).

    ReplyDelete
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