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Ken Loach backs benefit deaths inquiry campaign | Ken Loach backs benefit deaths inquiry campaign |
(about 20 hours later) | |
The man behind hard-hitting cinema hit I, Daniel Blake has backed a Teesside mother's campaign for an independent inquiry into the deaths of disability benefit claimants. | The man behind hard-hitting cinema hit I, Daniel Blake has backed a Teesside mother's campaign for an independent inquiry into the deaths of disability benefit claimants. |
Jodey Whiting from Stockton took her own life in 2017 after her benefit payments were stopped. | Jodey Whiting from Stockton took her own life in 2017 after her benefit payments were stopped. |
Her mother, Joy Dove, set up a "Justice for Jodey" petition which came to the attention of film-maker Ken Loach. | |
He got in touch to offer support and described her campaign as "humbling". | He got in touch to offer support and described her campaign as "humbling". |
Ms Whiting was suffering from pneumonia when she missed a capability assessment but was then ruled fit to work and had her Employment and Support Allowance halted. | Ms Whiting was suffering from pneumonia when she missed a capability assessment but was then ruled fit to work and had her Employment and Support Allowance halted. |
Following her death, an independent inquiry found the Department for Work (DWP) had breached its own rules and ordered it to apologise and pay £10,000 compensation. | Following her death, an independent inquiry found the Department for Work (DWP) had breached its own rules and ordered it to apologise and pay £10,000 compensation. |
Ms Dove set up a petition calling for an independent inquiry into deaths of benefit claimants which has so far attracted more than 27,500 signatures. | Ms Dove set up a petition calling for an independent inquiry into deaths of benefit claimants which has so far attracted more than 27,500 signatures. |
Ms Dove told BBC Tees she spoke on the telephone to Mr Loach her for over an hour. | |
"We got talking, he's a lovely person, I felt I'd known him for years", she said. | "We got talking, he's a lovely person, I felt I'd known him for years", she said. |
She then received a letter from his assistant on his behalf which read: "It has clearly been a hideous situation for you and the whole family, and your courage in pursuing justice for your daughter is humbling. | She then received a letter from his assistant on his behalf which read: "It has clearly been a hideous situation for you and the whole family, and your courage in pursuing justice for your daughter is humbling. |
"We are forwarding a message of support on our twitter account and also signed the petition - I hope this generates some interest in your fight." | "We are forwarding a message of support on our twitter account and also signed the petition - I hope this generates some interest in your fight." |
In relation to the petition, the DWP said in a statement: "We apologised to Ms Whiting's family for the failings in how we handled her case and the distress this caused them. | In relation to the petition, the DWP said in a statement: "We apologised to Ms Whiting's family for the failings in how we handled her case and the distress this caused them. |
"Our thoughts are with them at this difficult time and we provided compensation." | "Our thoughts are with them at this difficult time and we provided compensation." |
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