Black Isle Media

Well it’s been a busy week so far already, I like many others found out my Universal Credit tribunal is going to be months away. Meanwhile Hugh Grant again used an article of mine to let the government know what he thinks of them.

So after a busy weekend of trolling following an article I wrote for The Orkney News on a local issue, my week has gotten even busier.

I contacted the HM Courts and Tribunal Service – HMCTS on Monday to ask if they had any idea of when my Universal Credit appeal hearing might take place. I was met with a response that thousands of others must have heard before;

“Due to the high number of cases we receive, we are unable to give a firm date at the moment until your case moves up the list, we will contact you as soon as we know.”

The official waiting period for a tribunal case to be heard is 20 weeks although in reality you’d be lucky to hear anything from them for 30- 40 weeks. In some areas it has been up to a year.

When the government is aware that so many people are appealing against their Work Capability Assessment (WCA) decision, to not speed up the process almost seems intentional. Grind enough people down waiting in the hope the don’t attend?

You can of course write to a judge at the HMCTS and ask for an expedited appeal but, you have to provide evidence showing why you should jump the queue. It’s vary rare except in cases of terminal illness that this is granted.

Hugh Grant lets the government know what we are all thinking

The most fuck awful government in the history of fuck awful governments. https://t.co/om9ZrKnc8N

— Hugh Grant (@HackedOffHugh) July 2, 2018

Actor Hugh Grant fresh from his honeymoon, has again quoted an article of mine to let the government know what many people are already thinking.

Hugh Grant’s support for my blog has been amazing as, when he posted all the way back in May he could have moved on. He didn’t and repeatedly he has help me share my story and I am incredibly grateful for that.

The Canary reporter Nye Jones described Grant’s quote perfectly by saying;

 “Hugh Grant seems to have channelled his inner Danny Dyer, delivering a brutal attack on the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and the government as a whole”

This could not be closer to the truth. At the time of writing, more than 20,000 people have visited my article alone, as well as thousands of people commenting on Esther McVey’s conduct across various social media media platforms.

Many have drawn comparisons of the Tory government with US President Donald Trump, calling it a close match on who’s worse. The most important point in my opinion is, that it shows just how disconnected some of the world’s leaders are from the people they govern.

Whilst many say change is coming, that may be the case, but how many more people have to suffer and in some cases die, because of this government’s hostile and discriminatory policies?

Only time will tell, but until then I will keep exposing the Department for Work and Pensions – DWP and the Tory Government’s hostile policies.

Alex @RespectIsVital