1/ For the past few months, Hongkongers have faced unprecedented threats to their freedom, basic human rights and way of life.
2/ Arrest warrants have been issued by the Hong Kong authorities to members of Stand with Hong Kong for speaking against Chinese transgressions on Hong Kong's freedoms....
3/ ....protesters are being detained without legal representation & the freedom the media should have to report these injustices is ever shrinking. But we will never stop fighting for our freedom. Now is the time for countries to act, before it's too late.
4/ National Security Law legitimises state aggression and abuse
The National Security Laws have emboldened the already brutal state aggression and widespread abuse perpetrated across Hong Kong. theguardian.com/world/2020/sep…
5/ 12 Hongkongers, including activist Andy Li, have been arrested & held without access to legal counsel of their choice. Their families, friends & loved ones have no idea if the detainees will ever receive fair trial in Hong Kong nor if they are tortured.
6/ Nobody should be subjected to this treatment.
Baroness Bennet, vice-chair of All-Party Parl. Group on Hong Kong:
“We wish to express our concern for all arrested under the National Security Law, & others arrested for peaceful protest & expression of their views in Hong Kong”
7/ If China imagines this could quell our burning desire for true freedom and autonomy, it needs to think again....
8/ These dictatorial actions only strengthen our case in defence of democracy and amplify our rallying call for the world to stand with Hong Kong and particularly, with the 12 young Hongkongers who remain detained without legal representation.
2/ This important concession from Government, which can be read here, followed judicial review proceedings launched by Good Law Project in March alongside noted environmentalists Dale Vince and George Monbiot.
1/ A lobbying firm run by allies of Dominic Cummings was handed a contract worth £900,000 to conduct public opinion polling on the coronavirus pandemic.
2/ The contract was awarded to Hanbury Strategy without any advertisement or competitive tender process...
3/ ...And it was awarded to Hanbury despite the fact that - as our sworn evidence discloses - Hanbury was ill-suited to do the bulk of the work and would have had to subcontract it to others...
DWP have begun trialling video assessments for personal independence payment, DWP minister Therese Coffey, told Work & Pensions Committee on Weds 30 Sept parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/5c…
2/ Coffey was able to provide very few details, except that
“We did try to get some extra capital on video assessments. We weren’t successful in getting additional money, so we have reprioritised some of our capital budget to get that underway.”
3/ John Paul Marks, a senior civil servant at the DWP was able to provide the committee with a little more information....
1/ PIP assessments now being audio recorded* (see update)
4 October 2020
* In the last newsletter we told you that IAS (Atos) began audio recording all PIP telephone assessments from 21 September.
2/ ...*This was based on evidence that Therese Coffey, secretary of state for work & pensions, gave the Work & Pensions Committee on 30 September
However, the DWP have now informed us that claimants must ask to have their assessment recorded, it will not be done automatically...
3/ *... You are likely to need to arrange this in advance. The earlier you request a recording the better, as a new appointment may need to be arranged...
1/Benefits & Work has begun working through hundreds of pages of guidance &training relating to PIP & WCA telephone assessments that have been published on the What Do they Know website
2/ The guidance includes previously unseen information that could make the difference between winning and losing an appeal about failing to be present for a telephone assessment...
3/ Benefits and Work has heard from numerous people with experiences like this:
“Capita did not call. My appointment was at 11.45, I waited & no call was received. I phoned them at 1215hrs & was told that I had failed to attend for my assessment & that they had called 3 times”
1/ By keeping an eye out for developments in Hong Kong, you’re already part of an international community that monitors & ensures Hongkongers aren’t forgotten or left behind
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