This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/aug/27/burying-bad-news-allegation-made-over-list-of-new-peers
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Government's peers list publication date prompts allegation of burying bad news | |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| The government has been accused of trying to bury bad news after it emerged it would publish the long-awaited dissolution honours list on the same day that fresh immigration figures and data on deaths relating to benefit sanctions are due to be released. | The government has been accused of trying to bury bad news after it emerged it would publish the long-awaited dissolution honours list on the same day that fresh immigration figures and data on deaths relating to benefit sanctions are due to be released. |
| After weeks of delay, it is understood that the dissolution honours list – which is expected to appoint about 50 new members of the House of Lords – will be made public on Thursday afternoon. | After weeks of delay, it is understood that the dissolution honours list – which is expected to appoint about 50 new members of the House of Lords – will be made public on Thursday afternoon. |
| The list, which is published in the months following a general election, is expected to include a handful of new Liberal Democrat peers and a large number of Conservative peers, adding to the 786 people already sitting in the Lords. | The list, which is published in the months following a general election, is expected to include a handful of new Liberal Democrat peers and a large number of Conservative peers, adding to the 786 people already sitting in the Lords. |
| The list is likely to provoke criticism of the Conservative government for attempting to swell their ranks in the Lords to make it easier to pass legislation and for awarding peerages to people who have donated to the party. | The list is likely to provoke criticism of the Conservative government for attempting to swell their ranks in the Lords to make it easier to pass legislation and for awarding peerages to people who have donated to the party. |
| Jonathan Ashworth, the shadow Cabinet Officer minister, said it looked like the government was trying to bury bad news by releasing the list and the two sets of highly anticipated government statistics on the same day during the parliamentary summer recess. The publication also coincides with two Labour leadership hustings. | Jonathan Ashworth, the shadow Cabinet Officer minister, said it looked like the government was trying to bury bad news by releasing the list and the two sets of highly anticipated government statistics on the same day during the parliamentary summer recess. The publication also coincides with two Labour leadership hustings. |
| “Just months in [and] David Cameron has broken promises and failed to deliver to key pledges,” said the Labour MP. “We have seen the Tories cut tax credits and fail to deliver on childcare. Families suffering at the hands of the government won’t be fooled by any smoke and mirrors.” | “Just months in [and] David Cameron has broken promises and failed to deliver to key pledges,” said the Labour MP. “We have seen the Tories cut tax credits and fail to deliver on childcare. Families suffering at the hands of the government won’t be fooled by any smoke and mirrors.” |
| Labour MP for Newport West, Paul Flynn, who sits on the work and pensions select committee, said there was “no question” that the government had decided tactically to publish everything on one day, adding that the honours list would “certainly be very embarrassing” for the government. | Labour MP for Newport West, Paul Flynn, who sits on the work and pensions select committee, said there was “no question” that the government had decided tactically to publish everything on one day, adding that the honours list would “certainly be very embarrassing” for the government. |
| “They’re cutting the number of democratically elected MPs and bolstering the House of Lords,” he said. “We know that the people [given peerages] are being given rewards for failure and rewards for donations.” | “They’re cutting the number of democratically elected MPs and bolstering the House of Lords,” he said. “We know that the people [given peerages] are being given rewards for failure and rewards for donations.” |
| “They mocked Labour when it was suggested [the last Labour government] buried bad news, but they certainly do it,” Flynn said. “It’s news management and they’re very skilled at it.” | “They mocked Labour when it was suggested [the last Labour government] buried bad news, but they certainly do it,” Flynn said. “It’s news management and they’re very skilled at it.” |
| On Thursday morning, the Department for Work and Pensions is due to release information on those who have died after claiming employment and support allowance, incapacity benefit or severe disablement allowance. The figures are being released after the Information Commissioner’s Office ruled on 30 April that the DWP should disclose data that would show the number of benefits claimants who had died after being found fit to work. | On Thursday morning, the Department for Work and Pensions is due to release information on those who have died after claiming employment and support allowance, incapacity benefit or severe disablement allowance. The figures are being released after the Information Commissioner’s Office ruled on 30 April that the DWP should disclose data that would show the number of benefits claimants who had died after being found fit to work. |
| Debbie Abrahams, the Labour MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth and a member of the work and pensions select committee, said Iain Duncan Smith, the work and pensions secretary, had “consistently done everything he can to avoid releasing information to the public”. | Debbie Abrahams, the Labour MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth and a member of the work and pensions select committee, said Iain Duncan Smith, the work and pensions secretary, had “consistently done everything he can to avoid releasing information to the public”. |
| She added: “So it’s no surprise to me, if he’s prepared to try and mislead the House, that with so much to hide and so much to lose he would pick today to try and bury his own bad news under other announcements.” | She added: “So it’s no surprise to me, if he’s prepared to try and mislead the House, that with so much to hide and so much to lose he would pick today to try and bury his own bad news under other announcements.” |
| The Office for National Statistics is due to release its quarterly migration statistics on Thursday morning, which are expected to show an increase in immigration to the UK. | The Office for National Statistics is due to release its quarterly migration statistics on Thursday morning, which are expected to show an increase in immigration to the UK. |
| The Migration Observatory, an Oxford University thinktank, predicted earlier this week that the latest estimate of net migration – the flow of migrants in and out of the UK – could break the previous record of 320,000 set in 2005, shortly after eight eastern European countries, including Poland, joined the EU. | The Migration Observatory, an Oxford University thinktank, predicted earlier this week that the latest estimate of net migration – the flow of migrants in and out of the UK – could break the previous record of 320,000 set in 2005, shortly after eight eastern European countries, including Poland, joined the EU. |