Niggling People to Death

Here is another bulletin from Dan Hardie on the way in which the Government is living up to its obligations towards those who helped British troops in Iraq. The Foreign Secretary was asked about the policy of offering assistance (or, to be pedantic about it, trying to give the appearance of offering assistance) only to those past employees who can prove they were employed by British forces for twelve months or more. His reply: "The scheme is open to all existing staff whatever their length of service. For previous staff who no longer work for us, there is a 12 month criteria (sic). I think this gets the balance right."

What balance does he mean, I wonder? Balance of what? Balance between what and what? Anyway:

"The fortitude of civilian staff alongside military forces has been amazing on the part both of British staff and locally employed staff. The new scheme tries to recognise this", which must be jolly comforting to the sixty per cent of applicants who have so far been refused any help at all. Absenteeism is a popular excuse, and must be proving particularly effective if, as Dan Hardie believes, the Government is not burdening itself unduly with the task of checking people's claims with the army units they claim to have helped.

Once again, please write to your MP, raising the points mentioned in Dan Hardie's post and politely requesting them to raise the matter with David Miliband. If they haven't signed Early Day Motion 401, ask them to do so. If they feel unable to sign it, ask them why, and tell them their reply may be published. Inform them that Dan Hardie is in touch with several Iraqis in both Iraq and Syria, and that he will be happy to brief any MPs who are interested.