Blacklist revelation ‘dynamite’

OLDHAM MP Michael Meacher has branded as “dynamite” revelations that police may have provided information that left thousands of workers blacklisted and unable to find work.

The Oldham West and Royton MP said the revelations could be worse than the phone hacking scandal.

Dozens of construction firms checked jobseekers against a blacklist of 3,200 workers — most were union members and some had raised health and safety concerns on site.

An inquiry has now revealed that police may have provided information from the list.

The Labour MP said: “The revelation that a Scotland Yard inquiry into police collusion has found it is likely that all special branches were involved in providing information that deprived workers of employment is dynamite.

“These people were kept out of work, sometimes for decades. Phone hacking is a very serious intrusion into privacy and breach of human rights - but it doesn’t compare with being deprived of your job for years or even decades on end.”

About 800 of the 3,200 people blacklisted have been informed, but the majority still have no idea what ruined their livelihood, MPs said in a Commons debate on the issue.

The blacklist, run by a company called the Consulting Association and funded by the construction industry, was uncovered in 2009 after a raid by the information commissioner’s office.

Eight firms involved have announced plans to compensate those affected.

Mr Meacher called for a full public inquiry.