Osborne blasted for ‘evasive’ response

Debbie Abrahams MP

Oldham MP Debbie Abrahams has criticised Chancellor George Osborne’s response to research suggesting nearly 600 suicides among disabled and sick people could be linked to the Government’s fit for work test.

Following the autumn statement, the Oldham East and Saddleworth MP - shadow minister for disabled people - challenged the Chancellor about research that revealed the possible extent of fit-for-work casualties between 2010-13.

She said: “I wanted to hear some more of the detail. His response was, quite frankly, predictably evasive.

“The Chancellor’s evasiveness on this issue underlines how the Government just ignores the mountain of evidence being presented to them.”