Latest news with #LeighDay
The Guardian
02-06-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
Disabled woman killed herself after DWP mistakenly withdrew benefits
A disabled woman killed herself after her benefits were mistakenly stopped leaving notes saying she had no food, could not pay bills and was in 'debt, debt, debt'. At a rare second inquest into the death of Jodey Whiting, her mother blamed the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for her suicide in 2017. Joy Dove told the hearing in Middlesbrough: 'I know for a fact. It was the DWP that caused it … I'm sorry, I've got to say it.' A coroner, Clare Bailey, recorded a conclusion of suicide which, she said, had been precipitated by the mistaken withdrawal of benefits by the DWP. Afterwards Dove said it was not a one-off failing by the DWP. 'The way they have treated some of their most vulnerable claimants is absolutely disgraceful.' She added: 'It should not have taken an eight-year fight for justice to get where we are today. It has been an uphill battle to get answers and accountability.' Merry Varney, a solicitor for Leigh Day representing Whiting's family, said the cause of death was the same for many other families: 'the DWP'. Whiting, a mother of nine children, was 42 and housebound, unable to walk even a few steps, when she took her own life, the inquest heard. It followed the stopping of her employment and support allowance because, the DWP said, she had failed to attend a medical assessment. She was deemed fit to work and was told she would also lose her housing and council tax benefits. Dove said the reason why she had not attended was because she had been in hospital, with pneumonia, at the time. She recalled seeing her daughter 'shaking and crying', feeling ashamed and embarrassed and saying she had lost hope of ever getting her benefits back. Dove said she was sure that the stress of losing her benefits was the trigger for her daughter to decide to take her own life. 'I know my daughter and I know it was [that].' The first inquest into Whiting's death lasted 37 minutes, her family said, and heard no evidence relating to the DWP decision. Dove has fought a long and relentless legal battle for a second, fuller inquest, going all the way to the court of appeal. That took place at Teesside magistrates court on Monday with the inquest hearing of Whiting's physical and mental health problems which included chronic pain, making her dependent on opiates. Dove described her daughter as 'the most caring person ever', the 'perfect daughter' and someone 'not afraid to show her feelings'. Extracts from notes found alongside prescription drugs in Whiting's flat in Stockton-on-Tees were read in court. Bridget Dolan KC, the coroner's counsel, said: 'She wrote about not being able to pay her bills and having no food. 'In some she wrote about feeling breathless and having back pain and trying to pay her bills and being in debt.' Another note stated: 'I have had enough.' One note ended with the words: 'Debt, debt, debt.' An independent case examiner report on the decision to remove Whiting's benefits found that mistakes had been made and her payments should not have been withdrawn. Helga Swidenbank, a director at the DWP responsible for accessibility and disability services, said the department should have recognised that Whiting had 'good cause' not to attend a health assessment, given her illnesses and mental health concerns. She said opportunities were missed to identify Whiting's vulnerabilities and people who worked for the department at the time were 'deeply regretful and very sorry' for what happened. Swidenbank was not at the department in 2017 but said she thought staff were not as 'tuned into mental health disabilities' as they should have been. She added: 'I understand that there is a culture shift from being process-driven to being much more compassionate.' The department's processes have changed but work still needed to be done, she said. 'We are a work in progress.' The coroner said she was sorry that Whiting's family had had to 'walk such a long road' and described Dove's persistence and resilience as remarkable. She recorded a conclusion that Whiting's death was suicide 'in the context of a deteriorating mental state, precipitated by the withdrawal of state benefits'. But she said she had heard of many changes and new structures at the DWP which left her satisfied that no wider recommendations were needed.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New investigation raises red flags over popular fashion brand: 'Not simply turning a blind eye'
A new investigation is raising serious concerns about fast fashion giant Shein's ties to forced labor and human rights abuses, sparking renewed calls for accountability by the brand and the fashion industry, Leigh Day reported. An investigation by the campaign group Stop Uyghur Genocide uncovered an alleged link between fast-fashion retailer Shein and textile manufacturing in China's Xinjiang region, an area infamously associated with forced labor. The link is so strong that the U.S. government "presumes that all goods manufactured in the region are made with forced labor," per the law firm Leigh Day, which represents Stop Uyghur Genocide. China denies all allegations of genocide, forced labor, and human rights violations in Xinjiang, according to the Financial Times. Stop Uyghur Genocide's research focused on the Guangqing Textile and Garment Industry Orderly Transfer Park in China's Guangdong province, which reportedly received investment and support from Shein. The park was specifically designed to connect Xinjiang-based cotton and textile companies with e-commerce platforms like Shein, according to the report. Shein's reported involvement with the park includes signing a strategic cooperation agreement in November 2023 and hosting an "investment promotion event" there in March 2024, allegedly encouraging manufacturers to "move to the premises with the potential benefit of becoming a supplier for Shein," per Leigh Day. Given the park's role in sourcing Xinjiang textiles, outlined here by the U.S. Department of Labor, and Shein's alleged participation, the research suggests Shein's products are at a high risk of being made with materials linked to forced labor. The concerns outlined in the study are part of broader international criticism of China's treatment of the Uyghur population in the Xinjiang region. Several countries, including the U.S., have formally accused China of genocide, CNN reported. Stop Uyghur Genocide said that Shein's support of the textile park could be seen as profiting from the forced labor and upholding modern slavery, per Leigh Day. What should be done to make home solar panels cheaper? More tax incentives Lower installation costs Better loan options They're cheap enough already Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. But fast fashion doesn't just exploit vulnerable workers — it also takes a serious toll on the environment. Built on speed, volume, and disposability, the fast fashion model encourages consumers to buy large quantities of cheap, low-quality garments, which are quickly discarded. This cycle of overconsumption is expensive, and it also drives massive textile waste and unsustainable production practices. Fast fashion production also pollutes waterways, relies heavily on toxic chemicals, and depletes natural resources. These practices disproportionately harm the health and livelihoods of local communities by threatening access to clean water, food, and safe living conditions. Stop Uyghur Genocide submitted its evidence to the UK's Financial Conduct Authority, urging it to consider the findings given Shein's potential listing on the London Stock Exchange. The group argued that allowing Shein to go public in the U.K. would endanger the country's commitments to human rights and ethical financial practices, per Leigh Day. "Shein is not simply turning a blind eye — I believe it is profiting from a system built on the forced labor of persecuted people," Rahima Mahmut, executive director of Stop Uyghur Genocide, said in a statement, per Leigh Day. "The Financial Conduct Authority must take this evidence seriously." Meanwhile, there are growing efforts around the globe to regulate fast fashion through legislation and industry-led initiatives, but enforcement can be inconsistent. While international law catches up, you can make a difference by breaking up with fast fashion. While it can seem like you are saving money while shopping fast fashion, experts estimate that you can save $200 or more a year by investing in fewer, higher-quality sustainable pieces that last longer. If sustainable brands are out of your price range, secondhand shopping is a great alternative. Thrifting at local shops or shopping resale sites like ThredUp can save you money while also helping to lessen the environmental and social impact of clothing production. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
The Guardian
27-05-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Another Windrush generation man has UK deportation order revoked
A Windrush generation man who was wrongly excluded from the UK by the Home Office has had his deportation order revoked in the second case of its kind to come to light in the space of a week. Gersham Williams, 74, who first arrived in the UK in 1961 at the age of 10, was deported in August 2016 after being convicted of and serving a sentence in relation to a firearms conspiracy conviction. He has now had his deportation order revoked after the Home Office told him he should have been exempt due to the date he arrived in the UK, which was before the Immigration Act 1971. That law granted indefinite leave to remain to many Commonwealth citizens settled in the UK. However, while the rest of his family became British citizens, Williams decided he did not need to obtain a British passport because, he said, Jamaica was 'ruled by the Queen of England' at that time. His case follows that of Winston Knight, who had lived in the UK for 47 years before being deported. The Home Office agreed to fly Knight back to the UK after accepting he was a member of the Windrush generation and revoking his deportation order. Knight lived on the streets of Jamaica for more than a decade. Williams's solicitor, Jacqueline McKenzie of Leigh Day, said: 'I am of the view that cases like these are probably amongst many.' McKenzie said she was asking the Home Office to 'intensify its efforts' to provide information on people from Commonwealth countries who were settled in the UK before January 1973 and who were deported, in order to 'start an effective programme of outreach and engagement'. She also called for the government 'to agree to a statutory inquiry so that we can understand not just the causes of the Windrush scandal, but review its ongoing manifestation'. Williams is in a state of poor health in Jamaica, with neurological and urological problems. He has difficulties walking and has struggled to survive there. Although the Home Office has revoked his deportation, before being removed from the UK Williams had received an IPP – imprisonment for public protection – sentence. Officials have warned him in a letter that due to his IPP sentence, he could be sent back to prison on arrival in the UK. The letter states: 'You will therefore be liable to be returned to prison to serve the remainder of your sentence.' Speaking from Jamaica, Williams said he did not accept that the conviction that led to his deportation was sound. 'When I was in the UK the police would never leave me alone, that's the reason I'm in Jamaica now,' he said. 'The Home Office has accepted they were wrong to deport me but I'm not returning to the UK to go back to prison. I don't belong there. I want to get an assurance from the UK government that I can come back here as a free man. I have not committed any crimes in my nine years in Jamaica. My priority is freedom of movement.' Williams was politically active when he was living in Ladbroke Grove in west London, helping to establish Grassroots, a bookshop and centre for black art and culture. He trained as a youth and community worker and helped support young black people subjected to police harassment. He attended the 11th World Festival of Youth and Students in 1978 in Cuba alongside people such as Paul Boateng, now a Labour peer. He befriended Winnie Mandela on her visits to London and she invited him to Nelson Mandela's inauguration. 'I come from injustice and I still speak truth to power,' he said. The Guardian published a report about a July 1983 conviction received by Williams and two others for an armed hold-up of a petrol station. The court heard that he had described himself as a Robin Hood raising money for community projects and told police: 'You people sold my people into slavery and I'm fighting back.' McKenzie said: 'Each day that passes worsens the injustice for this family because Mr Williams is elderly, unwell and has been living in very austere conditions. I hope all arrangements will be now put in place, swiftly, to reunite him with his loved ones.' A Home Office spokesperson said: 'It is our longstanding policy not to comment on individual cases; however, it is also this government's determination to ensure that all those affected by the Windrush scandal are treated with the upmost care and consideration in their future dealings with the Home Office, and that principle will guide our approach in all such cases.'
Free Malaysia Today
08-05-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Migrant workers' lawsuit against Dyson to proceed in UK courts
The London High Court will now hear evidence on the allegations of modern slavery and false imprisonment at two Malaysian factories in Dyson's supply chain. ( pic) PETALING JAYA : The UK Supreme Court has refused to let electrical appliance manufacturer Dyson appeal a ruling allowing allegations of forced labour and unsafe conditions at two Malaysian factories to be heard in English courts. Yesterday, the court rejected Dyson's application, agreeing with the Court of Appeal's decision last December that the claims by migrant workers could proceed in the UK. The Supreme Court said the appeal did not raise an issue of general legal importance. Law firm Leigh Day, representing the workers, said the ruling removes the final obstacle preventing the claims from moving forward. The High Court will now hear evidence on allegations of modern slavery and false imprisonment at factories supplying Dyson and decide whether the company is legally responsible for human rights abuses in its supply chain. Leigh Day said the decision sets a strong precedent, making it harder for UK-based companies to avoid legal action in England for human rights, labour, or environmental abuses abroad. It said the judgment reinforces the role of English courts as a leading forum for holding UK companies accountable for overseas operations. The 24 workers, originally from Nepal and Bangladesh – one of whom has since died – sued Dyson Technology Ltd, Dyson Ltd and a Malaysian subsidiary in 2022. They worked for ATA Industrial or its sister company, producing Dyson components. Their lawyers allege that the workers had wages unlawfully deducted and were sometimes beaten for failing to meet production targets. The lawsuit claims Dyson was ultimately responsible. Dyson denied the allegations and argued that the case should be heard in Malaysia, where the alleged abuses took place and Malaysian law applies. Dyson's Malaysian subsidiary ended its contract with ATA in 2021. In 2023, the High Court in London initially ruled that the claims should be pursued in Malaysia. But the Court of Appeal overturned that decision, ruling London was 'clearly and distinctly the appropriate forum'. The appeals court also affirmed that English companies can be held accountable in the UK for harm caused abroad. Claimant Dhan Kumar Limbu welcomed the Supreme Court's decision. 'We believe we were treated appallingly and forced to endure terrible conditions. The English justice system has allowed our voices to be heard. We now hope to achieve justice,' he said. Andy Hall, an independent migrant workers' rights advocate, called the ruling a hopeful sign for vulnerable workers seeking accountability from multinational companies. 'This decision sends a strong message: companies can't avoid responsibility by outsourcing to countries where migrant workers struggle to access justice,' Hall said. 'Despite long delays, the UK justice system hasn't disappointed these workers.'
BBC News
02-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Northumberland quarry in doubt after legal challenge concession
Plans to build a quarry are in doubt after a council conceded to a legal challenge over how it assessed its possible impact on the year, Northumberland County Council approved a proposal to excavate dolerite - used to produce concrete - near Kirkwhelpington, which would see almost three million tonnes of material extracted over 20 firm Leigh Day said the authority agreed to concede to a claim it "failed to assess the likely climate effects of the development" relating to soil disturbance, meaning the grant of planning permission could be local authority declined to comment. Those behind the quarry said it would create 20 long-term the time, dozens of locals opposed saying the wind would blow noise, debris and grime into the village of proposals were approved in November. 'Reconsider decision' Campaigner John Winslow, represented by Leigh Day and supported by the Environmental Law Foundation, challenged the application in a result, the council told Leigh Day it would concede that it did not comply with its obligations under the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017 by failing to assess the likely climate effects of the Gama, from Leigh Day, said: "The council will now need to assess those impacts and reconsider its decision to grant planning permission."Leigh Day said it was unlikely the legal challenge would be heard in court because of the developers North East Concrete have been approached from comment. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
