I’m sick of MPs like Sarah Newton defending the DWP over people’s actual wellbeing

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox

Get our free View from Westminster email

SIGN UP

I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Three days ago, Tory MP and Department for Work and Pensions minister Sarah Newton demanded that people stop blaming the DWP and personal independence payments/work capability assessments for suicides.

She said the same applied to the utter, incompetent (surprise, surprise) mess of universal credit.

I’ve heard a number of Tory MPs over the years talk about mental health when none of them have any qualifications whatsoever in the field, and certainly not any clinical experience.

Damian Hinds and Matt Hancock have recently made statements in relation to policy and child mental health that contained no detail of what they actually considered mental health to be.

I bet they have no idea of any specific models of mental health. Newton is the same. Which model of mental health underpinned her statements, I wonder?

Newton, what actual knowledge do you have of the aetiology and theories of suicide?

Socioeconomic status and self esteem are recognised as significant factors, yet you take it upon yourself to dismiss them, despite the part this universal credit mess has played in ruining people’s lives.

Psychologically, if you did not think the DWP was in part to blame, you would not feel the need to defend yourselves. Don’t treat us like idiots.

R Kimble
Leeds

Robert Peston found May’s use of “simples” profoundly upsetting, but he must know its origin is from Robert Burton’s magisterial The Anatomy of Melancholy (1621), the second partition, p.214, in a section on “Simples’ as alterative or purgative: “Nostrae regionis herbae nostris corporibus magis conducunt” (“Our simples agree best with us”).

Mike Bor
London W2

It is absurd that Andrea Leadsom talks about affronting democracy and a possible second referendum. The UK voted for a five-year parliament in 2015. In 2017 Theresa May decided to call an election. I do not recall Leadsom objecting to this or calling this an affront to democracy.

Clive Raincock
Address supplied

So the North Korea summit has been abandoned. That is understandable, as the North Korean leader would not want to associated with a crook.

Barbara MacArthur
Cardiff

With regard to Hamish McRae’s article, I wonder whether the current possibility of leaving your self-invested personal pension (Sipp) to a descendant has been factored in. These do not die with you like an annuity: they can be passed on.

Ruth Colvin
Address supplied