The Protest, on Thursday 17th May 2007AD, was against the DWP's seriously flawed benefits system, the objectives being to extract overdue payment (largely done), and to highlight the issue so the system can be changed (process continues).
Originally, this subsite showed only the Press Release, but now it is public knowledge, I thought a clearer summary would be helpful here. That is why I have rearranged these pages.
After the activity in the Job Centre had concluded, and I had the cheques sealed in my bag, I went outside to talk to the media, trying not to either look directly at the camera or go "errrrrm" too much, although some of both those did occur. (I have been told these were either too short to notice or edited out.) It (the TV camera) was like having a second, silent, person in the conversation, and, well, rather strange, with a hypnotic presence. The business end of the camera was very large, too, and strangely rectangular, for some reason. It really did look like "the other side of the screen". Rob Murray was very helpful in asking specific questions and prompting me when I paused, so that kept the um-ing down.
Being asked the same questions by different parts of the media only became tricky towards the day of the day, as it was still a novel process. As usual, the police were the worst offenders at repeat questioning, asking the same things more times than all the media put together that day.
So after the police had talked to me for two hours, I went back to the office, dumped the heavy chains etc, picked up my ID, and cashed the cheques. Then it was off to pay my creditors back, although what with the tiring day on an empty stomach, that was only half done two days later.
Friday was largely sleeping, then updating my blog. -And Saturday is picking up the remains. I have google my calls and discovered one of them is not from a paper I never heard of, but a large News Agency. That lead to possible national coverage, but they decided not to run it in the end (as far as I know).
Wait for the dust to settle, eat lots of food -I really was starving, that wasn't an exaggeration! Work out how to push the remaining issue into the DWP (targeted leads & public attention), and doing so. It'd be nice to get a job, too. It would also help if the DWP would admit to and cough up the rest of the debt.
On Friday 25th, another £100 came through, via my bank account, and the DWP phoned back with the news that they are gathering evidence to work out and pay the outstanding claim period and BTWB.
The situation is being covered extensively by local and regional Press and TV. The best original footage is:
The Gazette's story was not be published in full until Wednesday 23rd May, because they are a local weekly.
Photos are reproduced here, although not until the source publications
were out of print. Some photos may be ordered from the papers directly, for
high quality examination.
You can order high-resolution copies of the Gazette's photo (dark green background, above) from them, Ref. 22891/1MP.
I would like to thank all the friends who have supported me while I was planning the Protest, both for letting me scrounge equipment, cash, and food off them, and for not leaking fascinating information before time.
I would also like to thank Anon for professionally editing the Press Release, and for advice on which media organisations to contact. I look forward to obtaining his permission to publish his name, now things have resulted in a positive way.
The Citizens Advice Bureau were very helpful pointing me to free legal advice, and of course the Press and TV Media, without which this process would not have got where it is now.
I also owe apologies to media organisations that have tried to contact me over Friday 18th, when I was too tired to function most of the day, and the early parts of Saturday 19th, when I was busy writing this and making a statement to the local police on an unrelated matter.
The FAQ is the first and best place to look, and contain's the questions I though would be asked the most.
I have a blog, which gives a little more background, and some thoughts on current happenstance, now that I am able to write about it openly. There's quite a long entry for recent events, containing a lot of in-depth first thoughts.
There is my personal site, although it's less used now.
And of course my CV, which always helps when looking for work, which is what the "benefit" office was supposed to be helping me with.
My Commercial Landlord would also like me to mention his forthcoming model railway exhibition, Trainwest, taking place in Melksham, Wiltshire, over the Bank Holiday weekend. 'Fun for all the family.
Old:
New:
(No new Releases.)