Protesters heckle minister during ‘top secret’ visit
11:50am Friday 1st March 2013 in News
Protesters heckle minister during ‘top secret’ visit
WORK and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith was greeted by angry protesters and members of the public on a visit to Bolton.
The man in charge of the Government’s welfare reforms was in town yesterday on a fact fiindng secret visit to the Department of Works and Pensions building at Elizabeth House in Back Spring Gardens.
Not even the local Conservative party had been made aware of his trip, but a tip-off led to Bolton’s unions quickly organising a small group of about a dozen protesters.
They followed the former Tory Party leader from Caffe Nero in Deansgate — where he had been enjoying a coffee with two aides until 9.45am yesterday — for the 300 yards to Elizabeth House, opposite the Octagon theatre.
On his walk, a clearly uncomfortable Mr Duncan Smith was constantly heckled by the protesters, who blew whistles and shouted “he wants your bedroom” and “how many bedrooms have you got in your subsidised mansion?”
Once they became aware who he was, several members of the public joined in, including a group of teenagers.
During his walk — flanked by his two aides but no security — Mr Duncan Smith was heard to say several times “how much further?”
When The Bolton News approached Mr Duncan Smith for an interview he replied: “I’m sorry I’ve got a meeting at 10am”, and one of his aides added: “He’s very busy”.
Demonstrator Florence Hill, a retired former chairman of Bolton Unison, said: “He said ‘hello’ to me.
“I said “don’t say hello to me, you’re not welcome here”, and one of the two men with him said ‘we’re always welcome in Bolton’.”
Bill Hardman, aged 59, of Little Lever, joined the protest outside the building and had been following Mr Duncan Smith in his wheelchair. Mr Hardman, who was born with spina bifida, lost his job at Remploy in Bolton last September after working there for 33 years said: “I’m here because I know what effect this is having, not just on myself but on every disabled person, it’s absolutely frightening.”
Matt Kilsby Bolton Unison branch chairman, said “We heard it was happening and decided to contact people. Whether four people or 40 turned up didn’t matter, the message was that he was not welcome here.”
The DWP refused to comment.
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Comments (65)
10:19am Fri 1 Mar 13
Womble says...
1:29pm Fri 1 Mar 13
I, Ludicrous says...
2:08pm Fri 1 Mar 13
boltonnut says...
3:00pm Fri 1 Mar 13
gazhat says...
Yeah I bet he is, busy destroying the lives of thousands and somehow getting away with hate crimes against the unemployed spreading his vile right wing rhetoric. IDS is the sickest of a very sick bunch of Selfservative parasites...
3:26pm Fri 1 Mar 13
xxenigmaxx says...
3:40pm Fri 1 Mar 13
BritishSpring says...
5:45pm Fri 1 Mar 13
malcome says...
Shame on BEN to not publicize this visit beforehand
5:53pm Fri 1 Mar 13
BWFC71 says...
5:54pm Fri 1 Mar 13
BWFC71 says...
6:20pm Fri 1 Mar 13
Boltontoday says...
6:43pm Fri 1 Mar 13
name and shame says...
rect.gov.uk/petition
s/43154
6:50pm Fri 1 Mar 13
Robert2012 says...
The left haven't got a clue...bedroom tax do me a favour...pure propaganda by the union fools...
Please tell me why a couple living in a three bedroom house...who don't need those extra bedrooms anymore shouldn't be penalised for the privilege?
Shouldn't that house go to a family who need it?
There all just gutted because it will be less money to spend on special brew, Rothmans king size and on the two thirty at Chepstow....
8:22pm Fri 1 Mar 13
tjtj1113 says...
8:37pm Fri 1 Mar 13
temujin says...
8:46pm Fri 1 Mar 13
Robert2012 says...
9:03pm Fri 1 Mar 13
tjtj1113 says...
9:07pm Fri 1 Mar 13
BWFC71 says...
People are not workshy, there are just not the jobs out there.
The propaganda at the moment is that there has never been so many people in employment as there is now in the UK. But what type of employment? Part-time work on minimum wage is what they are talking about - so people still require the benefits to actually live!!!! One statistic the Government has not mentioned but can be found is that there are now the most number of people WITH a job but still having to claim benefits because of the lowly paid wages - whose fault is that - Labour or The Conservatives???
Another fact, that has come out today, is that manufacting is down, yet again, and compounding the first ever triple-dip recession in the UK! With recession comes more unemployment and don't forget that people in teh public sector are still being laid off which has a knock-on effect within teh public sector - so how many more "workshy" people are there going to be in 6 months time?
The Welfare bill is only inflated because they have made it so. The Government predicted that those being made redundant in the public sector - well over 5 million, would be able to find a job in the private sector - it hasn't happened!!!! So of those not able to find a job, are they workshy???
I have been unemployed for the last 18 months and I have been doing well over 100 applications a week to find a new job (luckily I have now) but does that make me workshy because I am not working and was claiming benefits????
9:12pm Fri 1 Mar 13
schmuckyZ says...
How IDS had the belief - not courage - that he is safe in public God only knows. Congrats to the person who leaked the info.
IDS would do well not to visit Portsmouth, as we`ll have a warm reception waiting for him. :)
9:12pm Fri 1 Mar 13
BWFC71 says...
If you cannot understand him, then which nationality are you - Polish, Pakistani, Indian, Romanian???
9:13pm Fri 1 Mar 13
schmuckyZ says...
9:44pm Fri 1 Mar 13
toryhater says...
9:47pm Fri 1 Mar 13
toryhater says...
9:49pm Fri 1 Mar 13
toryhater says...
9:49pm Fri 1 Mar 13
Robert2012 says...
Can you tell me what he/she was trying to say then?
I understood the bit about taxing people for not needing bedrooms.....but that's not true is it?....having their benefits cut yes...but not taxed....but let's not let the truth get in the way of a good ol labour lie....
Oh and lady thatcher was in power thirty years ago...get over it...
9:53pm Fri 1 Mar 13
toryhater says...
9:54pm Fri 1 Mar 13
schmuckyZ says...
9:55pm Fri 1 Mar 13
BWFC71 says...
And I am also sick to death of The Conservatives still blaming Labour for all the pathetic things that have gone wrong. The Conservatives (with a dash of LibDems) have for over 3 years and yet the national debt has increased even more, more people claiming benefits than ever before and number of people still unemployed is the highest ever, even before the last election, and now we have lost our AAA rating and literally on the verge of a triple-dip and yet they still blame Labour for it all!!!!
9:55pm Fri 1 Mar 13
I, Ludicrous says...
9:57pm Fri 1 Mar 13
toryhater says...
10:05pm Fri 1 Mar 13
I, Ludicrous says...
10:06pm Fri 1 Mar 13
toryhater says...
10:09pm Fri 1 Mar 13
toryhater says...
10:14pm Fri 1 Mar 13
I, Ludicrous says...
10:17pm Fri 1 Mar 13
Robert2012 says...
All sound familiar?....it's well documented that the conservatives have to try and clean up the mess left by labour governments time and time again....
You harp on about closing down the manufacturing industry....this country couldn't and can't compete with industry in china and other nations....still if you think that mining and steel would still make Britain great...then carry
....you only have to look at the shambles that labour has created in this once proud town...with pound shops, charity shops and empty shops galore....suppose that's all lady thatchers fault as well?
10:19pm Fri 1 Mar 13
Robert2012 says...
Dozen?
Up the revolution comrade...
10:31pm Fri 1 Mar 13
toryhater says...
10:41pm Fri 1 Mar 13
BWFC71 says...
If the Tories had really hated the unions then why didn't they do something when they were in power prior to Labour taking over???
Also do not forget your history that it was Labour that created the NHS, and yet its teh Tories that want to privatise it and make it more American where money means more than life - do you really want that where is someone not rich enough doesn't get teh treatment and is allowed to die ???
Yes I harp on about manufacturing - sure enough we cannot compete with places like Asia or China - but as you have harped on about in the past what about our Commonwealth colleagues - why couldn't we just trade with tem??? In this modern world to be the best one has to be part of a co-operative/union such as the EU or USA or the Australian States or the Chinese States - then and only then will price and production will be cheap enough, we cannot do it alone and many suggest!!!
Did I say that Britain was Great, or was that you putting words in what I say??? Britain is teh sick-man of Europe and its Empire is crumbling. We spend £400/person annually on the Commonwealth and get nothing for retiurn - even when the Queen either abddicates or dies the head of the Commonwealth may not be Prince Charles as its not a given right!!! We spend £350/person annually on the EU and we get alot back in return - more than what people think (cleaner beaches through subsidies to clean the water, many housing projects and nursing homes subsidised by the EU and just a couple but there are a hell of a lot more that the EU helps pay for in the UK)
Again is Britain great when prescriptions are going up 20p in England but people in Wales, Northern Ireland Scotland pay nothing and thats subsidised by us English, or what about university education - in teh Uk its teh English that pay teh mot, Scotalnd pay nothing Wales and Ireland is half of England pays and yet subsidised by us Englis - what have the Tories doen about that - Sweet FA, in fact they have compunded the situation!!!!!
Funnily enough it was the odl Labour regime that made this town great during the 80's 90's and early 00's but its the current crop that have destroyed it - but it was the LibDems that signed off the sale of the old Market Hall, although it was a cross-party decision - yes even the Tories councillors agreed to sel it off!!!!
What about the Central Givernment funding that has been taken away from Bolton and given to towns and cities down south (funnily enough they have reduced funding in towns and cities where there is a Labour regime and given MORE money where ther is a Tory regime - why???) that is hitting the everyday person and NOT the political parties!!!!
Why has Central Government found £96million to giev to London to keep public transport fares down and also made a pledge to keep teh VAT and tax reabtes whereas outside London transport companies now have no reabtes and as such fares have increased - .
Osbourne of teh Government go on about petrol duty rises not happened for so long - but itwas the previous Tory Government taht introduced it and it was Labour that started to freeze it and yet its the current Tory Government that take the praise for freezing it each year!!!
The Tories have done sweet FA to improve this country over the last 3 years - in fact thsi country has got worse than what it was under Labour, and I never thought I could ever say that!!!
10:51pm Fri 1 Mar 13
Robert2012 says...
Love to pick my way through that...however I have work in the morning...self employed brickie...no work no pay...no holiday pay and no pension....no 13 weeks holiday...training days...flexi time or final salary pension for this kid....
It's been fun
12:01am Sat 2 Mar 13
Wigan Trotter says...
If what you say is correct, that I suggest you get a job with what you claimed you have not got or is that you prefer to be self employed for the 'cash in hand' jobs where you do not pay tax!
12:08pm Sat 2 Mar 13
BWFC71 says...
You can try to pick your way through, but as you have admitted defeat and know what I have said to be totallly correct then on this occassion i will forgive your ignorance and hope you have learned someting about the truth rather than Government propaganda!!!
6:59pm Sat 2 Mar 13
exiled says...
Got to admire his determination to save the country from the socialists Blair/Brown who squandered the UK's money, and his ability to ignore the empty-head Unions - thankfully Unison seem to be on thebir last legs. 100 protestors at a major meeting, 20 last week and a handful for IDS visit. Smash the unions -way to go!!
Come back soon IDS.
7:56pm Sat 2 Mar 13
berushka says...
7:58pm Sat 2 Mar 13
berushka says...
8:01pm Sat 2 Mar 13
berushka says...
8:39pm Sat 2 Mar 13
BWFC71 says...
No thanks - the unions have done a lot to help bring about al lot of the hose and they also help out in case where a worker is unjustifiably being bullied or picked on by bosses.
But lets forget about history and get reid of unions because they are old-hat and represent sweet FA in a modern world and never helped to shape the moder world!!!
I ain't a "lefty" or "socialist" as berushka would say, and definitely not part of any union, but a realist and know my history and can also see what would happen if it wasn't for the unions!!!
9:29pm Sat 2 Mar 13
punterpride says...
10:03pm Sat 2 Mar 13
toryhater says...
10:06pm Sat 2 Mar 13
toryhater says...
10:41pm Sat 2 Mar 13
punterpride says...
the queen, will she be paying the bedroom tax?
11:08pm Sat 2 Mar 13
trhippy says...
12:10am Sun 3 Mar 13
ARBEE says...
12:13am Sun 3 Mar 13
BWFC71 says...
And with the army already having had some of its budget cut, would you call those soldiers who have lost their jobs and having to live off benefits as lazy, job-shirkers and/or waste of space???
Remember it is this Government that has cut too deep created unemployment and have to claim benefits; created a situation where people in work still have to claim benefits to have a "living" household income; taken money away from councils so even more job losses, loss of services, reduction of services, and higher Council Tax!!!
The Government may have reduced teh deficit but the debt is getting bigger with each month they are still in power and having to borrow more each month. Its already stated that Osbourne will miss his borrowing target by quite a few million, if not a billion or two, because of the what they have created!!!
12:16am Sun 3 Mar 13
BWFC71 says...
How about going to English classes, as you bound to live in the country, and then you will be able to read the post?
8:57am Sun 3 Mar 13
Willow311 says...
Could it be that he was here to oversee a newer and more evil plan for the weak and poor of Bolton?
Gas chambers perhaps on the town hall square?
Is this what it would take for people to realise that we are allowing the vulnerable to be Condem scapegoats?
IDS and his policies should be condemned by every civilised person in the country.
7:18pm Sun 3 Mar 13
Robert2012 says...
I amd self employed because I work for every penny six days a week..paying more tax than you can possibly imagine to keep you and the rest of the parasites in this country who sponge and think they deserve everything for nothing...
I can afford a house because I worked my arse off for itand didn't expect someone to give it to me on a plate...
And you sancatominious fool...I haven't taken my kids on holiday for four years....because numb nuts...I don't work I don't get paid....
So I think you are the ignorant one you tool...
7:47pm Sun 3 Mar 13
BWFC71 says...
Shows how little you know.
In fact you have called every armed service memeber who have been made redundant and having to live on benefits, due to lack of jobs, as a parasite with that one sentance. Just as much as every public service employee, now unemployed who has worked for the council or Government due to the cuts.
How very patrotic of you!!!
I honestly do not think you have paid more tax than myself. I have worked for more than 20 years, worked hard, worked over time and even worked weekends when I had to - but i still lost my job and was unemployed for 16 months - and yet you call me a parasite! I have my own place - in fact I own two properties in two separate countries. Sure not had a holiday for last 3 years but thats my choice as I could have done with the severance pay I received, but decided that searching for a new job was more important - and yet you call me a parasite!!! Plus I was in the high tax bracket, were you, with my new job i will be in the higher tax bracket - which is probably more tax than you will ever earn!!!
How many backhanders did you do in the last tax year?? How much tax are you claiming back from the Government?? How much are ytou paying towards your own pension, or will you be relying on a state pension???
Now numb-nuts get back to your creative tax-dodging brick-laying!! What an ignoramous!
7:50pm Sun 3 Mar 13
BWFC71 says...
Plus teh only benefit I have ever claimed was the Job-seekers whilst unemployed - well I have paid into it and as such deserved the benefit. You were wrong as I worked hard to pay my tax and as such the benefits have been worked for and as such didn't receive it for nothing - numbskull!!!
7:17am Mon 4 Mar 13
hoboh2o says...
7:35am Mon 4 Mar 13
BWFC71 says...
They like to spread fear stories to whip their readers up into a frenzy, even when there is no actual story!
This sort of schme works exceedingly well abroad. Anyone who signs up for a social house is reveiwed every 1 to 2 years, and if there are any changes such as either increase in family or decrease in fakilt then change will happen such as moving to a bigger or smaller dwelling!!! Also once a household has an income of so much they are then given 3 months to find somewhere outside the social housing system.
If you really believe that these social houses are going to Eastern Europeans or Asian families, who are not British born, then we would like specific examples - if you cannot provide any then you are just as bad as The Daily Fail in trying to scaremonger!!!
(Oh and by the way what is point of using a Polish family for an example when the UK have been accepting Polish people into the UK for well over 200 years, and veen more so since the end of World War II - remember it was due to closeness with Poland that got us into the war after Germany invaded them - but don't let history get in the way for a good scare. Also let's not forget that many Asian countries were part of the great British Empire and are still part of the Commonwealth, so, again, there is a closeness and don't let history get in the way for a good scare!!! Their countries are all closely linked with our through teh vlast few hundred years and we have accepted them with open arms throughout the whole of that period!!!
9:07am Tue 5 Mar 13
exiled says...
4:47pm Tue 5 Mar 13
Wigan Trotter says...
People today don't know they are born with a free health service, pension's, redundancy payments and a benefit system to fall back on when out of work etc.
Perhaps the Union critic's would like to return to the bad old days' of the depression or even Victorian times.
7:22pm Tue 5 Mar 13
BWFC71 says...
Having lived abroad and knowing their health systems (i.e. pay there and then and claim back from the insurance company) our is far superior but its our own Governmnets fault that they did not put limitations in place with regards to certain individuals who come over specificially for health treatment! (definitely not the fault of the EU as UKIP keeps trying to say!)
1:48am Thu 7 Mar 13
jellbellkell says...
7:22am Thu 7 Mar 13
Wigan Trotter says...
11:56am Thu 7 Mar 13
Dobbler says...