Owen Smith MP, Labour’s Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, commenting on the coroner’s verdict that found a man with severe mental illness killed himself as a direct result of being found ‘fit to work’ by the Government’s Work Capability Assessment, said:

“This tragic case highlights the requirement for a full scale review of the Government’s Work Capability Assessment regime.  It is clear that the current rotten system is failing and requires a complete overhaul. 

“I am writing to Ian Duncan Smith calling on him to consider what lessons can be learned from this case and whether he will now agree to our calls for a radical overhaul of the system.

“Labour believes that those who can work, should work. Work itself is a source of strength, self-respect and better health for the majority of us. But we need a compassionate and effective system that supports people into work, not one that causes such misery for so many ill and disabled people in our country.”

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