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23-year old
paratrooper Ben Parkinson severely injured by landmine treated as
a statistic by a unfeeling and ungrateful and parsimonious MoD.
* How can
we call ourselves a decent society if brave men like Ben need to beg for
handouts? by
Max Hastings
[Daily Mail-Wednesday, August 29,2007]
THE STORY of lance Bombardier Parkinson, revealed in
yesterday's Daily Mail, has shocked even those accustomed to the
madnesses of
GOVERNMENT BUREAUCRACY.
The 23-year-old paratrooper blown up by a landmine in
Afghanistan last year lost both legs and suffered other multiple
injuries. YET
the MoD has told him he will receive only
£152,150
with which to rebuild his life, little
more than half the maximum award allowed under the
ARMED SERVICES COMPENSATION SCHEME.
The amount is paltry, by comparison with the sums given
to 'traumatised' teachers, mistreated jail inmates and-most notoriously
-the £484,000
awarded to an RAF typist who allegedly suffered
repetitive strain injury to her
thumb.
Sometimes, in cases of this kind, after a surge of
publicity it emerges that the facts are not quite as they seem, that
apparent injustice is less disgraceful than we were led to suppose. But
military sources confirm
That the treatment of
Ben Parkinson
-is indeed a scandal.
'This chap is a real airborne soldier with incredible
guts, whose survival is a miracle', says one officer.
'At every turn, when he is expected to die, he pulled
through by sheer determination.
'Now he's got to make a new life for himself. it's hard to see how he
can do it on a £150,000 lump sum and a pension of £19,000 a year.
'He will hardly have enough to pay for a full-time
carer.'
Chasm.
At a time when there is already grave concern about
over-stretch and under-reward for British soldiers fighting two bloody
wars, the case of Ben Parkinson highlights the chasm between what such a
man deserves from his country, and what the Government is trying to get
away with giving him.
Of course there must be a system. There
must be rules for injury compensation, as there are for everything else
under Whitehall's control. But the application of the rules in this case
is
Lunatic.
The largest sum payable under the
Armed Forces Compensation Fund
is £285,000
mean enough in the modern world.
Common sense demands that even if Ben Parkinson gets no
more , he should immediately qualify for the
MAXIMUM.
How could any man get closer to death, or suffer more
terrible injuries, than he has?
BUT 'the rules'
decree that , instead of starting at the top number and
working downwards, compensation begins at zero.
After granting Parkinson fixed sums for the loss of his
legs, he is entitled to grotesquely little extra for all his other
injuries, including loss of spleen, and brain and spinal damage..
We can imagine the Treasury's number-crunchers flicking
their calculators and scribbling a total on the pro forma letter to the
young man. None of those
who do this tawdry arithmetic has ever heard a shot fired in anger, or
begins to understand the nature of the battle, or what it means to be
blown out of a Land Rover by a devastating explosion which tears human
bodies asunder. The Whitehall
bureaucrats had better start learning quickly, because there are going
to be more such cases.
Medical treatment of battle casualties has advanced dramatically, even
over the past five years. A substantial number of men who would have
died in World War II, in the Falklands, even in Northern Ireland a
decade ago, are now surviving.
But they must live with the consequences of wounds which will make it
almost impossible for them to resume their old lives.
THEY WILL NEED SPECIALIST CARE FOR
THE REST OF THEIR DAYS.
Only money -a lot of money-can help them achieve
DIGNITY
AND A DECENT
STANDARD OF LIVING A lump sum
of money of £152,000 invested, will produce barely £10,000 a year
income. What can anybody do with
£10,000 in this day and age?
We know that a man who volunteers for a career in the
Army puts his life on the line. That is part of the soldier's contract
the Military Covenant',
BUT THE OTHER
indispensable, part of the
COVENANT
is that if he suffers such a
TRAGEDY
-as has befallen
Ben Parkinson THE ARMY
and ultimately THE
COUNTRY WILL TAKE PROPER CARE
OF HIM.
Today we have seen the
COVENANT
broken again and again, by a
GOVERNMENT
which wills
WARS But refuses to accept
responsibility for their consequences, whether
POLITICAL
MORAL OR
FINANCIAL
*
Trauma
I have never forgotten a young man I knew in the
Falklands 25 years ago. he lost a foot in action. Ten years after the
war ended I arranged a drink with him. Stupidly, I thought one could
suffer worse misfortunes than losing a foot. I expected him to be
getting on with his life
I WAS WRONG
In a few minutes conversation I understood that his
experience on the battlefield had come close to destroying him. He had
never recovered mentally from the
TRAUMA.
I am told that he has not done so to the day.
I came away from that encounter humbled by the
realisation that the South Atlantic war, for me a wonderful adventure,
had been for him an almost irrevocable tragedy.
SO IT IS FOR THE WORST VICTIMS OF EVERY WAR.
Everyone who has met Ben Parkinson since he was flown
home has been awed by the indomitable courage and cheerfulness which he
has displayed.
HE REFUSED TO GIVE UP
-and is now making amazing progress at the ARMY'S
Headley Court Rehabilitation Centre.
But it would be absurd to imagine that his life can again
be
WHAT IT WAS
as a 6ft 4in paratrooper , bursting with
FITNESS and ENERGY.
It does not matter what any of us think about the merits
or otherwise of Britain's wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
When our government sends our soldiers to fight
IN OUR NAME
on the other side of the world, society assumes a
responsibility towards them which few British people want our rulers to
be allowed to SHIRK
Injuries
Almost daily, judges are making compensation awards to
civilians for alleged injuries and misfortunes which are footling by
comparison with those incurred by some soldiers on the
BATTLEFIELD
If Ben Parkinson had suffered similar injuries in a car
crash, his insurers would have paid out vastly more money without
blinking.
Service charities are called upon for ever more
assistance in these cases. In a decent world, however, no battlefield
casualty should need to look to handouts to secure his future,
THE STATE
EMPLOYED HIM
THE STATE
SENT HIM TO FIGHT
THE STATE
SHOULD ENSURE HIS SUBSEQUENT WELFARE AS OF RIGHT
The Armed Forces Compensation Scheme was devised in 2001
and implemented in 2005
BUT ALREADY IT IS WHOLLY OUTDATED
The ceiling on the top award must be substantially
increased to at least
£400,000
A far more humane system of assessment is needed which
takes proper account of cumulative injuries.
By the mad logic of the present arrangement, Ben
Parkinson , who almost died apparently needed to display even more
appalling disabilities to qualify for the [inadequate] amount.
IT IS A SAD, SICK STORY
which would
SHAME
The Ministry of Defence
IF THEY WERE CAPABLE OF SUCH A FEELING.
Soldiers from top to bottom of the Army are
disgusted by what has happened
AND SO THEY SHOULD.
JUSTICE IS NEEDED
NOT ONLY FOR
Ben Parkinson
and other men in similarly grievous circumstances, but
also for
BRITAIN'S REPUTATION
as a decent society in which those who earn our
GRATITUDE
Receive it without the need to throw themselves upon the
generosity of the
PUBLIC.
* *
*
BEN'S BATTLE: HOW YOU CAN HELP
Severely injured in Afghanistan Ben Parkinson is
offered the usual pittance from the MoD. With twelve injuries from loss
of both legs above the knee to many fractures he is only entitled to
receive compensation for three. £115,000 plus additional payments
of £34,500 and £1650. which for someone so badly injured and needing
special care for the rest of his life is a derisory payment when
compared to a payout to an RAF typist of £484,000 for an injured thumb.
The Daily Mail has asked its readers
wishing to help Ben Parkinson's
LEGAL BATTLE
can make cheques payable to:
Protect Our Protectors Fighting
Fund
and post to: PPFF, PO Box
95
Aldershot, Hants, GU11 9GL
ANY SURPLUS FUNDS raised will be split equally
between
THE BRITISH
LEGION -THE BRITISH LIMBLESS ASSOCIATION -THE SOLDIERS, AIRMAN and
FAMILIES ASSOCIATION and the ROYAL HOSPITAL for NEURODISABILITY in
PUTNEY -where Ben was treated for months.
IT IS TIME MORE REALISTIC PAYMENTS WERE GIVEN TO OUR
BRAVE FIGHTING SERVICEMEN AND WOMEN
In the meantime
THEY DESPERATELY NEED YOUR
SUPPORT
*
* *
[Font Altered-Bolding & Underling
Used-Comments in Brackets]
*
[THE LAST TEN YEARS HAS SEEN A TRANSFORMATION IN OUR
SOCIETY TO A LESS COMPASSIONATE ONE TO ONE WHERE THE ELDERLY-THE SICK
-VICTIMS OF CRIME AND OTHERS ARE OF NO MATTER.
THE RICH ARE GETTING RICHER AND MANY PAY NO TAX AND THE
POOR ARE GETTING POORER AND MUST PAY MORE TAX.
MASSIVE SUMS OF MONEY HAVE BEEN ARE STILL WASTED AND
BILLIONS SPENT ON SURVEILLANCE AND DATA IN A GROWING CENTRALISED AND
TOTALITARIAN SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT UNDER THE VERY NOSES OF OUR ONCE FREE
HOUSE OF COMMONS.
WE HAVE GREEDY REPRESENTATIVES WHO HAVE ONLY TO SAY LET
US TAKE MORE AND A GROWING ELITE GATHERING STRENGTH WHICH MUST
HAVE MORE.
THE COUNTRY IS ONE OF THE RICHEST IN THE WORLD
BUT ITS REPUTATION AS A DECENT AND COMPASSIONATE AND
LAWFUL COUNTRY HAVE BEEN UNDERMINED BY ILLEGAL WAR AND INTERFERENCE IN
THE AFFAIRS OF OTHER NATION STATES WHICH IS NONE OF OUR BUSINESS.
WE HAVE A GOVERNMENT THAT HAS PASSED 3000 LAWS IN A
SOCIETY WHICH HAS GROWING VIOLENT CRIME - A MASSIVE IMMIGRATION IN AN
ALREADY OVER-CROWDED LAND SECOND TO HOLLAND AND NOW INTENDS TO SELL YOUR
COUNTRY TO A FOREIGN POWER.
WE ARE CONSTANTLY BEING TOLD THAT WE MUST DO MORE TO
REDUCE GLOBAL WARMING WELL A GREATLY REDUCED POPULATION AND
INFRASTRUCTURE WOULD DO THAT NICELY AND WHAT A BETTER LESS CROWDED
COUNTRY IT WOULD BE WITH EVERYONE BUT THE RICHEST IN OUR SOCIETY
WOULD NO DOUBT AGREE?
WE HAVE :
MULTI-CULTURALISM
MULTI-DIVERSITY
MULTI -WARS
MULTI-CRIME
MULTI-IMMIGRATION
MULTI-INFECTIONS
MULTI-SPEED CAMERAS
MULTI-LEGISLATION
MULTI-NO GO AREAS
MULTI- CLOSURE OF POST OFFICES
MULTI - CLOSURE OF HOSPITALS
MULTI- CLOSURE OF POLICE STATIONS
MULTI -GRIEVANCES AGAINST LOCAL AND CENTRAL
GOVERNMENT.
WE WERE RIGHT
THIS PRESENT PARLIAMENT
IS INDEED A
MAD PARLIAMENT.
*
*
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THE PEOPLE HAVE
SPOKEN-IS THE EU COMMISSION LISTENING?
*
Ditch the EU TREATY after IRISH
REJECTION
SAY VOTERS
by
Daniel
Martin
Political
Reporter
[Daily Mail-Wednesday, June
18,2008]
MORE THAN HALF of voters believe Britain should
drop the controversial European Treaty in the wake of its
rejection in last week's
IRISH REFERENDUM'
The poll comes as the Tories launch a last-ditch
bid in the
HOUSE of LORDS
today to delay the
RATIFICATION OF
THE TREATY.
And
10,000 people
have signed a
PETITION
on the
DOWNING STREET-
WEBSITE
within the past few days
JUNE16-2008
, calling on the
GOVERNMENT
NOT TO RATIFY THE BILL
[WHY DON'T YOU?]
Downing Street
website is
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Abandon-Lisbon/
*
JUNE 18-2008
|
*
IF YOU CAN SAY
'WE WANT OUT-WITHOUT
A DOUBT'
THEN
[Only an ultimatum by millions of
subjects that the new EU TREATY can never be accepted such as signing
the
RENUNCIATION of EU CITIZENSHIP
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Optout
Details from petition creator
With the signing of the Maastricht
Treaty the people of Britain were given
DUAL CITIZENSHIP
-both
EUROPEAN and BRITISH
The extra tier of citizenship was
thrust upon the people without their consent -and in many cases
knowledge.
The PEOPLE of GREAT BRITAIN should be
allowed the option of opting out of the EUROPEAN CITIZENSHIP if they so
wish. The GOVERNMENT will then be able to provide those who have opted
out with
BRITISH DOCUMENTATION
-only such as British (not EU)
passports, driving licences and other national documents.
EU laws will also NOT APPLY to those who
HAVE OPTED OUT OF EUROPEAN CITIZENSHIP
*
67% want powers back from
EU-ICM poll-June 21-2007-95%
of British people want a
REFERENDUM
*
PETITION
FOR A
REFERENDUM
SIGN TODAY ON LINE
telegraph.co.uk/eureferendum
*
July 18-2007
THE QUESTION THAT THE
VOTER MUST ANSWER
‘DO
YOU WISH TO BE GOVERNED BY YOUR OWN PEOPLE, LAW AND CUSTOM OR BY THE
CORRUPT ,EXPENSIVE UNACCOUNTABLE AND CORRUPT ALIEN BUSYBODY BRUSSELS’
-SIMPLE IS IT NOT?
*
* *
BEN'S BATTLE: HOW YOU CAN HELP
Severely injured in Afghanistan Ben Parkinson is
offered the usual pittance from the MoD. With twelve injuries from loss
of both legs above the knee to many fractures he is only entitled to
receive compensation for three. £115,000 plus additional payments
of £34,500 and £1650. which for someone so badly injured and needing
special care for the rest of his life is a derisory payment when
compared to a payout to an RAF typist of £484,000 for an injured thumb.
The Daily Mail has asked its readers
wishing to help Ben Parkinson's
LEGAL BATTLE
can make cheques payable to:
Protect Our Protectors Fighting
Fund
and post to: PPFF, PO Box
95
Aldershot, Hants, GU11 9GL
ANY SURPLUS FUNDS raised will be split equally
between
THE BRITISH
LEGION -THE BRITISH LIMBLESS ASSOCIATION -THE SOLDIERS, AIRMAN and
FAMILIES ASSOCIATION and the ROYAL HOSPITAL for NEURODISABILITY in
PUTNEY -where Ben was treated for months.
IT IS TIME MORE REALISTIC PAYMENTS WERE GIVEN TO OUR
BRAVE FIGHTING SERVICEMEN AND WOMEN
In the meantime
THEY DESPERATELY NEED YOUR
SUPPORT
*
* *
[Font Altered-Bolding & Underling
Used-Comments in Brackets]
*
*
Let the people speak!
www.makeitanissue.org.uk
*
www.noliberties.com
[Latest Addition - June07]
*
www.eutruth.org.uk
*
www.thewestminsternews.co.uk
*
www.speakout.co.uk
*
Daniel Hannan - Forming an OPPOSITION
to the EU
www.telegraph.co.uk.blogs
*
GORDON BROWN WANTS TRUST-BUT WHY WON'T
HE TRUST YOU?
HELL ON EARTH IN IRAQ
*
67% want powers back from
EU-ICM poll-June 21-2007-95%
of British people want a
REFERENDUM
*
PETITION
FOR A
REFERENDUM
SIGN TODAY ON LINE
telegraph.co.uk/eureferendum
*
July 18-2007
ALSO
JOIN THE 10 DOWNING STREET PROTEST
Readers can add their support to the growing clamour for a REFERENDUM
on the '"REFORM TREATY" by signing up to a 10 Downing Street 0n-line
petition
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/EU-treaty-NON/
The Petition reads as follows:
"We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to
guarantee that the British people will be permitted a binding REFERENDUM
on any and all attempts to resurrect the EU " CONSTITUTION" (and any or
all of its content) regardless of nomenclature."
Deadline for the PETITION is 31st
January,2008
Eurofacts 27th July 2007.
*
'The Spirit
of England'
by
Winston
Churchill
In London on St.George's Day -1953
*
VOTE
-2007
TO
LEAVE
THE
EUROPEAN
UNION
WITH THE ONLY PARTY WITH A MANDATE
TO SET YOU
FREE
THE
UK
INDEPENDENCE PARTY
www.ukip.org
THE QUESTION THAT THE
VOTER MUST ANSWER
‘DO
YOU WISH TO BE GOVERNED BY YOUR OWN PEOPLE, LAW AND CUSTOM OR BY THE
CORRUPT ,EXPENSIVE UNACCOUNTABLE AND CORRUPT ALIEN BUSYBODY BRUSSELS’
-SIMPLE IS IT NOT?
TO RECLAIM YOUR DEMOCRACY DON'T VOTE
FOR THE TRIPARTITE PARTIES IN WESTMINSTER
BUT
SMALL PARTIES THAT SPEAK THEIR MINDS
WITHOUT SPIN AND LIES.
*
ONLY
PRO-PORTIONAL
REPRESENTATION
WILL
BRING
DEMOCRACY
BACK
TO
THE
ENGLISH
PEOPLE
*
SCOTLAND
-ITS PARLIAMENT -WALES-ITS
ASSEMBLY-ENGLAND-STILL
AWAITS ITS PARLIAMENT-WHY?
*
Home
Rule
for
Scotland
WHY
NOT
HOME
RULE
for
ENGLAND
*
[All underlined words have a
separate bulletin]
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