News

A report in the Guardian provides more information about the departure of Paul Farmer, chief executive of Mind, from the government’​s Work Capability Assessment (WCA) review panel –​ see previous story ‘​Mind jump or pushed from WCA review’​.

The Guardian reports that Paul Farmer chose to leave the panel. In his resignation letter to Chris Grayling, minister for employment, Farmer stated “​We have reached the point where we feel the lack of progress in improving the system and the lack of willingness to consider more fundamental reform makes our involvement in this element of the process no longer tenable.”​

He confirms that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) had asked him to consider his position because of concerns that Mind intended to take part in a legal challenge to the WCA. The charity has confirmed that at the moment it is not involved in any such action.

Other charities have expressed their support for Farmer’​s decision to leave the review panel. The chief executive of Scope, Richard Hawkes stated “​We share Mind’​s concerns about the work capability assessment...The huge number of successful appeals are a damning indictment of a test that isn’​t fit for purpose. There’​s little point in scrutiny if the government doesn’​t listen to it.”​

Farmer stated “​If I was Chris Grayling, I would have looked at the appeal figures and decided to pause the process...It feels like an inhumane system...”​

The full report is here.