Report to the People
The Chester Street Scandal
In Greenock and Inverclyde we don't need anyone to tell us about the plight of victims of industrial diseases.
Not only do they suffer through no fault of their own from some extremely unpleasant illnesses, they are, as has been well reported in the Telegraph, treated abysmally when they try to hold those responsible to account. Employers and their insurers frustrate and hinder the attempts of seriously ill men and women to receive the compensation to which they are entitled. Their delaying tactics deny justice to people who desperately need financial help.
As a result, asbestos victims suffering from mesothelioma - a particularly aggressive and painful cancer of the lining of the lung which kills its victim within a year - often die without receiving a penny.
Shortly after I raised this issue in this column last October, I sponsored a private member's debate in the Scottish Parliament, highlighting these problems and condemning the insurance companies' disgraceful behaviour.
Little did I, and the members of the local asbestos support group who were watching from the public gallery, know that things were about to get even worse...
The insurance company for many of the employers who gave these diseases to their workforce, Chester Street Insurance Limited, went bust - leaving victims expecting a meagre 5% of their original claim.
And the outrage being felt by asbestos victims was not eased last week, when it emerged that the Chester Street boss was paid £1 million while his company was leaving vulnerable cancer victims to die.
We must leave such companies in no doubt that we will not tolerate this callous denial of justice.
That is why, along with local campaigners on Saturday, I joined my colleague Des McNulty, Tony Worthington MP and other asbestos action groups at a nationally rally in Clydebank. The message was clear: all decent people, regardless of their age, their views, or their politics, demand justice for the victims.
This campaign has some powerful allies. I brought it to the attention of the First Minister, Henry McLeish, who recognises the need for action. The Scottish Secretary, Helen Liddell is also fighting hard for the victims of what she terms this "scandal."
It is vitally important to those who will unfortunately die an agonising, premature and preventable death, that they are able to rest in the knowledge that those they leave behind will be properly provided for.
They must not be let down.
[ HOME ] [ News ] [ Calendar ] [ Contacts ] [ Links ] [ E-Mail ]
[ Copyright ] [ Open Government ] [ Scottish Parliament ]