Minister Upston can’t hide from the facts

The Taxpayers’ Union agrees with the Labour Party’s assertion that the Ministry of Social Development’s recent decision to stop publishing weekly updates on benefit numbers "stinks of a cover-up”.

Commenting on the attempt to sweep critical details under the rug less than a month after a record 392,211 people were reported to be on a main benefit, Taxpayers’ Union Communications Officer, Alex Emes, said:

“Minister Louise Upston’s decision looks like a deliberate attempt to sweep critical details about the effectiveness of serious amounts of spending from the public eye.”

“The public were rightly sceptical of the reasons for the previous Government sweeping health details under the carpet. Once again, Ministers seem far too quick to put their political interests ahead of facing up to harsh realities.”

“The Government can’t just turn off the scoreboard once they don't like the score. It’s time for Minister Upston to come clean, reverse her decision, and return to weekly updates.”