Ombudsman Services / The Ombudsman Association - www.whistleblowerprotection.eu (673)

To the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Secretary / Chair of Ombudsman Services.

For Clarity - Attempt 673.

673. Dear Mr Clark and Lord Tim Clement Jones,

The Conservative Government says that it is,

"Building a country that works for everyone."

Q. Mr Clark, does that mean that all workers will have the right to whistleblow and be protected by Article 10 of the Human Rights Act?

If they don't have that right then it will simply remain a country that works for the few and for those who can afford to pay for ever more epensive justice.

David Isaac, Head of EHRC, has that, "Laws and rights mean nothing if you can't take action to protect them" and that we are in danger of moving from, "World Leader to world embarrassment" when it comes to justice.

(www.theguardian.com/equality-and-human-rights-commission)

Q. Lord Tim Clement Jones, isn't it an embarrassment to be Chair of an organisation that says it defines what is fair and reasonable and promotes justice yet denies its workers the basic human right to free expression?

The Conservative Party believe that building a country that works for everyone can only be achieved through an unquestioning belief in free market capitalism. There is no other way. A bit like the Catholic Church before Luther came along.

However, there is no collective cabinet agreement as to what free market capitalism actually is or what part regulation should play in it, if any. So, on one hand the Prime Minister believes, "That's why where markets are dysfunctional we should be prepared to intervene" thereby implicitly accepting the true nature of free markets - their lack of freedom, their lack fairness and their lack of justice.

On the other hand, the Chancellor sees it in more red in tooth and claw terms claiming that, "It is a wicked and cynical business offering specifically simple solutions to complex challenges." Moreover, any wicked dissent to the perceived orthodoxy is, "an existential challenge to our economic model free market economics." Or a modern day form of heresy.

His solution to the complex challenges of the dysfunctional housing market is to simply throw £10 billion at it in order to prop up the failed Right to Buy scheme.

Without explaining why and how the market economy works he goes on to say, "We have to explain why and how the market economy works and the role of competition as the consumer's friend."

(speech at Conservative Party Conference)

Competition is the consumer's friend.

To add to these surreal proceedings and pronouncements the Foreign Secretary can be seen charging around the place wearing just his underpants.

That competition is the consumer's friend will come as news to the former Chair of Ombudsman Services, Professor Dame Janet Finch. She doesn't believe for one minute that competition is the consumer's friend. For her, "Proposals for an independent Scotland include the creation of a single consumer ombudsman. We believe this should be the reality of the UK.It is Ombudsman Services' ambition to grow to cover sectors that do not currently provide redress and expand in areas that do, to offer great protection to both consumers and business."

(Ombudsman Services Annual Report 2013-2014)

No competition there.

Q. Lord Tim Clement Jones, there was no published range of awards in 2013-2014 which contravened the OFT's criterion. How is that great consumer protection?

Q. Lord Tim Clement Jones, in 2013-14 average financial awards fell to £100 from £1.511.75p three years earlier. How is that great consumer protection?

It remains all too easy for true believers to assert  commitment to free markets and great consumer protection but the reality is very very different. It is time for a public inquiry into the RICS and its, "appointed" company Ombudsman Services:Property.