Comments on the PACE debate,House of Lords (Grand Committee)on 6th February 2013.

[Daisymay]

Permission to Repost.

Comments on the PACE debate held in the House of Lords (Grand Committee) on
6th February 2013.

An analysis of the comments made by the various Lords at the PACE Debate as
a result of a question posed by the Countess of Mar.

http://www.meactionuk.org.uk/Comments-on-the-PACE-debate-held-in-Grand-Commi
ttee-on-6th-February-2013.htm

http://bit.ly/YGtOkj

If you would prefer to read this via a PDF document then you may access via
this link:
http://www.meactionuk.org.uk/Comments-on-the-PACE-debate-held-in-Grand-Commi
ttee-on-6th-February-2013.pdf

http://bit.ly/ZAkJZq

 

[user9876]

The government seem highly supportive of the PACE trial.

http://www.pacetrial.org/docs/Northover.pdf


There is a letter posted on the PACE web page from the Baroness Northover from the (LibDem) government's wips office is quite sycophantic in its support for PACE. Describing it as a "well constructed robust research study". The letter demonstrates that White is clearly lobbying for his work but also that politicians are being mislead about quality.

 

[Dolphin]

Having read all about Science Media Centre and how proud they were to provide media training to the PACE Trial researchers to prepare for media coverage, help bring about "threats to CFS researchers" media coverage in 2011 and 2013, etc. I wonder whether there was any chance they were involved in briefing these members of the House of Lords?

 

[Sean]

Sense About Science are just a propaganda unit, and should be treated as such.

 

[Esther12]

I thought it was the SMC who led the way with PACE spin, and SAS only peripherally involved? (Although they are connected). I'd certainly expect these figures to be involved in lobbying politicians about CFS too though.

I don't think I've been keen on some stuff from ME action in the past. Not read this yet though.

 

[Dolphin]

I thought it was the SMC who led the way with PACE spin, and SAS only peripherally involved? (Although they are connected).

Oops, got my establishment-loving groups mixed up there. Have fixed now.

I'd certainly expect these figures to be involved in lobbying politicians about CFS too though.

I don't think I've been keen on some stuff from ME action in the past. Not read this yet though.

Same style as others.

 

[Marco]

well constructed robust research study

I've noticed that any discussion of PACE by third parties (i.e. anyone not directly involved in the research or patient reps) uses exactly the same terminology, phrasing, sentences, whole paragraphs.

Not surprisingly politicians/the press etc are more than happy to use an off the shelf brief if one is provided and I'm sure the briefers don't need to asked twice.

Politicians, when faced with a question outside of their expertise, often ask officials for a 'line to take' and officials will obviously be selective as to where they get their advice from.

Don't expect that any of the establishment parties to the debate were actually thinking for themselves or expressing a personal opinion.

 

[Firestormm]

Marco I think that also people see Randomised Controlled Trial and look at the cost - and think - 'well it has to be good'. Others will simply endorse what the experts tell them to because to question, to probe, even to read outside of the 'box', requires time and effort and some knowledge; but also a willingness to upset the apple cart.

 

[MeSci]

I thought it was the SMC who led the way with PACE spin, and SAS only peripherally involved? (Although they are connected). I'd certainly expect these figures to be involved in lobbying politicians about CFS too though.

I don't think I've been keen on some stuff from ME action in the past. Not read this yet though.

Sorry if this has been posted before, but I have just seen a document here:

http://tiny.cc/qryg0w

which cites a connection between the two organisations:

"The SMC jointly nominated Simon Wessely for the inaugural Sense About Science John Maddox Prize for Standing up for Science for his courage and bravery in speaking out on CFS in the face on intimidation, which Simon won...."

 

[Esther12]

Also SAS director Tracey Brown is connected to the LM group, publishing stuff at Living Marxism, Spiked, Institute of Ideas, and being connected to Global Futures.

Brown is one of those people who thinks big business is unduly hampered by the riches it must provide those it screws over.

Here's some of her correspondence with big Tobacco:

http://www.powerbase.info/images/b/b9/Brown.pdf

This Brown letter promoting Furedi and Wessely's work was also part of a tobacco file I think:

http://www.powerbase.info/images/9/96/Brown2.pdf

There are also others at SAS connected to LM too.

 

[MeSci]

Also SAS director Tracey Brown is connected to the LM group, publishing stuff at Living Marxism, Spiked, Institute of Ideas, and being connected to Global Futures.

Brown is one of those people who thinks big business is unduly hampered by the riches it must provide those it screws over.

Here's some of her correspondence with big Tobacco:

http://www.powerbase.info/images/b/b9/Brown.pdf

This Brown letter promoting Furedi and Wessely's work was also part of a tobacco file I think:

http://www.powerbase.info/images/9/96/Brown2.pdf

There are also others at SAS connected to LM too.

What delightful people they are...

 

[Dolphin]

Peter White:

I have had to provide responses to Parliamentary Questions from members of both Houses of Parliament to allow them to understand the nature and findings of the PACE trial. In particular, I had to recently brief several members of the House of Lords so that they might speak in a critical debate about the Pace trial held on 6th February this year (exhibit C)

from:
http://www.informationtribunal.gov.uk/DBFiles/Decision/i1069/20130822 Decision EA20130019.pdf