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Jobseeker immolates himself outside a Birmingham jobcentre

By New Statesman Published 29 June 2012 13:36

A job centre. Photograph: Getty Images

The Birmingham Mail is reporting that a jobseeker has "set himself alight" outside a jobcentre in Selly Oak:

A DESPERATE job seeker set himself alight outside a Birmingham Jobcentre in an alleged row over his benefit payments. Horrified eyewitnesses saw the man douse himself in flammable liquid after tying himself to railings at the Jobcentre Plus in Harborne Lane, Selly Oak, at around 9.20am. Cops rushed to the aid of the 48-year-old man and sprayed him with fire extinguishers after he suffered burns to his lower legs.

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23 comments

Thu, 2012-07-19 13:47 — Goji (not verified)

Nice article..... interesting.
Goji Goji fructe goji

Tue, 2012-07-03 23:16 — Fraziel1

I wonder what the whole story is. Why was he denied money? Was his next payment not due? Was he maxed out on social fund loans? Was he waiting on a first payment from an overdue new claim? My bet is he is mentally disturbed to do sch a thing so to imply a rational person set fire to themselves over not receiving a payment without explaining everything else is pretty pathetic really. I wonder why he happened to have flammable liquid on his person.

Sat, 2012-06-30 23:37 — Robert Taggart

Scroungers unite, do not let the 'bar stewards' get you down !
Moi ? Claims, appeals, re-claims, re-appeals... !!

Sat, 2012-06-30 21:17 — GladysH (not verified)

IMMOLATES? Why don't you use plain English and call it what it is -

THE MAN SET FIRE TO HIMSELF - or would that be too inflammatory?

Sat, 2012-06-30 17:35 — ClaireL (not verified)

I don't know where commentator's lack of compassion comes from. For one thing, you assume that this man is a dole scrounger. You don't know that he may have had a job since leaving school, and has been made redundant recently, can't get another that'll keep the roof over his family's head, pay the bills or how they will eat. Try putting yourself in other people's shoes for a change, and have more sympathy. You're only one step away from poverty yourselves. That's all it takes. One step.

Sat, 2012-06-30 16:08 — Mr Humanus Wright (not verified)

Quote of the Day - Regarding Gareth Williams, “The world was ours for the taking.”. There's a rumour going around that Gareth may of had some sort of a last covert mission with 'Dolly the Sheep', prior to his demise, but it hasn't been fully substantiated! Apparently Alex Chapman didn't know about this covert relationship, but he may have Saw(ers) alot! Ronan Summers definitely didn't have anything to do with it, even though he loves to drink Tenets! We all love Wiltshire (Porton Down) more than Gloucestershire (GCHQ), even more so then Worcestershire (RSRE). Military Radiations Signals Intelligence always use to do 'his head in', especially when using ELF or VLF frequencies, impacting directly on the 'Neural Oscillations' of the Central Nervous System. But taking a 'Nano-Medicine' Paracetamol takes the head to a new level of game play, I'll assure you of that! Nothing to do with BCI, RNM, Synthetic Telepathy ... that would REALLY BE MAD!!! An odd thought shared ... the illegal "watching over" in our individual 'castles' of this beloved Britannia, while entertaining Babar Pappa.

Sat, 2012-06-30 23:20 — Mr Bingham (not verified)

Mr Humanus Wright

I take it, you won your appeal to remain on sickness benefits !

Sat, 2012-06-30 21:13 — New Stateswoman (not verified)

@ Mr Humanus Wright

Say what you mean, why don't you!

Sat, 2012-06-30 08:52 — paul Mersh (not verified)

he didnt set himself alight because he didn't have a job, He set himself alight because he didnt get an handout - that is the real story.........................

Fri, 2012-06-29 21:37 — Barry Ewart (not verified)

Some people forgetting about the absolute desperation of this human being. BRITONS NEVER NEVER SHALL BE WAGESLAVES. I hope he gets better.

Fri, 2012-06-29 20:10 — Jimminy-Wicket

So much for compassionate Conservatism it was always a myth!!

Fri, 2012-06-29 19:14 — Effie Mcleod (not verified)

Yeah and now we have the compassionate Conservatives , what a joke that is!!

Fri, 2012-06-29 20:13 — Jimminy-Wicket

Well said you are absolutely correct!

Fri, 2012-06-29 19:12 — Paco 34 (not verified)

Yeah and now we have the compassionate Conservatives , what a joke that is!!

Fri, 2012-06-29 20:14 — Jimminy-Wicket

It has taken you long enough to come to the same conclusion I reached a few years ago...have you just wakened up?

Fri, 2012-06-29 16:28 — mike cobley (not verified)

"the bullying of people on jsa started under new labour, the coalition is only continuing what labour began."

So anyone on the 'left' should approve of it, appears to be your logic then.

Fri, 2012-06-29 17:39 — john hurt (not verified)

Labour are not the party of the left, no matter how desperately this magazine tries to convince people.

Fri, 2012-06-29 17:38 — john hurt (not verified)

Labour are not the party of the left, no matter how desperately this magazine tries to convince people.

Fri, 2012-06-29 14:12 — Orthopedic Surgeon Salary

Man douse himself in flammable liquid.. ouch, that's just wrong! Should be locked in to the loony bin.
_______________________
Regards,
Orthopedic Surgeon Salary

Fri, 2012-06-29 15:41 — TomWiggles1 (not verified)

Yea that sounds good, Man so distraught with life that he burns himself, call him a loony and lock him up, that will make him better wont it. Its that sort of attitude and lack of compassion that causes half these problems in the first place.

Fri, 2012-06-29 20:16 — Harold Stassen (not verified)

Right-o; we'll send him round to your house so that he has a place to live. He'll not be homeless anymore and you'll get to feel morally superiour to everyone!