Blackburn MP Jack Straw lobbying to ‘end postcode lottery’ insurance premiums

3:38pm Friday 21st September 2012 in News

BLACKBURN MP Jack Straw is lobbying Justice Secretary Chris Grayling to enact new laws stopping motorists being hit by sky-high insurance premiums because of their postcode.

He is stepping up his campaign on the issue after a new petition by two young Blackburn drivers gathered more than 10,000 supports in three weeks.

Anthony Simpson and Rob Daye were so angry at their and their friends’ premiums, they started a three-pronged bid to lower insurance in BB postcodes.

In just three weeks they have raised 3,000 signatures on a paper petition, 1,500 for an e-petition and 6,000 supporters on Facebook .

They have been backed by Mr Straw who is concerned that high numbers of whiplash claims in the town have led to massive hikes in premiums for all motorists living in Blackburn postcodes.

A year ago he introduced the Motor Insurance Regulation Bill into Parliament under the ten minute rule to try to press ministers into action.

Mr Straw said: “My bill had four clauses. The first, about lowering referral fees for claims, has been agreed by government and the industry and is about to be brought into force.

“The next two about whiplash claims and court procedures are in progress.

“The final one, about discrimination against drivers in Blackburn BB and some other postcodes, remains in limbo. I am stepping up my efforts to get action on this as well and lobbying Chris Grayling on the issue with the backing of this new petition.”

Mr Daye said: “I am delighted Mr Straw is stepping up his campaign. We will continue to collect supporters to our petitions to give more power to his arm.”

Comments(22)

wrigglers says...
4:16pm Fri 21 Sep 12

My insurance had doubled in the spave of two years. The reason they gave me because other car owners have had accidents in the area that i lived.

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woolywords says...
4:29pm Fri 21 Sep 12

Can I suggest that those involved in the e-petition do a little research using the Freedom of Information Act.
Create a list of similar sized town/cities to Blackburn, then using the FOI act, contact each of the Police forces involved and collate the incidence of accidents.
Use this information to get quotes from insurers in the relevant areas and compare the figures.
Since insurance is about off-set risk, it could be shown that Blackburn is being unfairly treated with just cause.

The very best of luck in your efforts.

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mavrick says...
4:36pm Fri 21 Sep 12

It is down to false and exaggerated claims for whiplash and excessive costs for repairs . There has also been a lot of staged accidents, How often have you heard of people suddenly stamping on their brakes for no reason and the car behind running into the back of the car. Compensation claims for injuries to people who were not even in the vehicle. That's why the premiums are so high. If your house gets robbed and you claim on your insurance the premiums go up for everyone in the postcode area. The Insurance companies need to brought to task especially on their weasel wording of policies.

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brfcianbrfc says...
4:53pm Fri 21 Sep 12

About time too. Rip off insurance companies should be brought to justice.

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ste.g says...
5:54pm Fri 21 Sep 12

keep up the good work

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sid2174 says...
6:53pm Fri 21 Sep 12

Long over due.

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superfly agaric says...
8:33pm Fri 21 Sep 12

Hooray for Jack Straw. The icing on the wonderful cake that has taken 33 years to bake.
When they unveil Jacks statue (on the top of the Town Hall, both arms spread facing East) I will rejoice with my insurance renewal form and tears of joy in my enlightened eyes.
There will be more songs than usual down Ewood Park in honour of Blackburns hero, Jack Straw.

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antwonpjmj1 says...
8:55pm Fri 21 Sep 12

woolywords wrote:
Can I suggest that those involved in the e-petition do a little research using the Freedom of Information Act.
Create a list of similar sized town/cities to Blackburn, then using the FOI act, contact each of the Police forces involved and collate the incidence of accidents.
Use this information to get quotes from insurers in the relevant areas and compare the figures.
Since insurance is about off-set risk, it could be shown that Blackburn is being unfairly treated with just cause.

The very best of luck in your efforts.
Hi wooly.

Thanks for your comment on our article :) Me and Rob set the e-petition up (http://www.gopetiti
on.com/petitions/get
-bb-postcodes-insura
nce-premiums-reduced
/sign.html) and unfortunately, such information are unobtainable, from insurance companies and Police forces. I have already approached the authorities to try and collate the information, but to no avail. From my experience into researching for the campaign, the will only disclose specific information to individuals.

Please come to our facebook group ( https://www.facebook
.com/groups/petition
bbinsurance/ or the website, which is www.petitioninsuranc
e.org.uk

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Plasticbertrand says...
10:00pm Fri 21 Sep 12

Straw's name should be added to the list, with Venky's and Kean's on it, as people Blackburn could do without. For years he has been sucking up to a certain community, in exchange for votes and it was them that has caused this situation. Moreover the Police have let them get away with murder, in fear of being branded racist. Grooming has been going on for years too, we all knew about it but nothing was done. He's only raised the issue recently as he's probably moving to the House of Lords at the next election and has no need for their support anymore. He's as slippery as a barrel of eels and should be sent packing.

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Enlightened Patriot says...
10:21pm Fri 21 Sep 12

Well that is rich! It is thanks to Straw and the rest of the traitorous Labour Party (the Condems being no different) that millions of unwanted and unneeded Third Worlders were shipped in to colonise the UK, these being the ones in this area feigning whiplash after staging car cash-for-crash scams thus pushing up premiums. The height of hypocrisy.

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wrinkles says...
12:36am Sat 22 Sep 12

I don't live in Blackburn but my insurers informed me that I'm being penalised with high vehicle insurance cost solely because I live in a BB postal code.

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useyourhead says...
8:35am Sat 22 Sep 12

If I wish to obtain medical insurance they don't ask me to bring my neighbour for a check-up nor do they ask me to pop over the road and ask what valuables the chap at the corner shop has when I get a home contents policy, so WHY am I penalised on my car premiums because someone two towns over is a thieving scammer? WHY?

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district01 says...
11:29am Sat 22 Sep 12

Better late than never Jack!
But what a pity you never thought of doing something when you actually had the power to do something. However, now that your son is wanting to take over the family business in the north of England apposed to where you both actually live how's your retirement planning going?

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sen c ble says...
1:01pm Sat 22 Sep 12

Enlightened Patriot wrote:
Well that is rich! It is thanks to Straw and the rest of the traitorous Labour Party (the Condems being no different) that millions of unwanted and unneeded Third Worlders were shipped in to colonise the UK, these being the ones in this area feigning whiplash after staging car cash-for-crash scams thus pushing up premiums. The height of hypocrisy.
The direct result for an increase in insurance premiuns in the last 18 months is the compensation claims culture and not the cash for crash scams, and areas where 'third worlders' numbers the minority, statistics shows a top 20 rating!

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dougsie says...
2:07pm Sat 22 Sep 12

well well jack you could be upsetting your asian friends here. you had better be careful

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sen c ble says...
3:18pm Sat 22 Sep 12

dougsie wrote:
well well jack you could be upsetting your asian friends here. you had better be careful
The highest percentage of claimants aint going to be too pleased if and when the injury claim culture is brought to an end.
Time to think of someting spectacular and pass on your expertise on to the minorities!

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sen c ble says...
3:38pm Sat 22 Sep 12

Could the insurance companies not get together and release some fantastic amalgamated injury claim statistics, as the East Lancashire police force did with the grooming news article. It's about time something was done to seal the loudest mouth's of a few, and knowing their potential without doubt they'll find other means of dispatching their garbage!

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hunter3062 says...
10:14pm Sat 22 Sep 12

try using search sites for car insurance i did and was amazed not all companies are penalising motorists in the bb area.also knock off the little extras they tag onto your policy eg: the green card cover to go abroad if you dont go you dont need it.look for free ncb cover some are charging an £70-150 for that pleasure.and make sure you put down the exact nature of your job if your a houseparent your penalised as if you were unemployed. my ins company advised me to put my occupation as a carer saved me £100.and dont expect your company to be loyal to you change your company each and evey year that way you benefit from the new customer bonuses..mine dropped from £800 a yr to less than £400.

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antwonpjmj1 says...
11:25pm Sat 22 Sep 12

Just to let you all know, this is me and rob daye's petition. jack straw is the man taking into house of commons for us. so please pop over to www.facebook.com/gro
ups/petitionbbinsura
nce and leave your messages there too.

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Dilshad says...
7:52pm Sun 23 Sep 12

It's about time insurance companies got the backsides kicked into shape. They use a criteria that's been set in stone for years. Age, sex, location, years driving, etc. and now I find I can get my premium reduced dramtically (i'm talking 30% reduction) by dumping my girlfriend and marrying my best male friend. Come on, get your act together and start using better statistics, maybe religion would be a good one.

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Dilshad says...
7:54pm Sun 23 Sep 12

Surely any statistician would tell you that it's not living in Blackburn that's the cause of making a claim. Your statistics are wrong.

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Voice in the crowd says...
4:06pm Mon 8 Oct 12

Lies **** lies and statistics! Yes fraudulent claims have a part to play but not as great a part as the ambulance chasing slip and trip lawyer and the Government who no longer pays for the vast majority of the ambulances that are being chased as that cost falls on the insurers, as does the cost of getting a police report from scene of an accident! Motor insurance is costly because of the excessive cost being placed upon it by society, let’s face it there was nothing really very wrong with your neck and at the other more serious end of the scale who would have ever believed payments for personal injury in excess of £10,000,000.00 a decade or so ago! And postcode fans do not for a minute think this will reduce your premiums, if anything it will only bring premiums up around the country. If you don’t believe me look at what happened with the gender bill for motor insurance, it just got more expensive for the women!

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