Cornish councillor's disgusting statement

If this is proved to be true he definiatley should not resign he should be sacked.

It sounds to me as if a certain Cornish councillor may not be value for money and perhaps he should be put down.

Oh dear, what an awful person. Just read Barrow's post out to my DH, who commented, "Flushing him down the toilet would be a waste of good water". I thoroughly agree with him.

Shocked and very very angry.Sacking too good for him.

too!

Surely if there witnesses to his statement he could be charged under the Disability Discrimination Act? What was the reaction he was trying to provoke?

story here

I'm just surprised he got out of the hall with all his body parts intact.

It was 2011. Why didn't the charity worker who he said it to, do something?!

Wouldn't you have got straight on to the newspapers?

That's appalling. Maybe the charity worker thought that the investigation would impose greater sanctions than simply writing a letter.

I've just read the report and voted that he should resign.

Marelli I don't think such a comment constitutes discrimination in the same way as, say, refusing to employ someone because they have a disability. It was just massively offensive. At the time, there was still a law in place about making an offensive statement that could cause distress to anyone hearing it, although that has now been changed. (It was the law under which a student was arrested for describing a policeman's horse as gay.)

j08 Complaining to the Council was surely the appropriate way to deal with the matter. The Council, however, does not seem to have responded in a similarly appropriate way. I know MPs can't be sacked; can councillors?

Maybe the "appropriate way" Absent, but perhaps less effective.

I'm not sure, absent. Verbal discrimination re disability may work the same as verbal racial discrimination - all applying to the Human Rights Act. He didn't 'abuse' a person, but used an abusive remark. I wouldn't want him as my councillor, however hard he tried to redeem himself.

It seems impossible to imagine that this comment was made seriously. It might be that it was said ironically to make a point about lack of funding - but it is unbelievable that a councillor would make such a comment with any serious intent. Bizzarre in the extreme. I cannot imaginer what he was thinking - if anything.

Thanks jo8 for posting the link - something beyond my capabilities!

I know there are some people who would think this comment could be taken as a joke - can't say I share that kind of sense of humour. He has said that he had just come from a difficult council meeting, as if that could excuse his remarks. I can only hope that his constituents call for his resignation and failing that don't re-elect him. Horrible man

Having a child with a disability myself I was horrified to see this but thank goodness most people do not think like this councillor. Having been to a difficult meeting is no excuse for such a thoughtless remark which could cause offence and distress, and as for wanting to provoke a reaction,I hope his fellow councillors and his constituents are provoked enough to call for his resignation

I just saw him on the local news, grovelling. There is absolutely NO excuse for his behaviour or for allowing him to continue in office!

If he weren't an independent, his party would probably throw him out. I would have when I was handling party discipline!

His comments were illegal, as they actually constitute a hate crime, so he could have been reported to the police at the time - hate crime has to be perceived by the person on the receiving end as a hate crime for it to be upheld, so the worker could have reported it, and I am surprised they didn't

I am registered disabled myself, and am shocked by the attitude shown to disabled people - I work full time, but am a blue badge holder, and have heard comments such as I must be a scrounger because I look physically OK, its hard to keep my mouth shut sometimes especially when Im on duty !

He should go. That comment revealed his inner Nazi: they DID kill disabled children as well as disabled adults.

I don't see how just saying something thoroughly nasty can be a hate crime – no crime was committed. He didn't actually try to put down disabled children, he just said that they should be. I'm not sure he even said it to a disabled person directly. It was an appalling thing to say, but I cannot see that it should be treated as a crime. If he doesn't resign now, he will almost certainly lose his seat at the next election.