Cornish councillor's disgusting statement

http://www.report-it.org.uk/what_is_hate_crime

Absent , the law states that it is a hate crime if perceived by the person hearing/seeing it feels that it is, the person themselves does not have to be disabled/black/gay if they perceive the remark to be motivated by prejudice or stereotyping - hate crime encompasses speech = it is no different to making a racist remark such as 'all black people should be shot'
People seem to have finally understood that being racist is illegal, but being 'disablist ' is somehow OK

Slept well.

Gave me a bit of a laugh when I read in a report today that he 'hadn't slept last night, and probably wouldn't tonight...'. He made that comment in 2011 and presumably slept will until the chickens came home to roost!

I was speehless when I read the comments of this horrendous councillor,and the fact that he was' considering resigning' over his unbelievable and wicked remarks.He should have been sacked immediately------or worse ! Shame we no longer have the Stocks! I sincerely hope he is forced out and quickly by his fellow councillors and the Cornish public.

Good.

Good heavens what an idiot - obviously his brain wasn't in gear when he said this remark - I'm sure he didn't mean it, least I hope he didn't. Perhaps he'll think twice before saying anything of the sort again.

He has resigned,
thank goodness

He has resigned. Good!

I don't think he committed a hate crime because of what he said - I am a great believer in free speech. However, along with the right of free speech comes responsibility and consequences.

If he had any honour at all he would resign immediately.

I think most families have someone who has some type of disability. This man should be sacked for being an idiot.

Well, my little sister is blind - if I'd heard that ar*ehole I'd have throttled him. He has shown the world an evil side to his nature. Grrrrrrrrrrr.

PS
She works as an online translator and as a tutor in computer programs for blind people - she has always supported herself.

It can only be be a hate crime if what he said has incited a criminal offence that can be directly attributed to his comments. What on earth this loathsome person is doing in his job is another matter, whether he made the comments to provoke a reaction, or not.

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.

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

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 !

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

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!

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

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

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.

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.

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

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?

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