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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/sep/08/iain-duncan-smith-disability-normal-commons
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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Iain Duncan Smith calls people without a disability 'normal' | Iain Duncan Smith calls people without a disability 'normal' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith has been criticised for referring to people without a disability as “normal”. | Work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith has been criticised for referring to people without a disability as “normal”. |
| The Conservative cabinet minister made the remarks in the House of Commons as he defended the government’s record on getting more people with a disability back into work. | The Conservative cabinet minister made the remarks in the House of Commons as he defended the government’s record on getting more people with a disability back into work. |
| “I think the figure is now over 220,000, which I believe is the highest figure since records began, in proportionate terms, but the most important point is that we are looking to get that up to the level of normal, non-disabled people who are back in work. Those with disabilities have every right and every reason to expect exactly the same support into work that everybody else gets,” he said. | “I think the figure is now over 220,000, which I believe is the highest figure since records began, in proportionate terms, but the most important point is that we are looking to get that up to the level of normal, non-disabled people who are back in work. Those with disabilities have every right and every reason to expect exactly the same support into work that everybody else gets,” he said. |
| He was criticised by Eilidh Whiteford, the SNP social justice spokeswoman, who heard the comments in the chamber and said they provided a “shocking insight” into Duncan Smith’s mentality. | He was criticised by Eilidh Whiteford, the SNP social justice spokeswoman, who heard the comments in the chamber and said they provided a “shocking insight” into Duncan Smith’s mentality. |
| Unite, the trade union, said “shame on IDS and his shocking language” about disabled people, while the PCS union said the remarks were “disgraceful”. | Unite, the trade union, said “shame on IDS and his shocking language” about disabled people, while the PCS union said the remarks were “disgraceful”. |
| Labour MP Kate Green said: “Iain Duncan Smith’s remarks about disabled people in parliament are offensive, hurtful and ignorant. It’s completely unacceptable for a government minister to single out disabled people as not ‘normal’. The work and pensions secretary should issue an immediate apology for calling non-disabled people ‘normal’.” | |
| Duncan Smith’s comments come at a sensitive time, as the work and pensions secretary is planning a radical overhaul of sickness benefits that the government hopes will force up to 1 million more disabled people into work. | |
| Changes to employment and support allowance and the assessment of people claiming sickness benefits are aimed at shrinking the “disability employment gap” by taking many people off benefits and expecting them to move into work. | Changes to employment and support allowance and the assessment of people claiming sickness benefits are aimed at shrinking the “disability employment gap” by taking many people off benefits and expecting them to move into work. |
| Related: Disabled people's rights threatened by government cuts, campaigners warn | Related: Disabled people's rights threatened by government cuts, campaigners warn |
| Some disability campaigners claim they are being targeted as part of a £12bn cut in the welfare bill, and a group of protesters have clashed with police in the House of Commons after they tried to storm the chamber during prime minister’s questions to protest against benefit cuts. | Some disability campaigners claim they are being targeted as part of a £12bn cut in the welfare bill, and a group of protesters have clashed with police in the House of Commons after they tried to storm the chamber during prime minister’s questions to protest against benefit cuts. |
| A letter to the Guardian from more than 100 charities in June argued that the hard-won rights of people with a learning disability to live independent lives were being eroded as a result of government cuts to benefits and social care services. | A letter to the Guardian from more than 100 charities in June argued that the hard-won rights of people with a learning disability to live independent lives were being eroded as a result of government cuts to benefits and social care services. |