This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/kent/7313716.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
'Extreme' blog councillor resigns 'Extreme' blog councillor resigns
(about 1 hour later)
A Medway councillor has resigned after claiming on his website that there should be compulsory sterilisation for parents on benefits.A Medway councillor has resigned after claiming on his website that there should be compulsory sterilisation for parents on benefits.
John Ward prompted comparisons with the Nazis after attacking what he called "professional spongers" whom he claimed "breed for greed".John Ward prompted comparisons with the Nazis after attacking what he called "professional spongers" whom he claimed "breed for greed".
The Tory councillor, who lives in Chatham, told BBC South East Today the views were not his own.The Tory councillor, who lives in Chatham, told BBC South East Today the views were not his own.
He lifted them from other sites, and has since deleted the page, he added.He lifted them from other sites, and has since deleted the page, he added.
When asked if he supported the concept of sterilisation, Mr Ward said: "No.When asked if he supported the concept of sterilisation, Mr Ward said: "No.
"I'd hope that before it became such a big problem that the nanny state does impose something like that the way they tend to do, with compulsory ID cards, compulsory whatever.""I'd hope that before it became such a big problem that the nanny state does impose something like that the way they tend to do, with compulsory ID cards, compulsory whatever."
'Extreme and unpleasant''Extreme and unpleasant'
The sentences from Mr Ward's blog said: "I think there is an increasingly strong case for compulsory sterilisation of all those who have a second, (or third, or whatever) child while living off state handouts."The sentences from Mr Ward's blog said: "I think there is an increasingly strong case for compulsory sterilisation of all those who have a second, (or third, or whatever) child while living off state handouts."
On Tuesday, he said he had lifted the words from other websites to promote debate, and had been interrupted before he had had a chance to make that clear on the web page he then published.On Tuesday, he said he had lifted the words from other websites to promote debate, and had been interrupted before he had had a chance to make that clear on the web page he then published.
Adding that he had resigned, he said he felt "delighted", with a "weight lifted from his shoulders".Adding that he had resigned, he said he felt "delighted", with a "weight lifted from his shoulders".
Mr Ward said his resignation was "a weight lifted from his shoulders"
But councillor Bill Esterson, from Medway's Labour group, said: "It had nothing to with the benefits culture issue.But councillor Bill Esterson, from Medway's Labour group, said: "It had nothing to with the benefits culture issue.
"It had everything to do with some extreme and very unpleasant views about forced sterilisation of people - the sort of thing that happens in totalitarian regimes, that happened in Nazi Germany.""It had everything to do with some extreme and very unpleasant views about forced sterilisation of people - the sort of thing that happens in totalitarian regimes, that happened in Nazi Germany."
Political blogger Iain Dale said: "The problem is if you're writing a blog and you get angry about something, you're anger transmits itself from your brain through your fingertips on to the keyboard and on to the internet.Political blogger Iain Dale said: "The problem is if you're writing a blog and you get angry about something, you're anger transmits itself from your brain through your fingertips on to the keyboard and on to the internet.
"Ten minutes later, you might think 'maybe I've gone a bit over the top there', but it's too late."Ten minutes later, you might think 'maybe I've gone a bit over the top there', but it's too late.
"You can amend what you've written, but it's already out there and someone, somewhere, will have found it.""You can amend what you've written, but it's already out there and someone, somewhere, will have found it."