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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/tory-mp-richard-benyon-disabled-protesters-bunch-of-charmers-sitting-down-twitter-a7230976.html
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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Tory MP calls disabled protesters a 'bunch of charmers sitting down' | Tory MP calls disabled protesters a 'bunch of charmers sitting down' |
| (2 days later) | |
| A Tory MP is facing criticism after complaining about wheelchair-bound protesters “sitting down on Westminster Bridge”. | A Tory MP is facing criticism after complaining about wheelchair-bound protesters “sitting down on Westminster Bridge”. |
| Richard Benyon, the MP for Newbury, tweeted a picture of the protestors saying they had disrupted millions of Londoners and described them as a “bunch of charmers”. | Richard Benyon, the MP for Newbury, tweeted a picture of the protestors saying they had disrupted millions of Londoners and described them as a “bunch of charmers”. |
| The demonstrators, many of whom were disabled, were protesting against the Government’s disability cuts. | The demonstrators, many of whom were disabled, were protesting against the Government’s disability cuts. |
| The tweet has since been deleted. | The tweet has since been deleted. |
| Penny Pepper, a writer and disabled rights activist, took to Twitter to respond to Mr Benyon’s tweet. | Penny Pepper, a writer and disabled rights activist, took to Twitter to respond to Mr Benyon’s tweet. |
| “It's disabled people. Get real please. We have the charmers in government blocking us with savage cuts,” she said. | “It's disabled people. Get real please. We have the charmers in government blocking us with savage cuts,” she said. |
| “Cuts that mean people DIE. Young old female male Cuts that mean we sleep in own mess. Life worse than jail.” | “Cuts that mean people DIE. Young old female male Cuts that mean we sleep in own mess. Life worse than jail.” |
| Mr Benyon is currently the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Natural Environment and Fisheries and was first elected as the MP for Newbury in 2005. | Mr Benyon is currently the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Natural Environment and Fisheries and was first elected as the MP for Newbury in 2005. |
| The Independent has contacted Mr Benyon’s office for a comment. | The Independent has contacted Mr Benyon’s office for a comment. |
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