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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Anger at Chancellor's disability employment comments | Anger at Chancellor's disability employment comments |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Chancellor has been criticised by a disabled charity for saying high levels of disabled people in the workforce may have had an impact on productivity. | The Chancellor has been criticised by a disabled charity for saying high levels of disabled people in the workforce may have had an impact on productivity. |
| Speaking to the Treasury Committee, Philip Hammond said the UK should be "extremely proud of high levels of participation by disabled people". | Speaking to the Treasury Committee, Philip Hammond said the UK should be "extremely proud of high levels of participation by disabled people". |
| But that may have had an impact on the UK's overall productivity. | But that may have had an impact on the UK's overall productivity. |
| Disabled charity Scope called for an apology, saying the comments were "unacceptable and derogatory". | Disabled charity Scope called for an apology, saying the comments were "unacceptable and derogatory". |
| Last month the government announced plans to get a million more disabled people into work within a decade. | Last month the government announced plans to get a million more disabled people into work within a decade. |
| Anna Bird, director of policy and research at Scope, said Mr Hammond's comments "fundamentally undermine the government's policy and the ambition set out by the prime minister just a week ago". | |
| She called on him urgently to withdraw the remarks. | |
| The challenge of getting to work in a wheelchair | |
| Office for National Statistics figures show that disabled people remain twice as likely to be unemployed as their able-bodied peers. | Office for National Statistics figures show that disabled people remain twice as likely to be unemployed as their able-bodied peers. |
| Labour MP Marsha de Cordova, shadow minister for disabled people, tweeted: "As a disabled person I am shocked and appalled that Philip Hammond is trying to blame me and other disabled people for the Tories' economic failure. | Labour MP Marsha de Cordova, shadow minister for disabled people, tweeted: "As a disabled person I am shocked and appalled that Philip Hammond is trying to blame me and other disabled people for the Tories' economic failure. |
| "He should apologise immediately for this disgraceful comment." | "He should apologise immediately for this disgraceful comment." |
| She said the disability productivity gap had been "stuck at 30 odd percent" since 2010 and she called for a massive investment strategy and education programmes. | She said the disability productivity gap had been "stuck at 30 odd percent" since 2010 and she called for a massive investment strategy and education programmes. |
| Sophie Morgan, a disability rights campaigner and presenter, expressed her anger on Twitter. | |
| She was joined by inclusion expert Mik Scarlet, who responded to Mr Hammond by documenting his journey to work. |