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'Put disabled children down' Cornwall councillor sorry Councillor considers resignation over disabled comment
(about 3 hours later)
A councillor has apologised for telling a disability charity that "disabled children cost the council too much money and should be put down". A councillor who said disabled children "should be put down" because they cost too much is considering his future.
Collin Brewer, an independent member of Cornwall Council, made the comments to a Disability Cornwall member at a stall at County Hall in Truro in 2011.Collin Brewer, an independent member of Cornwall Council, made the comments to a Disability Cornwall member at a stall at County Hall in Truro in 2011.
The charity complained and the authority's Standards Committee has reported its findings.The charity complained and the authority's Standards Committee has reported its findings.
Mr Brewer said he had been trying to "provoke a reaction". Mr Brewer, who has faced calls to step down, said he would consider his position at home later.
Mr Brewer said he had hoped his comment that "disabled children cost the council too much money and should be put down", would provoke a response and a debate into the issue of service costs provision, but said he "did not get the reaction he wanted".
"Sometimes people can catch you on the wrong day. It's not a good enough excuse an I will forever be apologising for what I said."
Comment 'depraved'
Councillor John Wood, leader of the Independent Group, said: "My personal thoughts are that yes he should stand down."
"As soon as I heard of the Standards Committee's findings I wrote to Mr Brewer and said as far as I was concerned he was no longer a member of our group.
"If I was in his position I would resign."
Theresa Court, who was on the Disability Cornwall stall, said she was "absolutely horrified" when she heard the "depraved comment".Theresa Court, who was on the Disability Cornwall stall, said she was "absolutely horrified" when she heard the "depraved comment".
The Standards Committee ordered Mr Brewer to make a formal written apology to the charity. Steve Paget, chair of Disability Cornwall, said Mr Brewer's apology did not feel "heartfelt" and believes it has been sparked by media attention.
His apology letter read: "I am writing to offer my wholehearted apology for the offence these remarks have clearly caused. "It is unforgivable for anybody who is an elected member, who is a member of Cornwall council to say such an abhorrent thing," said Mr Paget.
"While I meant no offence by my remarks to you I can see, in retrospect, that they were ill-judged and insensitive and should not have been made at all." "It is of great concern to us that anyone with such beliefs, let alone to vocalise them, could be a representative and elected member of our local authority."
Steve Paget, chair of Disability Cornwall, said: "It is of great concern to us that anyone with such beliefs, let alone to vocalise them, could be a representative and elected member of our local authority. Sue Bennie, from Camborne, has a 15-year-old son with a disability. "I am trying very hard not to swear," she said.
"For such a serious issue and multiple breaches of [the] code of conduct, bringing the council into disrepute, we did expect no less than this councillor's resignation be called for." "Words can never be taken back, others have resigned for less. I think he should go."
Councillor John Wood, leader of the independent group on Cornwall Council, has told BBC Radio Cornwall he had emailed Mr Brewer last night to tell him he was "no longer a member of the independent group".
He said councillor Brewer is now a "stand-alone independent".
Parent anger
North Cornwall MP Dan Rogerson said he was "shocked" at the comments.North Cornwall MP Dan Rogerson said he was "shocked" at the comments.
"I'm stunned that he would have made a remark like that and there is no way it can be defended.""I'm stunned that he would have made a remark like that and there is no way it can be defended."
Sue Bennie from Camborne, has a 15-year-old son with a disability.
"I am trying very hard not to swear," she said.
"Words can never be taken back, others have resigned for less. I think he should go."
Mr Brewer told BBC News he had received no calls to resign from his Wadebridge seat.
'No offence meant''No offence meant'
He said he had been in a meeting in the morning about council cuts and had been "hot under the collar". Earlier, Mr Brewer told BBC News that he had received no calls to resign from his Wadebridge seat. He said he had been in a meeting in the morning about council cuts and had been "hot under the collar".
He said: "We had had a difficult morning deciding on budget and job cuts. "I listened to one of the ladies on the Disability Cornwall stall and came out with the comment," he said.
"I listened to one of the ladies on the Disability Cornwall stall and came out with the comment.
"If only I had not said that. I didn't mean it. I did it to provoke a response and debate the issue of service costs provision."If only I had not said that. I didn't mean it. I did it to provoke a response and debate the issue of service costs provision.
"It backfired. I was treating her with a lack of respect and I shouldn't have done it.""It backfired. I was treating her with a lack of respect and I shouldn't have done it."
He added: "I meant no offence. I would defend disabled children to the last."He added: "I meant no offence. I would defend disabled children to the last."
The Standards Committee ordered Mr Brewer to make a formal written apology to the charity, which he has completed.