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'Put disabled down' councillor Collin Brewer resigns | 'Put disabled down' councillor Collin Brewer resigns |
(35 minutes later) | |
A Cornwall councillor at the centre of a row over his remark about disabled children has resigned. | A Cornwall councillor at the centre of a row over his remark about disabled children has resigned. |
Collin Brewer had told a charity worker at an event that disabled children should be "put down" because they cost the authority too much money. | Collin Brewer had told a charity worker at an event that disabled children should be "put down" because they cost the authority too much money. |
He made the comments to a Disability Cornwall member at a stall at County Hall in Truro in 2011. | He made the comments to a Disability Cornwall member at a stall at County Hall in Truro in 2011. |
Mr Brewer said it was unlikely he would be a candidate in the May elections. "I was wrong, I admit it," he said. | Mr Brewer said it was unlikely he would be a candidate in the May elections. "I was wrong, I admit it," he said. |
"I will continue to apologise," he added. | "I will continue to apologise," he added. |
Steve Paget, the chairman of Disability Cornwall, said: "Finally he's seen sense and resigned. This situation should never have got to this stage. | |
"I'm publicly calling on the council to provide disability equality training for all councillors. I'm appalled it has taken this long to reach a conclusion." | |
Mr Brewer's comments came to light following a report by the council's standards committee after the charity made a formal complaint. | |
The committee ordered Mr Brewer to make a formal written apology, which he completed. | |
Speaking after the report was made public, councillor John Wood, leader of the Independent Group, said: "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". | |
A Facebook page called "Cornwall Councillor Collin Brewer should resign" attracted 3,692 supporters. | |
Mr Brewer said: "It's very painful. I didn't sleep last night. I probably won't sleep tonight. | |
"I'm not eating. I think it will live with me. It's continual regret. I'm hoping I will cope with it. We will see." |