This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-21612089
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| '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. | 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." | "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. | 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 write an 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. | 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." | "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". |
| Sue Bennie from Camborne, who has a 15-year-old son with disabilities, said: "All I can say is good job. He's probably helped a load of people. | |
| "But if he had his ruling I would not have met my son. I'm glad the Cornish people have had words, and it's worked." | |
| Phil Wills from Truro, whose son Josh is severely autistic, said: "He's done the right thing. He didn't have any choice. | |
| "In any other job, you say that sort of thing, you would get sacked or suspended." | |
| A Facebook page called "Cornwall Councillor Collin Brewer should resign", set up in response to the council's report, attracted 3,692 supporters. | A Facebook page called "Cornwall Councillor Collin Brewer should resign", set up in response to the council's report, attracted 3,692 supporters. |
| Mr Brewer said: "It's very painful. I didn't sleep last night. I probably won't sleep tonight. | 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." | "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." |