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MP advises man not to 'publicly comment' on issues if he has mental health problems | MP advises man not to 'publicly comment' on issues if he has mental health problems |
(5 days later) | |
A man with Asperger’s Syndrome has spoken of his shock at being told by an MP that he should maintain a dignified silence on political matters lest he "create problems" for himself. | A man with Asperger’s Syndrome has spoken of his shock at being told by an MP that he should maintain a dignified silence on political matters lest he "create problems" for himself. |
Guto Bebb, the Conservative MP for Aberconwy, Wales, made the astonishing comments within emails to Dylan Barlow after the constituent enquired about foreign affairs matters. | Guto Bebb, the Conservative MP for Aberconwy, Wales, made the astonishing comments within emails to Dylan Barlow after the constituent enquired about foreign affairs matters. |
“If you have mental health issues then you should possibly refrain from commenting in the public domain since it might create problems for you,” Mr Bebb advised. | “If you have mental health issues then you should possibly refrain from commenting in the public domain since it might create problems for you,” Mr Bebb advised. |
He also knocked Mr Barlow’s Asperger’s as a “sob story”. | He also knocked Mr Barlow’s Asperger’s as a “sob story”. |
The two began wrangling over emails after Mr Barlow asked about “Danish military involvement in the Faroe Islands”. | The two began wrangling over emails after Mr Barlow asked about “Danish military involvement in the Faroe Islands”. |
Mr Bebb took umbrage with some previous comments made by Mr Barlow on social media and so refused to take up the query. | Mr Bebb took umbrage with some previous comments made by Mr Barlow on social media and so refused to take up the query. |
Mr Bebb also said “Oh behave” twice to his constituent during the dialogue – a purported exchange which has been posted in its entirety online, Mr Barlow says. | |
To those who missed the full transcript of the emails from @GutoBebb , you can read them in full here: http://t.co/rdJNUzfKeT | To those who missed the full transcript of the emails from @GutoBebb , you can read them in full here: http://t.co/rdJNUzfKeT |
“We live in an age of free speech and for a politician to believe otherwise, goes to show the problems we face in our daily struggle,” 27-year-old Mr Barlow said. | “We live in an age of free speech and for a politician to believe otherwise, goes to show the problems we face in our daily struggle,” 27-year-old Mr Barlow said. |
Mr Bebb stood by his comments, telling the Daily Mirror: “If Dylan claims that some of his online comments should be understood in the context of his mental health issues then I think it was a generous piece of advice for him to think twice before he posts such comments. | Mr Bebb stood by his comments, telling the Daily Mirror: “If Dylan claims that some of his online comments should be understood in the context of his mental health issues then I think it was a generous piece of advice for him to think twice before he posts such comments. |
“I do have a close family history of mental health issues and find the idea that I would be derogatory of such an illness highly offensive.” | “I do have a close family history of mental health issues and find the idea that I would be derogatory of such an illness highly offensive.” |
He also added to The Independent: “It is very disappointing that the local Labour candidate is seeking to make political capital out of a constituent who has mental health/learning difficulties, who has had a long and difficult history with this office. | He also added to The Independent: “It is very disappointing that the local Labour candidate is seeking to make political capital out of a constituent who has mental health/learning difficulties, who has had a long and difficult history with this office. |
“Due to confidentiality issues in the MP/constituent relationship I am unable to offer any further comment.” | “Due to confidentiality issues in the MP/constituent relationship I am unable to offer any further comment.” |
Mary Wimbury, the Labour candidate Aberconwy, told her twitter followers last night: “I differ from Guto Bebb not just on politics. I think MPs should treat constituents with respect not discrimination. | Mary Wimbury, the Labour candidate Aberconwy, told her twitter followers last night: “I differ from Guto Bebb not just on politics. I think MPs should treat constituents with respect not discrimination. |
“Well, @GutoBebb really knows how to keep me motivated to beat him. There's a reason they call them the nasty party.” | “Well, @GutoBebb really knows how to keep me motivated to beat him. There's a reason they call them the nasty party.” |
Mr Barlow took to twitter to say that he has Asperger’s, depression, anxiety, ADHD and dyslexia. | Mr Barlow took to twitter to say that he has Asperger’s, depression, anxiety, ADHD and dyslexia. |
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