Tory MP: Disabled should work for less than minimum wage

Tory backbencher Philip Davies caused outrage today by telling Parliament that disabled people should work for less than the minimum wage, reports Shamik Das.

Tory backbencher Philip Davies caused outrage today by telling Parliament that disabled people should work for less than the minimum wage. The remarks were described as “outrageous and unacceptable” by a select committee chair, and “a preposterous suggestion” by a leading charity. Davies made his comments during a debate on the Employment Opportunities Bill, which had its second reading today.

Anne Begg, chair of the work and pensions committe, said:

“These comments are utterly outrageous and unacceptable. To suggest that disabled people should be treated as second class citizens is shocking and shows just what a warped world some Tories demonstrate they inhabit.”

Davies also said people with learning difficulties should be made to work for sub-standard wages – made to work for less than £5.93 an hour.

Responding, Mind spokeswoman Sophie Corlett said:

“It is a preposterous suggestion that someone who has a mental health problem should be prepared to accept less than minimum wage to get their foot in the door with an employer.

“People with mental health problems should not be considered a source of cheap labour and should be paid appropriately for the jobs they do.”

Last month, Davies described Britain’s contribution to international aid as “stark raving mad”; more sinister were his recent comments that there was nothing offensive about ‘blacking up’.

Davies had said:

“Why it is so offensive to black up your face… I have never understood this.”

As I said before, what a sad, pathetic little man Mr Davies is.

98 Responses to “Tory MP: Disabled should work for less than minimum wage”

  1. Tom White

    LOL – well if you ever needed evidence that Anon E Bore is a troll, here it is. Quintessential stuff. Difficult to argue in favour of the rightwinger in this case. Problem? Not at all. Start a ‘debate’ on a minor factual point and then pursue it myopically rather than actually engage with the main issue.

    Dreary.

  2. Anon E Mouse

    Tom Shite – As I said earlier, to be called a troll by a man like yourself who voted for Gordon Brown, is really not an insult. How could it be?

    Whilst qualifying my position regarding this man’s unacceptable comments in post 7, I am just looking to ensure there is no hypocrisy from this body that we have no power to get rid of.

    This MP can be sacked by his local party and the electors get the chance to give him the boot every five years which is more often than the Quango in discussion.

    Both positions are wrong – his views and their unequal rates of pay, yet you choose to make personal remarks about my comments – remarks that we can see from my initial post are clearly incorrect. I do have a right wing bias which is why I voted for Labour my whole life.

    But with people with your smearing attitude representing the Ed Miliband / Gordon Brown style of the party I feel it’s going to be a long long time but you get anywhere power in this country again Tom Shite. Which is good…

    Predictable.

  3. larry

    that S O B Wouldn’t be saying that if he wAS DISABLED

  4. joe kane

    The Tory rodent, who trolls other Labour Party associated websites and blogs, just can’t stop their anti-social abuse on an unmoderated blog.

    Keep repeating the same lies and maybe somebody will believe them Tory rodent, but I doubt it. Most people aren’t small-minded bigoted racist Tory supporters like you.

    Keep up the great work Tory rodent. We couldn’t do it without you.

    Your anonymous internet campaign of abusiveness and unwillingness to engage in civilised debate just proves how morally, intellectually and democratically bankrupt the Tories are.

  5. Mason Dixon, Autistic

    “Mason Dixon, Autistic – YOU produced the figures not me. Either HE’S right (which I suspect is the case) or HE’S not. ”

    The figures are right (they are self-published by the Commission themselves), his claim about them is not. After repeatedly explaining to you why he is not right, you’ve shown you just don’t want to listen nor apply the O-level that was wasted on you.

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