Tory MP: Disabled should work for less than minimum wage

Social Justice

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.

No related posts.

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

  1. joe kane

    Philp Davies MP expenses claims.
    In 5 years he’s cost the taxpayer over half a million pounds. Obviously Davies isn’t working for minimum wages or below –

    Tory MP Philip Davies Rakes It In From Taxpayers While Telling Disabled People they Must Work for Less
    Ayes to the left
    20 June 2011
    http://cameron-cloggysmoralcompass.blogspot.com/2011/06/unbelievable-hypocrisy-of-conservative.html

  2. lucy bray

    http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/resignationofphillipdavismp/signatures

  3. Cameron and Osborne want the unemployed to work for £1.78 an hour | Left Foot Forward

    […] Davies argued that for disabled people: “…the national minimum wage may be more of a hindrance than a […]

  4. Adam Johnson

    Philip Davies referring to Lib Dem "lickspittle Euro fanatics". You may when he called for wage cuts for the disabled: http://t.co/SUGLkGHA

  5. David John Austin

    Don't normally like @leftfootfwd but… Philip Davies MP: Disabled should work for less than minimum wage http://t.co/MJWXh36q What a twat.

Comments are closed.