RINF Alternative News

Collin Brewer, an independent Cornwall councillor, has resigned following the backlash he received over saying “disabled children cost the council too much money and should be put down.”

Mr Brewer made the comment at a charity event at the County Hall in Truro and claimed he was trying to “provoke debate”.

During the event he approached a stall run by Disability Cornwall and made the outburst.

He initially apologised but refused to step down, telling the BBC: “It’s not a good enough excuse, I will forever be apologising for it. I can’t apologise enough. It’s not something that’s in my nature, I always support disabled charities. I am very sorry,” he said.

“Clearly it has gone to the standards board to provide any penalty whatsoever and the penalty they imposed was to write a letter of apology.

“I have no intention of resigning. I don’t think I have done anything wrong. I have apologised.”

It now seems that he has reconsidered his position following a storm of criticism from disabled people, carers and campaigners.

A spokesman for a disabled charity, Scope, slammed Mr. Brewers comment, saying: “To hear such an ill-judged and insensitive statement from a councillor is deeply disturbing and demonstrates that they are clearly not fit for office.

“In this case, the monitoring officer found that there had been a breach of the code of conduct and determined that the only appropriate and proportionate sanction he could impose was to require Councillor Brewer to issue a formal apology.”