The disabled should be prepared to work for less than the minimum wage...

[revolutionscoop]

...according to Phillip Davies MP. It's almost as though he's implying that disabled workers should come cheap, rather like faulty goods that are sold at discount. I pity his constituents.

[ohmyfucksy]

Way to shaft your own career.

[whackamole]

Oh dear. What a twat.

[meltedchocolate]

That isn't what he said actually. He said they should be able to opt out if they wish. Presumably if they were looking for jobs and getting turned down all the time they could say 'but I will take less'.

Would hate to think what this would do to societies view on the disabled. :(

[tinkgirl]

seriously, we have to get this lot out, they are putting this country back 30 years with their attitudes.

[Mandy2003]

Perhaps he should propose a Buy One Get One Free while he's about it

I am a disabled person who works, I do not think my work is any less valuable than anyone else's.

[MedusaIsHavingABadHairDay]

Utter utter wanker.

Said as the mother to a learning disabled and autistic young man who nevertheless has far more to offer to the world that Mr Davies ever will... because my son, like his many disabled friends, is a decent human being.

I can't express how angry that man has made me feel...

[meltedchocolate]

As much as I don't agree with him YABU change his word usage OP (just trying to find the AIBU bit :o )

[MarioandLuigi]

But even that is a crap attitude to have MC - why should they accept less for doing a job that an able bodied person would be paid more for.

[fluffles]

meltedchocolate - that's even worse! the point of the minimum wage is that it CAN'T be undercut (except by unpaid interns but then that's another argument) and that people who are desperate cannot be bartered down to accept less than it's possible to live on.

Disabled people are no different, in fact often have higher living costs.

[meltedchocolate]

They shouldn't Mario. He is totally wrong. I am just correcting OP. I am in a mood, and being picky.

[AgentZigzag]

Not sure about your use of the term 'the disabled', but at people who have any kind of disability being encouraged to think they're somehow worth less than someone who doesn't.

And also legitimising the idea in everyone elses minds will make them think they can treat them differently in other areas of society.

[meltedchocolate]

I DO NOT AGREE WITH THIS GUY ONE LITTLE BIT!!! Please don't think I do :( My grumpiness will get me in trouble tonight, I can see it.

[Bottleofbeer]

I have absolutely ZERO tolerance for this kind of shit.

[cerealqueen]

And so giving the message to the world that its OK for disabled people to devalue themselves, and that is OK is it. I hate this government.

[EdithWeston]

Here's the In The News thread from earlier today.

This Private Members Bill has been rejected - all parties spoke against it in the House. So zero chance of any of this happening.

This loathsome individual I suppose has to be dealt with by his constituency - I hope they deselect him asap.

[aliceliddell]

And if we don't likeit, there are plenty of people fighting for our right to Assisted Suicide. So that's OK then. I feel really fucking great now. Thanks, Philip!

[LetThereBeRock]

What a tosser. Why should the work done by those with disabilities be valued less than work done by those without?
The cost of living is usually greater for those with disabilities,and in spite of that they should accept lower wages? WTF?

I'd be furious if this man was my MP,disabled or not.I'd have absolutely no confidence that he was able to represent my views as one of his constituents.

Why should opting out of a minimum wage be an option for those with disabilities? It only encourages employers to use them as cheap labour,and not to see them as valued employees who are of equal worth to employees without disabilities.

It's beyond me that people think it's acceptable to utter those views in public. It's bad enough to hold those views,but not every ugly thought that enters one's head ought to be shared with the world.
However perhaps it's a good thing that he has done this,as now his constituents can see just how vile he is.

[revolutionscoop]

Apologies for title, was paraphrasing - badly. He does say, and I quote, that the disabled are "by definition" less productive than the able bodied, and infers that few if any employers would choose to employ a disabled person without some sort of financial incentive.

[MarioandLuigi]

I know that you didnt agree with him MC :)

This makes me so sad, as a mother of a child who will grow up with a very uncertain future, to think there are people with this kind of attitude out there makes me very anxious. I am glad that he doesnt stand a cat in hells chance of getting it agreed, but still.

[Peachy]

here

Not just old Chopey then ( though I accept it's a minority)

DS1 isd head of the school council, vice chair of his house, has a very real talent we expect him to follow as a career.

Why on earth should anyone feel fit to be able to offer him a reduced wage?

Wanker.

[BulletWithAName]

What a prick!

[itisnearlysummer]

I can't imagine what the words sounded like in his head that made him think it was a good idea.

Cannot imagine anyone will actually agree with him. Surely?!

MC - I didn't read that you agree with him. Clarifying a point doesn't mean you agree with it.

[LetThereBeRock]

I've little doubt that someone will come along who thinks he has a point.

[itisnearlysummer]

revolutionscoop exactly. I think he said something along the lines of if an employed doesn't want to employ someone with a disability, then that person should be able to offer themselves at a lower rate.

Just shocking.

[EvenLessNarkyPuffin]

OK, there must be some MNers from his constituency.

Oi, Shipley people, //www.writetothem.com. Tell him what you think.