Cornwall Council has today distanced itself from a controversial councillor who repeatedly said disabled children "should be put down" and compared the cost of supporting a disabled child with that of public toilets.
Wadebridge east councillor Collin Brewer's views have been slammed in a cross-party statement, signed by the leaders of the majority of the parties represented in the unitary authority, which said that Mr Brewer's comments were "unacceptable".
It emerged at the weekend that Mr Brewer had apparently given an interview with Disability News Service (DNS) where he repeatedly raised concerns about the "burden" of disabled children and said "there may be a case" for killing some disabled babies.
The council statement said: "The recently published comments which are attributed to Councillor Brewer are completely unacceptable and are contrary to the Council's policy of supporting all people with disabilities.
"Such views have no place in local government. These remarks represent the personal views of Councillor Brewer who does not speak for the Council or the people of Cornwall."
The statement was signed by Jeremy Rowe, leader of the Liberal Democrat group, John Wood, leader of the Independent group, Fiona Ferguson, leader of the Conservative group, Malcolm Moyle, leader of the Labour group, Stephanie McWilliam, Leader of UKIP group and Dick Cole, leader of Mebyon Kernow.
