Disability charities call Lord Freud 'not worth the full wage' comments 'offensive and outdated'

Welfare Reform Minister Lord Freud has issued an official apology, after receiving substantial criticism about his comments that some disabled people are 'not worthy' of being paid the minimum wage, calling his remarks “foolish.”

Disability charities Mencap and Mind said the Conservative Welform Reform Minister’s comments, made at a fringe meeting at the Conservative party conference, ‘perpetuate the negative societal attitudes towards people with disabilities.’

£2 an hour

Audio footage captured Lord Freud answering a question put to him by a Conservative councillor about the minimum wage and disabled people, where he suggests people with disabilities could be paid as little as £2 an hour.

Lord Freud can be heard saying: "Now, there is a small…there is a group, and I know exactly who you mean, where actually as you say they’re not worth the full wage and actually I’m going to go and think about that particular issue, whether there is something we can do nationally, and without distorting the whole thing, which actually if someone wants to work for £2 an hour, and it’s working can we actually…”

Prime Minister, David CameronDuring Prime Minister’s Question Time, David Cameron responded to questions raised about Lord Freud’s comments and said: “These are not the views of the Government, those are not the views of anyone in the Government. The minimum wage is paid to everybody, disabled people included.”

He also added: “I don’t need lectures from anyone about looking after disabled people.”

Official apology

Lord Freud has now issued an official apology, where he said: “I would like to offer a full and unreserved apology. I was foolish to accept the premise of the question. To be clear, all disabled people should be paid at least the minimum wage, without exception, and I accept that it is offensive to suggest anything else.

“I care passionately about disabled people. I am proud to have played a full part in a Government that is fully committed to helping disabled people overcome the many barriers they face in finding employment.

“I am profoundly sorry for any offence I have caused to any disabled people.”

However some MPs have called for Lord Freud to be sacked over his comments and disability charities said his comments have placed further barriers to getting more disabled people into work which is ‘upsetting and frankly quite frightening.’

Tom Pollard, policy and campaigns manager at Mind, said: “It is offensive and outdated to suggest that someone with a disability should be prepared to accept less than minimum wage. People with disabilities, including mental health problems, can and do make a valuable contribution to the workplace and should be paid the same as any other employees.

Perpetuating stigma

“Comments such as these are not helpful for people with disabilities, who already face many barriers in life. This type of remark only serves to perpetuate stigma and negative societal attitudes towards people with disabilities and has the potential to damage people’s confidence, making it even harder to get a job.”

Ciara Lawrence, who has a learning disability and is in full time employment said: “I find it disgusting that in 2014 a senior politician and member of the House of Lords is alleged to still believe inequality is acceptable. I did not choose to have a learning disability, however I do choose to work a full time job and with the right support around me have become a respected and valued member of my team. The same is true for many other people with a disability.

“People with a disability are often made to feel like second class citizens and face many barriers when trying to receive the same rights as everyone else, especially in employment.

“I hope politicians realise that people with a disability should be encouraged to become active citizens, and not to be discriminated against for their disability, and I want to call for a full explanation of how these comments are deemed acceptable in this day and age.”