Compulsory abortion for Down’s syndrome foetuses, says UKIP Kent candidate

Anna Dubuis
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
12:37 PM

Mothers with foetuses detected to have Down’s syndrome and other disabilities should be forced into a compulsory abortion, according to a UKIP candidate’s ‘personal manifesto’.

Geoffrey Clark, who is running in a by-election on Thursday (20) for the Gravesham Rural seat on Kent County Council and the Meopham North seat on Gravesham Borough Council, was labelled ‘abhorrent’ by disability charities and parents.

His ideas, published on his website, state: “Consider compulsory abortion when the foetus is detected as having Downs, Spina Bifida or similar syndrome which, if it is born, will render the child a burden on the state as well as on the family.”

He also wants free euthanasia for the over-80s.

Andrew Diedo, from Dartford, whose 27-year-old son Chris has Down’s syndrome, said Mr Clark’s view was “perhaps born out of fear and ignorance”.

He said: “Our son with Down’s syndrome enjoys a full, happy and productive life. Anyone who knows him will agree with me that the world is a far richer place because of him.”

Disability charity Mencap’s chief executive, Mark Goldring, said he was “disgusted and shocked” at the manifesto.

“It is abhorrent that Geoffrey Clarke sees disabled people solely as a burden. We question if he is fit for public office,” he said.

Liz Woodward, chief executive of DGSM Your Choice, a learning disability charity in Kent, said: “Someone with Down’s syndrome can now live a life like anyone else in the community. We find the manifesto disappointing and disturbing.”

Mr Clark told the Reporter: “They are a burden on the state. The NHS is no longer affordable and some services have to be cut. I’m tired of politicians saying we should cut managers.”

A UKIP spokesman defended Mr Clark’s right to opinions not in line with the party’s.

He said: “The comments in Geoff Clark’s personal manifesto regarding abortion do not represent party policy. As in any party, our members have a range of views and opinions which may not always accord with party policy. Geoff makes clear that this is a personal manifesto, not a party document. Geoff is a hard-working local activist who would make an excellent councillor.”

Sounds more like a manifesto leaflet from the Nazi's back in the 1930's

Sounds more like a manifesto leaflet from the Nazi's back in the 1930's

And so Cameron was right to describe them as closet racists, now we can add closet cleansers, starting with the disabled.

I have always maintained that UKIP were dangerous, possibly more so than the BNP, as they are quite happy to hide their true plans behind a velvet curtain of respectability. With the BNP, you at least know where you stand. With UKIP, they are clearly eugeniscists in disguise.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-20813977

He still came second! You might not agree with Nickel Forage keeping him in the party, but he's right about how much support they're gaining from the Tories and others.

Why don't they just stick to their anti- European state message? They'll never get vote when they come out with comments worthy of the republican party.

Can anyone think of a European political party in the last century that espoused eugenics, and took a somewhat xenophobic approach to their neighbours, and rose to power off the back of an economic downturn?

Yes but the republicans still did pretty well in the US even allowing for the idiots that they tried to get elected.