Philip Davies, the MP for Shipley, claimed the disabled or those with mental health problems were at a disadvantage because they could not offer to work for less money.
Relaxing the law would help some to compete more effectively for jobs in “the real world” in which they are “by definition” less productive than those without disabilities, he claimed.
The remarks stunned MPs on all sides and forced Downing Street to distance the Prime Minister from Mr Davies. Charities and equality campaigners condemned the suggestion as “outrageous”. During a Parliamentary debate, Mr Davies told MPs that the minimum wage of £5.93 per hour meant disabled people who wanted to work found the door being “closed in their face”.
“The people who are most disadvantaged by the national minimum wage are the most vulnerable in society,” he said. “My concern about it is it prevents those people from being given the opportunity to get the first rung on the employment ladder.”

Wasn't there some kind of "back to work scheme" where the government subsidised the salary of people who'd been unemployed for more than so long? That's the best approach in my opinion, and it doesn't discriminate against any particular group of people.

At some point, surely even Cameron & co must get into /facepalm territory with the upper class idiots they're lumbered with.

The really horrifying thing is if they weren't in the Tory party, they'd probably all be working in the city. You think the cock up the bankers actually made was bad enough, imagine what it would have been like if the likes of Davies had been involved? We'd be huddled round camp fires in the shattered ruins of our homes as bands of maniacs roamed the highways Mad Max style.

I'll give you a 'back to work' scheme - nobody gets to be an MP unless they've had some job that doesn't involve politics or government for at least 5 years. In a company where none of your family was a director.

Jon

Wasn't he trying to misinterpret what Mind said to him? He tried to make out this is what they were saying but they later came out and said his comments were preposterous.

Arse.

I can understand where they're coming from. If you have two applicants who are similar and one is disabled, you'll probably hire the one who is able-bodied. It's discrimination but still happens.

It's illegal. We have the Disability Discrimination Act for a reason.

It's illegal. We have the Disability Discrimination Act for a reason.

It's illegal. We have the Disability Discrimination Act for a reason.

However, proving that the reason a candidate wasn't selected was because they are disabled can prove difficult if not impossible.

I can understand where they're coming from. If you have two applicants who are similar and one is disabled, you'll probably hire the one who is able-bodied. It's discrimination but still happens.

Paying disabled people less could potentially increase the number of disabled people employed. But simultaneously, it's demeaning and derogatory and this is why that MP should get a slap in the face.

The probablility that they get discriminated against is high because of personal prejudices.