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Disability row councillor resigns

Disability row councillor Collin Brewer has confirmed to ITV News West Country that he has sent in his resignation letter to Cornwall Council.

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Cornwall Council receives Brewer's resignation

Cornwall Council has confirmed it has received a formal letter of resignation from the councillor who said disabled children should be ''put down'' to save money.

Collin Brewer made the remark in 2011. He resigned voluntarily earlier this year but was re-elected to the Wadebridge East ward in May.

After the comments were published, the council received 180 complaints and a campaign was launched to force him to resign, but the council said it did not have the power to remove Mr Brewer from his seat.

Cornwall Council has today received a letter from Collin Brewer confirming that he has formally resigned as the member for the Wadebridge East electoral division.

The resignation takes effect from July 10, the date the written confirmation was received by the council's monitoring officer.

The council's electoral service will now be making arrangements for a by-election to be held.

– Cornwall Council statement

The councillor's ill-judged and insensitive comments on disabled children demonstrated that he was clearly not fit for office.

The council is right to find him guilty. We believe he has made the right decision in stepping down.

Luckily such sickening views are rare. But almost a year on from the Paralympics disabled people tell us that public attitudes towards them remain an issue.

Disabled people are concerned about the impact of 'scrounger' rhetoric.

We need to reopen the debate on attitudes to disability.

– Richard Hawkes, chief executive of the disability charity Scope

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Disability row councillor resigns

Collin Brewer has sent in his resignation letter to Cornwall Council. Credit: ITV News West Country

Disability row councillor Collin Brewer has confirmed to ITV News West Country that he has sent in his resignation letter to Cornwall Council.

Mr Brewer caused controversy when he said disabled children should be 'put down'. He resigned voluntarily earlier this year but was re-elected to the Wadebridge East ward in May.

Disability row councillor cannot be legally removed

Collin Brewer. Credit: ITV News West Country

A Cornwall councillor who said disabled children should be put down has been found in breach of the council's code of conduct, but he can't be legally removed.

Collin Brewer made the remark in 2011. He resigned voluntarily earlier this year but was re-elected to the Wadebridge East ward in May.

Cornwall Council said it does not have the power to sack councillors, although it could previously suspend them following the investigation and determination of code of conduct complaints.

However, government changes to the code of conduct complaints process means this sanction can no longer be used.

The council is meeting today in a bid to get these powers restored.

Protest urging Cornwall councillor to resign: full report

The new chairman of Cornwall Council has called on fellow councillor Collin Brewer to resign over controversial remarks he made about disabled children.

Today dozens of people gathered outside County Hall in Truro to protest over his comments.

The council is investigating the matter, but doesn't have the power to sack Mr Brewer.

Devon and Cornwall Police are also involved.

Our Cornwall correspondent Steve Hardy reports:

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Protest over councillor's remarks on disabled people

Scores of people have been protesting at County Hall in Truro, calling for Cornwall councillor, Collin Brewer to resign. Councillor Brewer had previously stepped down after his comments that disabled children should be put down to save the council money.

He was re-elected this month as an independent candidate for Wadebridge East and has since said that there is a good argument for killing some disabled babies. Devon and Cornwall Police are investigating the matter. Protest organiser James Ball gives his reaction in this video.

Response from the disability charity Scope

Once again Councillor Collin Brewer is making despicable comments about disabled children.

These views have absolutely no place in modern society and should be consigned to the history books.

Families with disabled children are facing an uphill struggle to get basic support.

A councillor should be looking to support struggling local families, not telling them their children's lives are not worth living."

– Richard Hawkes, Chief Executive, Scope

Elected officials cannot pick and choose which of their constituents they represent in public office.

Given this councillor's blatant disregard for disabled people we'd question whether he has made the right career choice in standing for public office in the first place."

– Richard Hawkes, Chief Executive, Scope

Main party leaders condemn Councillor's remarks

The leaders of the majority of the parties on Cornwall Council have issued a joint statement distancing themselves from Cllr Brewer's comments:

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."

– Leaders of the majority parties on Cornwall Council:
  • 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
  • Dick Cole, leader of Mebyon Kernow
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