Three Tory councillors are facing calls to resign for making ‘abhorrent’ comments about disabled children – with one asking if the rise in cases was down to there being ‘something in the water’.
Warwickshire county councillors Brian Hammersley, Jeff Morgan, and Clare Golby are coming under intense pressure to stand down with a clip of the council meeting going viral and incensing viewers.
Mr Hammersley bizarrely asked if the rise in cases of disabled children in the county was because there was ‘something in the water’, while Mr Morgan questioned whether ‘little Willy’ was ‘badly behaved’ rather than having ADHD.
Miss Golby meanwhile chirps in suggesting the increase might correlate with ‘a rise in social media use’.
The sickening and offensive comments have left families with disabled children feeling physically sick and a campaign is gathering pace to have them sacked.
The area’s MP, Labour’s Matt Western, tonight blasted the ‘disgraceful’ comments and has written to the council’s leader demanding to know what action will be taken.
Mr Hammersley and Miss Golby have already issued grovelling apologies with the former brushing his remarks off as ‘clumsiness’, while Mr Morgan said he ‘regretted’ his comments.
Warwickshire County Council has confirmed it received ‘a number of complaints’ and has opened an investigation.
The recording of the meeting on January 25 was shared yesterday morning by organisation SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) Reform England and has racked up hundreds of thousands of views.
A petition calling for the councillors to be sacked has racked up nearly 5,000 signatures.
The clip opens with Cllr Hammersley asking if there is ‘something in the water’ as he notes an uptick in requests for requirements for SEND children.
‘Why are so many people now jumping out with these needs? Where were they in the past when I was at school? I never heard of SEND,’ he said.
Cllr Morgan calls for skepticism of parents when they say their children have special educational needs.
He said: ‘Councillors shouldn’t be automatically accepting the plea of a mother that little Willy has got ADHD when in fact little Willy is just really badly behaved and needs some form of strict correction.’
Elsewhere other councillors argued: ‘You may have found if you went to a school in the 1960s and 70s many of those children weren’t in schools but in institutions of different types at that time.
‘They must have had better ways of dealing with them at that time. Let’s go back to some of those ways.’
Cllr Golby suggests there is a difference between ‘parenting’ and ‘SEN issues’ and asks if the increase in numbers of SEND children recorded in the county might correlate with ‘a rise in social media use’.
Cllr Hammersley concluded: ‘I don’t know what the fix is, I just look back at years gone by – those people were dealt with by whatever means – it was right at the time.’
Horrified mothers have expressed their disgust after watching the video on social media.
Lisa Lloyd, 39, from Aylesford, North Kent (@asd_with_a_g_and_t) is mother to Poppy, six, and Finley, nine, who both have autism.
She said: ‘As a mum of two autistic children and one of the co-founders of SEND Reform England, I am absolutely appalled by what I have heard from the Warwickshire Council SEN meeting.
‘There is a difference between badly behaved children and disabled children – their comments showed complete discrimination and how out of touch they are.’
Heather, 39, from Devon (@himmeandautism) is mother to five-year-old Oscar, who has non-verbal autism, meaning he doesn’t speak more than a few words.
She shared the video with her followers and said: ‘We have people in power, people who make choices for our children, talking with ableist comments… go back to school, get yourself an education and how about sitting at a table with parents who could educate you?
‘I am angry, really angry. Our children should be in institutions, wrapped up, strapped down so they can’t do anything for themselves? Not learn, grow, thrive, how better outcomes? Class clown award goes to you. Jokers!’
She added: ‘We are living in the year of 2024 now where advocates like myself work hard to promote inclusion, education and support for the mental health of parents like myself.
‘To hear councillors that should be protecting children making ableist comments that are very disrespectful and discriminatory is not ok.
‘In any other areas of diverse we wouldn’t dare speak the words that have been spoken. These councillors should be out of office, they shouldn’t be making decisions about anyone’s education, especially those so vulnerable in our society,
‘This is not ok – our children are not any less than anyone else they are worthy. These councillors need to look long and hard at themselves and the message they are giving.’
Megan, from Hertfordshire, has a daughter with ASD and ADHD and runs businesses for adults and young people who have the same conditions.
She said: ‘I was physically sick to my stomach. How about you do something about how your vile system works, and meet a couple of these ‘naughty’ children, see if you can parent them better? See how that goes for you? This type of talk needs to be stopped!’
Another mother, Kirsty Bailey, added: ‘As the mother of a non-verbal, high-needs autistic child who is just three-and-a-half, it worries me for his future when our so called ‘leaders’ think there are better ways to deal with him than educational support.
‘It’s 2024 and the comments used from Warwickshire councillors resemble remarks I would expect in 1924.
‘It’s absolutely heartbreaking to feel that as a society we have come so far at understanding disabilities to then be pushed so far back with such abhorrent comments.’
Hannah Gibbard (the SEN solicitor) said: ‘This is not the first time we have heard this type of uninformed, offensive opinions from councillors. Similar remarks were made in Kent last year which sparked the Send Reform England campaign. Such comments are discriminatory, damaging and shouldn’t be allowed.
‘These councillors are displaying the upmost ignorance in relation to serious SEND issues and shouldn’t be allowed in public office.’
Responding to the outrage caused by the video, a spokeswoman for the council confirmed they had received a ‘number of complaints’.
‘These complaints centre around comments made by three councillors during a meeting of the Children and Young People’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 25th January 2024’ the spokeswoman said.
‘It is clear that these comments have caused significant offence, distress and upset to children and their families within the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) community. The Council takes that very seriously.
‘The Council wishes to emphasise that the comments made are not representative of the views of the wider council body including those councillors and officers who work so hard to provide support and opportunities for children with SEND.
‘The Council has built strong relationships with groups within the SEND community, and we are conscious of the damage this situation may cause to those relationships.
‘The complaints received will be considered as part of an investigation which the Council’s Monitoring Officer has begun.
‘Whilst that investigation gets underway it is important that the Council also acknowledges the scale of the upset and to that end those councillors involved wish to apologise personally for their comments.’
She added: ‘The Chief Executive has emphasised the importance of the investigation for which the findings and outcomes will be communicated as soon as it is complete. This matter is being prioritised.’
Cllr Morgan, who suggested children may need ‘strict correction’, said: ‘As a former Cabinet Member and councillor of nine years I regret any offence caused by my choice of words.
‘It was never my intention to offend, and I regret the words I used to make a point about demand and need in the SEND area. I remain committed to the children and families of Warwickshire.’
Cllr Hammersley, who suggested there was ‘something in the water’ regarding the uptick in people registering their children in the SEND category, said: ‘I apologise unreservedly for the comments which I made at the recent Scrutiny Committee.
‘I regret my clumsiness and lack of care in choosing my words and can see the upset and offence they caused.
‘I am terribly sorry and will be more thoughtful with my questions and words in future. I can see that I have some learning to do.’
Cllr Golby, who suggested social media might have a part to play in the increase, said: ‘I accept that the words I used at the meeting were open to interpretation. I have spent many years working hard to support children and families in the SEND community and it was never my intention to offend. I apologise for any offence caused.’
William Turner is a seasoned U.K. correspondent with a deep understanding of domestic affairs. With a passion for British politics and culture, he provides insightful analysis and comprehensive coverage of events within the United Kingdom.
