UKIP Candidate calls for abortion of disabled Foetuses

[DANGEROUS TIGER]

Some good points and some bad.

I will be voting UKIP at the next general election.

[MattyFromLE]

I seriously can't believe that some of you would be for this. Being born with a genetic disability is ****ing hard. Also unavoidable and completely helpless to those who have them. Here's an idea. Why don't we bin off the wasters who steal, murder and commit far worse crimes than being born with a ****ing genetic disease.

I am one of the latter, and find myself absolutely ****ing disgusted that the majority of you see no problems with this.

[Captain...]

I seriously can't believe that some of you would be for this. Being born with a genetic disability is ****ing hard. Also unavoidable and completely helpless to those who have them. Here's an idea. Why don't we bin off the wasters who steal, murder and commit far worse crimes than being born with a ****ing genetic disease.

I am one of the latter, and find myself absolutely ****ing disgusted that the majority of you see no problems with this.

There are plenty on here that would do away with the wasters and thieves too.

But it is not the majority who support this, without checking back over thread, only acooling has actually come out in support of it (he is a known to have extreme views at times and likes to play up to it) and bunkmoreland made a tongue in cheek comment but didn't actually support it. What I and others have said is that this shouldn't be a state decision but that potential parents should be more aware of the risks of genetic diseases and be tested before hand and be encouraged to reduce the risk of having a genetically disabled child and not be demonised for doing so.

As you said it is hard living with a genetic disability on you and your parents, and nobody wants to remove any child born, only reduce the possibility of it happening.

We now have the technology to select gametes and determine genetically controlled conditions such as sex, eye colour, hair colour (bad news for gingers ) we could use this technology to preselect the gametes used in fertilisation to prevent people being born disabled and suffering unnecessarily, and if done thoroughly it could wipe out genetically transmitted diseases and disabilities within a couple of generations.

There is the societal aspect too, if someone is so heavily disabled that they can't work then, and it may seem callous to say so, they are a burden on society, they take more than most and give nothing back. Fortunately we live in a society that is able to cope with that extra burden and care and look after them, but things are changing at the moment and not always for the better, and that may not always be a given.

[davieG]

The BBC and Mensa have both apologised after a leading member of the society called anyone with an IQ below 60 a “carrot” live on air.

Peter Baimbridge, a Mensa member, made the comments during an interview with BBC Breakfast.

He was being asked about the effectiveness of IQ tests at judging intelligence.

"So most IQ tests will have Mr and Mrs Average scoring 100 and the higher you get, the brighter you are. And if your IQ is somewhere around 60 then you are probably a carrot," Mr Baimbridge said.

A number of viewers contacted the programme to voice concerns over the remarks, which they said insulted people with learning difficulties.

The hosts, Louise Minchin and Charlie Stayt apologised at the end of the programme and read out an apology from Mr Baimbridge.

The presenters also read out some of the complaints on air. British Mensa apologised for the comment, saying it was: "totally inappropriate and does not represent the society's official position or view".

One viewer, an employee of learning disability charity Mencap, said she was "shocked" and "disgusted" by the comments.

Ciara Evans, who has a learning disability, urged Mr Baimbridge to "engage his brain before his mouth".

One of the complaints read out on air came from a Dr Sullivan who said: "As a clinical psychologist who has worked with many people who have an IQ below 60, I find these comments to be offensive and completely incorrect. Such comments perpetuate the stigma around an individual with learning difficulties."

A BBC spokeswoman said: "A number of viewers contacted BBC Breakfast this morning, who were offended by comments made by a contributor during a live interview on the programme.

"Following the initial item, we broadcast a selection of the complaints on-air a short time later in the programme, and both presenters apologised at the end of the programme and read out a personal apology from the contributor.

"Clearly we do not condone the comments that were made in any way and sincerely apologise for the offence caused."

John Stevenage, Mensa chief executive said: "We would like to apologise for any offence caused by Peter Baimbridge's remark. It most certainly does not reflect the views of the society or of our members.

"The society looks at levels of IQ. However, it fully recognises that it is not what level of mental ability someone has but what they do with it that is the real achievement in life.

"Peter himself very much regrets the comment and would like to offer sincere apologies to those people offended by the remark."

According to Mencap, 1.5 million people in the UK have a learning disability.

Ms Evans, a campaigns assistant with the charity, said: "As a person with a learning disability, I am shocked that someone has described people like me as carrots.

"We can achieve a lot in life: I live independently, have a full-time job and I'm getting married next year."

A number of parents and carers called and emailed the charity's helpline saying they found Mr Baimbridge's comment "deeply offensive".

Ms Evans said: "I am disgusted that he made this comment and on behalf of all the people who have tweeted, rung and emailed Mencap to say how upset they are, I think Mensa should apologise and he should engage his brain before his mouth. It seems that having a high IQ doesn't make you a sensitive or caring human being."

Mensa was founded in England in 1946 by Roland Berrill, a barrister, and Lance Ware, a scientist and lawyer, who wanted to form a society for people with a high IQ.