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| Lord Freud: Tory welfare minister accused of claiming disabled people are 'not worth the minimum wage' | Lord Freud: Tory welfare minister accused of claiming disabled people are 'not worth the minimum wage' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A Conservative welfare minster has apparently suggested that disabled people are "not worth" the national minimum wage and some could only be paid "£2 an hour". | |
| Ed Miliband accused Lord Freud, the Welfare Reform minister, of making the comments during a fringe meeting at the Conservative conference two weeks ago. | Ed Miliband accused Lord Freud, the Welfare Reform minister, of making the comments during a fringe meeting at the Conservative conference two weeks ago. |
| According to a transcript of a recording made during the meeting and read out by Mr Miliband during Prime Minister's Questions, the peer appeared to argue that some disabled people could be paid £2 an hour, rather than the full rate of £6.50, if they wanted to work. | According to a transcript of a recording made during the meeting and read out by Mr Miliband during Prime Minister's Questions, the peer appeared to argue that some disabled people could be paid £2 an hour, rather than the full rate of £6.50, if they wanted to work. |
| He was recorded responding to a question from a councillor, saying: “You make a really good point about the disabled. Now I had not thought through, and we have not got a system for, you know, kind of going below the minimum wage.” | He was recorded responding to a question from a councillor, saying: “You make a really good point about the disabled. Now I had not thought through, and we have not got a system for, you know, kind of going below the minimum wage.” |
| Lord Freud went on: “There is a small… there is a group, and I know exactly who you mean, where actually as you say they’re not worth the full wage, and actually I’m going to go and think about that particular issue, whether there is something we can do nationally, and without distorting the whole thing, which actually if someone wants to work for £2 an hour, and it’s working can we actually...” | Lord Freud went on: “There is a small… there is a group, and I know exactly who you mean, where actually as you say they’re not worth the full wage, and actually I’m going to go and think about that particular issue, whether there is something we can do nationally, and without distorting the whole thing, which actually if someone wants to work for £2 an hour, and it’s working can we actually...” |
| Mr Miliband read out the comments and challenged the Prime Minister: “Is that your view?” | Mr Miliband read out the comments and challenged the Prime Minister: “Is that your view?” |
| Mr Cameron replied: “No, absolutely not. Of course disabled people should be paid the minimum wage and the minimum wage under this Government is going up and going up in real terms. | Mr Cameron replied: “No, absolutely not. Of course disabled people should be paid the minimum wage and the minimum wage under this Government is going up and going up in real terms. |
| “It’s now at £6.50. We will be presenting our evidence to the Low Pay Commission, calling for another real-terms increase in the minimum wage.” | “It’s now at £6.50. We will be presenting our evidence to the Low Pay Commission, calling for another real-terms increase in the minimum wage.” |
| Mr Miliband replied: “To be clear about what the Welfare Reform Minister said, it’s very serious. He didn’t just say disabled people weren't worth the minimum wage, he went further and he said he was looking at whether there is something we can do, if someone wants to work for £2 an hour. | Mr Miliband replied: “To be clear about what the Welfare Reform Minister said, it’s very serious. He didn’t just say disabled people weren't worth the minimum wage, he went further and he said he was looking at whether there is something we can do, if someone wants to work for £2 an hour. |
| “Surely someone holding those views can't possibly stay in your Government?” | “Surely someone holding those views can't possibly stay in your Government?” |
| Mr Cameron responded: "Those are not the views of the Government. They are not the views of anyone in the Government.” | Mr Cameron responded: "Those are not the views of the Government. They are not the views of anyone in the Government.” |
| The rebuke leaves the Conservative peer, a close ally of the Work and Pensions Secretary, Iain Duncan Smith, struggling to survive in his Government post. | The rebuke leaves the Conservative peer, a close ally of the Work and Pensions Secretary, Iain Duncan Smith, struggling to survive in his Government post. |
| Clare Pelham, chief executive of Leonard Cheshire Disability said: "Suggesting that some people should be paid at below the minimum wage – the level that society has decided is the very minimum that anyone should expect – is deeply saddening and ill-informed. | Clare Pelham, chief executive of Leonard Cheshire Disability said: "Suggesting that some people should be paid at below the minimum wage – the level that society has decided is the very minimum that anyone should expect – is deeply saddening and ill-informed. |
| "Disabled people make an immense contribution to society and to the workplace. The role of the Government should be to champion all people seeking work and their right to a fair salary.” | "Disabled people make an immense contribution to society and to the workplace. The role of the Government should be to champion all people seeking work and their right to a fair salary.” |