Mothers with foetuses detected to have Down\u2019s syndrome and other disabilities should be forced into a compulsory abortion, according to a UKIP candidate\u2019s \u2018personal manifesto\u2019.<\/p>\n
Geoffrey Clark, who is running in a by-election on Thursday (20) for the Gravesham Rural seat on Kent County Council and the Meopham North seat on Gravesham Borough Council, was labelled \u2018abhorrent\u2019 by disability charities and parents.<\/p>\n
His ideas, published on his website, state: \u201cConsider compulsory abortion when the foetus is detected as having Downs, Spina Bifida or similar syndrome which, if it is born, will render the child a burden on the state as well as on the family.\u201d<\/p>\n
He also wants free euthanasia for the over-80s.<\/p>\n
Andrew Diedo, from Dartford, whose 27-year-old son Chris has Down\u2019s syndrome, said Mr Clark\u2019s view was \u201cperhaps born out of fear and ignorance\u201d.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cOur son with Down\u2019s syndrome enjoys a full, happy and productive life. Anyone who knows him will agree with me that the world is a far richer place because of him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Disability charity Mencap\u2019s chief executive, Mark Goldring, said he was \u201cdisgusted and shocked\u201d at the manifesto.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is abhorrent that Geoffrey Clarke sees disabled people solely as a burden. We question if he is fit for public office,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Liz Woodward, chief executive of DGSM Your Choice, a learning disability charity in Kent, said: \u201cSomeone with Down\u2019s syndrome can now live a life like anyone else in the community. We find the manifesto disappointing and disturbing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Clark told the Reporter: \u201cThey are a burden on the state. The NHS is no longer affordable and some services have to be cut. I\u2019m tired of politicians saying we should cut managers.\u201d<\/p>\n
A UKIP spokesman defended Mr Clark\u2019s right to opinions not in line with the party\u2019s.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cThe comments in Geoff Clark\u2019s personal manifesto regarding abortion do not represent party policy. As in any party, our members have a range of views and opinions which may not always accord with party policy. Geoff makes clear that this is a personal manifesto, not a party document. Geoff is a hard-working local activist who would make an excellent councillor.\u201d<\/p>\n
courtesy The Reporter<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Mothers with foetuses detected to have Down\u2019s syndrome and other disabilities should be forced into a compulsory abortion, according to a UKIP candidate\u2019s \u2018personal manifesto\u2019. Geoffrey Clark, who is running…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":26057,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-26056","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n