Council candidate suspended over compulsory abortion controversy
A candidate for Kent County Council has been suspended after calling for an NHS review to look at compulsory abortions of babies with Down’s syndrome or spina bifida.
Geoffrey Clark is standing for UKIP in the by-election but the party said he would not be a UKIP councillor if elected.
Mr Clark said on this website that he does not endorse the abortion idea but suggested the idea as a way of cutting national debt.
He says the review should look at “compulsory abortion when the foetus is detected as having Down’s, spina bifida or similar syndrome which, if it is born, could render the child a burden on the state as well as the family.”
He also suggests the review should look at medical treatment for those aged over 80 and the possibility of "legalising euthanasia and giving free euthanasia advice to all folk over 80."
Reaction
A UKIP spokesman said: "The party was not aware of these views when it allowed him to stand under our name.
"Mr Clark has been formally suspended as a UKIP candidate and will not be standing for the party again.
"We would like to apologise to anyone who has suffered distress as a result of this matter."
Learning disability charity Mencap reacted strongly against Mr Clark’s proposals. Mark Goulding, the charity’s chief executive, said:
“Much has been written about the Paralympics this summer changing attitudes towards disabled people for the better.
“It is abhorrent that Geoffrey Clark sees disabled people solely as a burden when people with a learning disability lead full lives and make valuable contributions to their communities and families.”
Unjustifiable
Mr Clark describes himself as a member of Meopham Parachial Church Council. If elected, he promises to promote the Christian ethic and British culture, roll back Islam, contain UK population growth and restrict immigration.
Andrea Williams, Chief Executive of Christian Concern, said: “Mr Clark’s views are abominable. They have no basis in Christian teaching whatsoever. The Bible is very clear that all people are made in the image of God. This means that all lives are worth living, with or without disability.
“The suggestion to take away the lives of unborn children with Down’s syndrome or spina bifida is simply unjustifiable. It is very worrying that anyone would propose abortion as a way of saving money”.
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