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Wales Online
Wales Online
National
Jonathon Hill

Apprentice star, 21, branded a 'brat' by viewers after he calls old people lazy

A former contestant on TV show the Apprentice has sparked outrage after claiming elderly people are “lazy”.

Twenty-one-year-old Ryan-Mark Parsons appeared on Good Morning Britain after Sir Vince Cable said he wanted retired people to return to work.

He was joined by journalist Nina Myskow, 75, who said older people had earned the right to retire.

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"The problem is saying to people, 'You're fit and healthy, you're over 66, get back to work.' That's just not right," she said. "People have earned the right to put their feet up, do whatever they want."

But Ryan-Mark said: "There's lots of opportunities out there for the elderly to get up and switch off Coronation Street catch-up on ITV Hub and get out and work."

Nina replied: "The idea that people are lying on the sofa watching telly is outrageous and delivery HGV drivers, farm workers, picking... let's see where there are gaps in the economy.

"The basic principle is that people who have paid in all these years have earned the right. If they want to lie on the sofa watching Coronation Street - I wouldn't advise it because you need to keep yourself healthy and move around - having paid all this money you should be able to reap the benefits.

“I have been paying taxes for 55 years. You've been paying for what, two years?"

Ryan-Mark was joined by journalist Nina Myskow, 75, who said older people had earned the right to retire (ITV)

But Ryan-Mark wasn’t have any of it, and told Nina: "You're making excuses for the elderly being lazy."

Outraged, Nina said: "Lazy? Define lazy."

He went on to ignore her question - but later used the Queen as an example - as she insisted that work was something that could be forced upon elderly people.

Viewers were not impressed with Ryan-Mark, and vented their anger on Twitter.

One wrote: "Who’s this little brat on #gmb??"

While another said: "Why is the young boy telling old people to go back to work? It’s embarrassing they have paid there dues #GMB."

A third added: "Who is this d***head of lad on #GMB and the conversation around getting over 65's back into work ?"

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