Charities have accused a London Assembly member of “dehumanising” people with learning disabilities after he used the word “retard” to describe Remainers.
Ukip’s David Kurten said Project Fear had gone “full retard” in reference to a scene in 2008 comedy film Tropic Thunder.
He posted a news story about government warnings that the UK could be kicked out of an EU space programme, adding: “Project Fear goes full retard. According to Remoaners: ‘Brexit means the UK will be in danger from space debris’. This is almost good comedy!” In another Twitter post, Mr Kurten said “never go full retard” with a link to a Tropic Thunder scene.
Ciara Lawrence from charity Mencap told the Standard it was “completely unnecessary” to use that word and added: “It’s not only incredibly hurtful, it discriminates against people with a learning disability.”
The Down’s Syndrome Association also hit back on Twitter: “Using that language devalues and dehumanises people with Down’s Syndrome and other learning disabilities.”
Mr Kurten later said: “I made a couple of comments referencing the comedy movie Tropic Thunder.
“No offence was intended against anyone with a learning disability, and this is clear if you read my tweets.”
The news comes as a House of Commons Petitions Committee report on Tuesday argued self-regulation of social media had “failed disabled people”.
