Compulsory Abortion for Down’s Syndrome Foetuses, Says UKIP Kent Candidate

Gravesend Reporter ^ | 12/18/12 | Anna Dubuis

[marshmallow]

Mothers with foetuses detected to have Down’s syndrome and other disabilities should be forced into a compulsory abortion, according to a UKIP candidate’s ‘personal manifesto’.

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 ‘abhorrent’ by disability charities and parents.

His ideas, published on his website, state: “Consider 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.”

He also wants free euthanasia for the over-80s.

Andrew Diedo, from Dartford, whose 27-year-old son Chris has Down’s syndrome, said Mr Clark’s view was “perhaps born out of fear and ignorance”.

He said: “Our son with Down’s 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.”

Disability charity Mencap’s chief executive, Mark Goldring, said he was “disgusted and shocked” at the manifesto.

“It is abhorrent that Geoffrey Clarke sees disabled people solely as a burden. We question if he is fit for public office,” he said.

[marshmallow]

Thanks for the update. FWIW, he has also just apologized. No idea who Pam Geller might be.

This has been all over the British press in the past day or two (e.g. Daily Telegraph). The article is recent (December 18) and as of Tuesday afternoon, he was still the UKIP candidate so forgive me for not being on top of the most recent developments.

Clark is/was certainly doing UKIP a disservice. I hold no ill feelings towards it.

[miss marmelstein]

Pam Geller is the foremost opponent of Muslim aggression in this country. Basically, she is the Geert Wilders of America. She lives in New York City and runs the blog “Atlas Shrugs.” She is well known here on FR. As I said, I’ve heard UKIP here in the US and they have never espoused such awful ideology. This Geoffrey Clark creep needs to lose himself...

[marshmallow]

Apparently Mr. Clark is a "chartered accountant", according to the BBC and....... "said on his website he did not endorse the abortion idea but suggested it to cut the national debt......."

I know it's a horrific subject but that last bit made me laugh out loud...