Newbury MP's tweet over disabled protest prompts backlash

Published: 11:56, 08 September 2016

Richard Benyon labels campaigners 'bunch of charmers sitting down'

Newbury MP Richard Benyon has been caught up in a Twitter storm after criticising protesters for blocking traffic.

Demonstrators protesting against the Government's disability benefits cuts blocked traffic on Westminster Bridge yesterday afternoon (Wednesday).

Disabled People Against Cuts staged the protest against deaths apparently related to the cuts.

Conservative Mr Benyon tweeted the following on seeing the protesters.

The Tweet has since been deleted but the Conservative MP has still come under fire for his comment.

@RichardBenyonMP they're disabled people who are worse off due to your welfare cuts. There would be more of them, but they're dead now
— Stacey-Anne Miller (@staceyannestace) September 7, 2016

@RichardBenyonMP Saw your disgusting tweets about disabled protesters that you deleted. You must be proud.
— arembooks (@arembooks) September 8, 2016

@RichardBenyonMP Why did you delete your tweet about the disabled protesters? Shame? Maybe to try and save face? It's not nice either way.
— Lee Holland (@mrleebob) September 8, 2016

Speaking to NewburyToday Mr Benyon said: "From my office window I couldn't see who was demonstrating. All I could see was a Unite banner and there were more police than demonstrators.

"To claim that I was criticising the disabled is both untrue and ridiculous."

Newbury John Herring