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Portraying UK disabled people as “parasites” could lead to “violence and killings”, says UN chair.

What: Theresia Degener, who chairs the UN committee on the rights of persons with disabilities, says in a BBC interview that disabled people in the UK could be at risk of violence, and even “killings and euthanasia”, because of their portrayal by the UK government and media as “parasites” who live on benefits.

Why significant: Degener’s comments endorse many of the concerns raised by disabled people about the so-called “scrounger rhetoric” of politicians and the media.

Citations

Portraying disabled people as ‘parasites’ could lead to ‘violence and killings’, says UN chair, Pring, 2017
Corbyn questioning PM, Engagements Volume 628: debated on Wednesday 13 September 2017