Mayoral Discrimination Against Parkinsons

anonymouse20

Hello all,

Let me set the scene.

My Father in Law suffers from Parkinsons. He is an active member of his local town council, and has just been re-elected for another term.

He was initially put forward to be nominated as Deputy Mayor, which made him very proud. He lives on his own and doesn't get out as much as he used to, and talking to people around town to do with council items etc helps his speech, and personal well being immensely.

However, today he received an email from one of the other councillors, stating the following. This has not been edited in anyway, apart from to remove the names/addresses etc:

I am very sorry I cannot propose you as Deputy Mayor tomorrow evening as I feel that your present state of health will not allow you to perform the duties necessary with the post and this may reflect badly on the Council.

I know that other Councillors are also concerned for you and feel that you should defer your nomination for twelve months.

Your seconder has also withdrawn for these reasons and we do have another nominee for the appointment.

I consider it is only fair to warn you in advance of the meeting of our withdrawal of support.

In my humble opinion, this is absolutely disgusting. Are we alone in thinking so?

We are trying to see if this is just us who feel so insulted by this, as we are obviously close family. Parkinsons is covered under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, and to my mind, these councillors are well over stepping the mark, would you agree?

A point to note, the councillors have had no contact with his Doctor, and are making assumptions on his medical conditions. They even had the audacity to contact his ex-wife, to ask her questions about him, without his knowledge.

Any general consensus of opinion, for or against would help us greatly.

Thanks:)

jetta_wales

Good grief that is dreadful. I would reply referring to the disability discrimination act and saying that you will also be forwarding their e-mail to the local paper.

soolin

The problem is though that this is not him being denied what other people have. This is a case of not being given a nomination or having one withdrawn, so unless every one but him has been nominated I fear this is going to be difficult.

He also needs to consider what he wants to happen , does he want an automatic right to stand even if that goes against the democratic rights of the other councillors?

anonymouse20

soolin wrote: »

The problem is though that this is not him being denied what other people have. This is a case of not being given a nomination or having one withdrawn, so unless every one but him has been nominated I fear this is going to be difficult.

He also needs to consider what he wants to happen , does he want an automatic right to stand even if that goes against the democratic rights of the other councillors?

I don't think it is even a case of who is nominated and who isn't. We are more insulted by the statement that someone with Parkinsons would reflect badly on the Council.

I feel that my FIL would be satisfied with an apology from the said individual. I on the other hand, would like to see heads roll, but my opinion is unimportant here......;)

OneYorkshireLass

I don't think they mean that someone with Parkinsons would reflect badly on the council, they mean that him perhaps not being able to fulfill his role and carry out certain tasks would reflect badly.

I think you should try and make them aware that they are assuming far too much and they should give him a chance. He would be representing a proportion of their community (those with Parkinsons and similar disabilities) and that cannot be a bad thing.

poet123

I think they have been insensitive to do this by letter, a visit and a chat would have been the way forward imo.

I suspect that they fear that it is likely that his illness may mean he would have to cancel Mayoral appearances if he was unwell and the no show or a last minute replacement would reflect badly on the council, not that if he represented the council his Parkinson's would reflect badly on them.

It has been badly handled though.

jetta_wales

Sounds like they've had a good old natter amongst themselves and made their assumption/decision not once actually thinking to talk to HIM about it.

Go to the local paper with the e-mail.

bertiebat

poet123 wrote: »

I think they have been insensitive to do this by letter, a visit and a chat would have been the way forward imo.

I suspect that they fear that it is likely that his illness may mean he would have to cancel Mayoral appearances if he was unwell and the no show or a last minute replacement would reflect badly on the council, not that if he represented the council his Parkinson's would reflect badly on them.

It has been badly handled though.

This is indeed the problem with all fluctuating/degenerative conditions, nobody is willing to employ people who have a good chance of having to take time off due to their conditions. DDA can always be got around and frequently is.

Government assessment - 'fit for work'; government as an employer's assessment - not continuously 'fit for work'.... sorry.

Errata

It's all Town Hall politics - you couldn't make 'em up! Would I stand and fight if I were in your FIL's shoes? Nope - I'd resign as a Councillor and give a very, very long interview to all the local media making sure they had all the ins and outs and giving very broad hints about the dirty work at the crossroads my party has indulged in over the years.

daska

soolin wrote: »

The problem is though that this is not him being denied what other people have. This is a case of not being given a nomination or having one withdrawn, so unless every one but him has been nominated I fear this is going to be difficult.

He also needs to consider what he wants to happen , does he want an automatic right to stand even if that goes against the democratic rights of the other councillors?

How is it against the democratic rights of other councillors? He had already been proposed and seconded and now has evidence that these were rescinded solely on the basis that he has a disability.

The DDA covers such areas as civic responsibility and holding public office so why it shouldn't apply here?

I think, personally, I'd send the letter to the local rag.

Strapped

I think that your father has an opportunity, duty even, to use this disgusting turn of events to educate the wider community about Parkinson's and I agree, go to the papers and shout it from the rooftops.