David Cameron forced to apologise after "very nasty and ignorant" Ed Balls Tourette's jibe.
David Cameron was forced to issue an apology after comparing Commons heckling by Ed Balls to "like having someone with Tourette's sitting opposite you". Speaking in a newspaper interview on Saturday 7th January, David Cameron made the remark in terms of how he finds that the reactions of his opposition members behaviour put him off during PM question time.
The Prime Minister directed the jibe at the shadow chancellor in an interview with the Sunday Telegraph, but faced an immediate backlash for citing the inherited neurological condition.
Downing Street said the remark was made "off the cuff". Tourette Scotland has written to the media, and to Response to David Cameron and the Sunday Telegraph 7/8th January 2012.
Clearly, David Cameron doesn't realise that for the 1 in 100 people who are affected by Tourette syndrome, it is not a joking matter, or he might not be so free to make flippant remarks about it, and use it as an insult in the political arena.
Since the report, many commentators have dismissed the response of the TS community and state that this comment was just banter. In essence, David Cameron implied it is 'annoying' to have someone with TS opposite you. And that it was a failing of some kind. Irritant or not, this is a deeply insulting comment for those who are born with TS and have to live with its consequences all their lives.
He gave the impression that Tourette syndrome is an affectation. That it is a 'nuisance'. It is this demonstration of his ignorance of the condition and the issues that people with TS have to live with, which has upset many people in the TS community. They are laughed at, bullied, excluded and considered an 'annoyance' by the general public, the man in the street.
So how much harder is it for them to be also treated in the same manner by the Man in the House? It shows a lack of appreciation and understanding of those facing life-long barriers, from the very highest level.
So it might be light handed banter to some, but it is yet another public jibe at people who deal with a range of involuntary, life-long, motor and vocal tic behaviours (and shock, horror, it isn't all about swearing) that make up TS. It is a medically and clinically recognised condition; it is challenging and life-limiting, with those affected not having only problems with their physical health, but having to guard against the perceptions and prejudices of others.
Think about this: Involuntary motor tics physically damage the skeletal frame; vocal tics preclude many from participating well in school or being able to travel, to take holidays or enjoy social occasions and cause you to be the target of bullies. TS can appear in all classes and walks of life. So, too, it seems, can discrimination? Does an Eton education not include decency, tact, and finding out about your subject?
Even this weekend, whilst David Cameron was making his 'off the cuff' remarks, our team were working with a family whose child was fearful of going to school on Monday because of just the type of comment being made by our Prime Minister. That he shouldn't come into class, because he 'annoyed' people, and that he disrupted the teacher. He might have failed in his education with support and encouragement. Can you imagine what might be said to him now?
Whilst we at Tourette Scotland can help the school, the class, and our children to voice the right way of speaking about TS, and managing it, working with it, and overcoming barriers, what chance do we have of teaching those lessons when those in authority do not appear to appreciate such sensitivities.
In addition, those with Tourette syndrome are also dealing with the impacts of the revised Welfare Reform Bill. Due to changes in assessment, the government has given sketchy guidelines to the private company undertaking benefit reform. This has meant that many who qualified for extra support to give them more equality have had their hard earned extra support taken away.
Now that we know that those in the heart of British governance appear not to appreciate or empathise with the very disabilities they are harming with their swingeing reform cuts. This may not be a surprise. The officials purport to understand what the condition of Tourette syndrome is, but there is hard evidence that the assessors (ATOS) are not taking into account the full facts of the condition when dealing with TS. How can we raise awareness, however, if the simple view of TS being an 'annoyance' is expressed by their governor?
Perhaps, then, it isn't a surprise that TS isn't seemingly understood by the Department of Work and Pensions. An outcome of the ATOS programme is that people, who have deserved better lifestyles via the support they have had from benefits, are now at the mercy of restricted income, coupled with much constrained opportunities because of their condition. They are further from the job market than the majority of the community, so they will struggle to compete.
We would hope that from this incident, the Westminster Government will take steps to understand what TS is, and that this knowledge is then given to the right people. Perhaps, then, welfare reform will actually support people with TS rather than rule against them, and the politicians will further understand the needs of 5% of their constituents.
What people with Tourette syndrome have said:
*To wants to say to David Cameron PM that I am PROUD to have tourette syndrome and friends with it and perhaps Mr Cameron would like to go to a tourettes camp this year with me and see that the kids with TS are NOT people to take the mickey out of. AJ.
*I just saw what he said, and he thinks its ok to say thoughtless comments (saying something about one person but don't think that it applies to many more people) what he's said is horrible. A.
*absolutely shocking coming from someone like him, he has offended a lot of people.
*It's absolutely shocking coming out with that, that's exactly the sort of response people that are ignorant use, why do these idiots still use tourettes as a joke, it really angers me. R.
*We are creative, diverse, intelligent and darned well high functioning. We know that some schools, employers and detractors need to know about Tourette Syndrome and what it is. And not to make assumptions or silly remarks. Here we have the leader of a Parliament doing what we would be appalled at if it was anyone, but its even more amazing from someone like him. Lets use this to our advantage to show what a great bunch we really are. JB.
*Comments are coming in to the blog sites, like (in response to David Cameron's jibe about Ed Balls) 'Tourette Syndrome is funny' and 'It isn't important, this isn't a news story'. It is a story. Our story.
*We have been seething over this and watching response unfold over twitter. He has said sorry, but meanwhile he has no idea how he has offended me and my family. DP.
*Some astounding comments in the media about Tourette Syndrome, including that it can't be a real syndrome. It is very real to me, he should find out the facts before making such remarks.
*To say that such flippancy does not demonstrate an understanding of what 1 in 100 people in his constituency have to live with every day. Annoyance? Life for some. JA.
*His comment is symptomatic of how 99% of the population considers TS - it's something that exists purely as the subject of a cheap joke, to be rdiculed and mocked without any thought of what sufferers of the condition go through. RM.
*A man in his situation should hang his head in shame for it is the ignorant that creates the most trouble for people with TS not TS itself.
*The issue that has arisen over the weekend is our PM's casual use of the word "Tourettes" it seems to me that in recent times Tourette's has acquired a new meaning, as well as being the name of a complex neurological condition it has become a word to describe the general bad language. In its new meaning "Tourettes" has been branded around the media by celebrity and journalist alike and now David Cameron has joined their ranks. During his Prime Minister's Question Time he described Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls' constant barrage as "like having someone with Tourette's sitting opposite you". It now seems to me that the highest realms of society, those that are running our country are casually banding our condition around as a light-hearted humorous insult. For us it isn't. (CM, Health unlocked blog).
*For lots of people Cameron's casual use of disability to insult another politician will be shocking. For many other people it won't, either because they think Tourettes is a fair target for jokes (because of the common misconception that everyone with Tourettes swears). The reality is that Tourettes is a complex condition which can be both physically and socially disabling. The assumption that it's only about swearing makes it even harder for the 90% of people who have it but who haven't ever ticced an offensive word. (JT, Tourettes Hero).
*We have been seething over this for a few hours now and watching response unfold over twitter. It's made sky and bbc news but all been fobbed off as the MP has now apologised if he caused any offence. Meanwhile they have no idea how he has offended.
*I am a 13 year old Tourette's sufferer and am agrieved and dissapointed by your lack of respect and apparent knowledge. Your blatant disregard for the Tourette's community will affect their opinion of you. Tourette's Syndrome is a diagnosed condition and can cause a lot of stress for the sufferer and their family. Bullying and ignorance is a huge problem and affects lots of people suffering this condition. I also wonder Mr Prime Minister if you would have compared Mr Balls to a sufferer of Downs Syndrome or autism. If these are deemed inappropriate and insulting then why is Tourette's Syndrome not given the same respect? If a national figure of importance does not understand and respect those with the condition, then who will? Tourette's is portrayed as a noisy and comical condition with the media often mocking those with it. Your appology was unsatisfactory. It is now up to you to change and educate the nation differently. Yours sincerely NB, age 13.
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/20968 Petition requesting a second look at the Welfare Reform Act, and how it will disadvantage people with neurological conditions.
http://www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/nojoke A petition against joking about Tourette Syndrome.
http://www.touretteshero.com/2012/01/08/cameron-balls/ Blog from Tourette Syndrome community member.
http://tourettes-action.healthunlocked.com/blogs/102975/My-Vision-for-a-fair-Britain Blog from Tourette Syndrome community member.
Letter from Tourette Scotland member:
"Dear Mr Cameron
While watching the evening news on Sunday 8th January, I was appalled to hear that you had made a derogatory comment regarding Tourette's Syndrome. I would like you to understand that Tourette's is a very debilitating disability, which I have suffered from for the last 42 years. It can and does prevent sufferers from going out and engaging in social situations, and therefore puts a limit on the type of lifestyle one can hope to enjoy.
You may have made this comment 'off the cuff', but someone in your position should certainly give more thought to what you say. Do you realise the number of people throughout Britain that you will have offended with this comment?
As a result of this little-understood condition, I have suffered ridicule from narrow-minded, ill-informed individuals throughout most of my life, but it is beyond belief that a supposedly well-educated person should utter such a thoughtless and cruel jibe. You have shown a complete lack of judgement and disregard for sufferers of Tourette's Syndrome, and your apology falls far short of the damage you have done.
Prime Minister's Questions may well be challenging, but if you cannot deal with this pressure, then perhaps you should make way for someone who can."