Campaign calls for Eaton Ford councillor to resign over “retard” comment

Calls have been made for a councillor to resign who referred to a special needs school as “for retards.”

Nearly 2,400 people have signed a petition to get independent Councillor Bob Farrer, who sits on St Neots Town Council and Huntingdonshire District Council, to step down from his elected posts.

The petition, on the website change.org, was started after Cllr Farrer referred to the Trinity School, a maintained special school, which will occupy the old Huntingdonshire Regional College building, in St Neots, as “a new school which is going to be for retards.”

Started by documentary filmmaker Daniel Law, the petition states: “This behaviour should not be tolerated. If he is not willing to resign, he should be removed from his position by the council.”

Speaking to the Hunts Post, Mr Law added: “I have people and children in my family that have learning difficulties, it is horrible to say that about anyone but it is even worse to say it about children.”

The comment was made at the meeting of the Swimming Pool Trust to decide on the future of the town’s former outdoor swimming pool site.

Cllr Farrer has previously been censured by the district council for calling a member of the public “a prat.”

When asked about the matter Cllr Farrer, who represents Eaton Ford on St Neots Town Council, declined to comment to The Hunts Post.