Tory MP calls disabled protesters a 'bunch of charmers sitting down'

Demonstration to highlight anger over Government’s disability cuts

Protesters block part of Westminster Bridge in central London as they demonstrate against disability benefit cuts (PA)

A Tory MP is facing criticism after complaining about wheelchair-bound protesters “sitting down on Westminster Bridge”.

Richard Benyon, the MP for Newbury, tweeted a picture of the protestors saying they had disrupted millions of Londoners and described them as a “bunch of charmers”.

The demonstrators, many of whom were disabled, were protesting against the Government’s disability cuts.

(Twitter)

The tweet has since been deleted.

Penny Pepper, a writer and disabled rights activist, took to Twitter to respond to Mr Benyon’s tweet.

“It's disabled people. Get real please. We have the charmers in government blocking us with savage cuts,” she said.

“Cuts that mean people DIE. Young old female male Cuts that mean we sleep in own mess. Life worse than jail.”

Mr Benyon is currently the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Natural Environment and Fisheries and was first elected as the MP for Newbury in 2005.

The Independent has contacted Mr Benyon’s office for a comment.