Child and Adolescent Mental Health :: Information and Forum for Professionals, Young People and Parents

CAMH Bulletin Editorial Office
Published 4 September 2006

George Osborne, the shadow chancellor, has been criticised by campaigners from the National Autistic Society, after trying to attack the Labour Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown, by suggesting he is "faintly autistic." The offending remarks, made at a Tory meeting, have provoked widespread condemnation from politicians and health campaigners alike.

Tory Deputy Chancellor, George Osborne

Osborne, who has been Member of Parliament for Tatton since 2001, had been bragging that he used to be called "Knowledge" as a nick-name because his memory was so good. He was asked in a light-hearted way by the organizer of the meeting whether he might be "faintly autistic", and replied "We're not getting on to Gordon Brown yet".

Carol Evans, director of the National Autistic Society, said: "Any pejorative use of terms relating to autism can cause deep distress and hurt to people affected by the condition. We as a charity are keen to raise awareness in order that these terms are not used lightly by commentators. To use such terms as a criticism of someone's social skills only perpetuates the confusion that surrounds the condition."

Nick Hornby, the leading author whose 13 year old son Danny has autism, and helped found an educational charity for children with autism called TreeHouse, commented: "George Osborne doesn't seem to have noticed that most people over the age of eight no longer use serious and distressing disabilities as a way of taunting people."

Government spending on the NHS in England during Mr Brown's tenure as Chancellor has risen from �33 billion in 1996-97 to �81 billion this financial year. Commenting on Osborne's remarks, Mr Brown's spokesman said: "This isn't offensive to Gordon but it is offensive to those affected by autism that their condition should be used as a term of political abuse. He should apologise."