Tory councillor says unemployed Northerners should pick fruit rather than claim benefits
December 14th, 2010 - 9:52 pm ICT by Aishwarya BhattLondon, Dec 14 (THAINDIAN NEWS) A senior Conservative council chief David Shakespeare has incurred the wrath of several people including politicians with his recent remarks.
Shakespeare, who is the leader of the Buckinghamshire County Council told unemployed Brits that they should try and find a job by picking cherries rather than looking to the government for support.
Picking cherries is often engaged in by immigrants from Eastern Europe. The comment has irked both Conservative and Labour politicians. He is the leader of the Conservative group in the Local Government Association.
Shakespeare’s comment, which was particularly directed at the citizens at the northern part of the country is seen as being in bad taste. He in particular said that, “The North may replace the Romanians in the cherry orchards” before adding that that suggestion may be a good one.”
The Labour politicians were quick to jump on his statement. They accused the Labour leader who is also the Prime Minister of the country, David Cameron of doing very little to reform his party. A similar comment was made by Norman Tebbit in the 80s. He famously told the unemployed to “get on your bikes.”
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