Tory MEP Helmer says cuts aren’t happening

By Mark Ferguson / @markfergusonuk

Over the past few days we’ve been keeping an eye on some of the extreme views held by Tory MEP Roger Helmer. He returned to prominence with his disgusting comments on rape, having previously appeared on our radar back in February after he claimed that homosexuality could be cured. Yesterday we showed you that he thinks climate change is a myth (but can’t explain why exactly).

Yet unbelieveably he has put his foot in his mouth again today. Writing on his blog this morning, Helmer denied that George Osborne is making cuts, saying:

“I admired his skill in delivering cuts (well, not really cuts, but reductions in expectations) with the least possible damage.”

So Helmer believes that cuts aren’t really happening, and that they are occurring with little damage. That will certainly be news to anyone who risks losing their jobs as a result of Osborne’s non-cuts. He goes on to say:

“I commended the IDS approach to welfare, recalling Simon Heffer’s aperçu that “We have an underclass because we’ve decided to pay for one”. Well done IDS for deciding not to pay for it any longer, and to restore the link between income and work.”

So Helmer believes that benefit recipients are an “underclass”. Presumably no-one on benefits voted for Helmer? But what does he think the Tory Party have done wrong? And what are his priorities?

“We haven’t repealed the Hunting Act…or the Non-Don tax.”

So Helmer’s priorities are overturning the hunting ban and giving tax breaks to non-doms. Surely Cameron will want to disown Helmer and his ilk, unless they represent a sizeable proportion of his party? It certainly seems like Helmer is no fan of the PM, saying:

“Is the Conservative Party a British centre-right party? Or merely a European social democratic party? The jury is still out.”

If you think this isn’t a Tory government, that cuts aren’t happening, that giving tax breaks to non-doms and overturning the hunting act should be legislative priorities and that benefit recipients aree a de facto “underclass” then you’re not the “Loony Right”, you’re the “Rabid Right”. What an embarrassment. And what does it say about Cameron that he won’t remove him? Why is the PM so weak when it comes to his party, and Europe?

Update: There’s a “Sack Helmer” petition, which you can sign here.