Disabled man who called Tory MP ‘f***ing little Nazi’ charged with threatening behavior
A disabled man has been charged with threatening behavior after calling a Conservative MP a “f***ing little Nazi.” His supporters say he was protesting against the “human catastrophe” of Tory welfare cuts.
Mick Hardy, 63, from Norwich, allegedly insulted Tory MP Chloe Smith while she was giving a speech at the Norwich Pride Parade 2017.
Hardy, who is reportedly out of work due to stress, anxiety, arthritis and mobility problems, is a member of Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC), which describes him as a “disability rights campaigner.”
Hardy stood against Smith as the Disabled And Not Dead Yet Party candidate during the 2015 elections.
Smith was elected MP for Norwich North in 2009 and has held various positions in government. In 2013, she wore a blindfold and traveled on a bus to try to understand the challenges faced by disabled people when using public transport.
Hardy said in a statement he wants to thank everyone “from the bottom of his heart for all their support,” adding that he “refused to be intimidated because he is only highlighting what is happening to the most vulnerable people in society.” He also said that these are “very stressful times.”
It comes at a time when the Tory government has come under fierce criticism for its reductions to services for disabled people.
Last year, a United Nations commissioner blasted the UK government over the cuts, saying they are causing a “human catastrophe” for disabled people in the UK.
And in November, a landmark study accused the Conservatives of “economic murder” after it found a link between cuts to public services introduced seven years ago and hundreds of thousands of deaths. According to joint research between Oxford, Cambridge and University College London, there have been 120,000 deaths linked to austerity policies since the Conservatives gained power - initially in coalition with the Liberal Democrats - in 2010.
Protest group Black Triangle Anti-Defamation Campaign in Defence of Disability Rights wrote on its Facebook page: “If we leave the system unchanged until 2020 then 200,000 people will have died because of Tory policies.
“When are we allowed to mention the Nazis? How do we make them stop if we don't protest?”
A Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) spokesperson told the Canary: “This case was charged by the police who have now sent us an electronic file. We will review the case in advance of the first appearance at Norwich Magistrates’ Court.”
A Norfolk Constabulary spokesperson added: “A 63-year-old from Norwich was sent a postal requisition on 10/1/2018 for ‘Using threatening/abusive/insulting words/behavior to cause harassment/alarm/distress.’
“The requisition relates to an incident which happened on 29 July 2017, during Norwich City Pride, where a man has been verbally abusive towards a speaker at the event.”
Hardy will make his first appearance at Norwich Magistrates’ Court on February 9.
Like this story? Share it with a friend!
