Latest news with #AndyOsborn
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Councillor loses role for children in care remarks
A newly elected councillor who called some children in care "downright evil" has been removed from his committee role, after his party called the comments "clumsy and regrettable". Reform UK's Andy Osborn made the remark during Cambridgeshire County Council's children and young people committee meeting on Tuesday. Group leader James Sidlow said he would sit on the panel instead of Osborn after the issue was dealt with internally. The councillor has been contacted for comment. "Councillor Osborn's comments were clumsy and regrettable," Sidlow said. "[They] do not reflect or represent those of our local Reform UK group or those of the national party." Osborn told the meeting, covered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, that some children in care were "not just naughty children, they can be downright evil". He said he had heard of cases where youngsters were "smashing cars up", "running away from home" and were "on drugs". He added: "It is not just a case of somebody being a bad boy or a bad girl, it is a case of they have learnt from their bad parents not to react correctly." Other councillors and an executive director have highlighted that children who are taken into care have experienced trauma, which could lead to challenging behaviour. Prior to Osborn's removal, the county council issued a statement in which it said it "reaffirms its commitment to children in care and people with care experience". Committee chairwoman Edna Murphy said society "too often" did not take the needs of those children into account. The Liberal Democrat said the local authority took its responsibilities "very seriously", adding: "These children are our children and, like any parent, we want to ensure they get the best services and support." The meeting was told the council, which is run by the Lib Dems following May's election, had overspent on care placements by £7.5m. Its executive director for children, education and families, Martin Purbrick, said: "We offer support to all those families who need it. "Our low rate of children in care compared to many other areas really demonstrates the success of our services." Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Councillor says some children in care are 'evil' Cambridgeshire County Council
BBC News
6 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Cambridgeshire councillor loses role for children in care remarks
A newly elected councillor who called some children in care "downright evil" has been removed from his committee role, after his party called the comments "clumsy and regrettable".Reform UK's Andy Osborn made the remark during Cambridgeshire County Council's children and young people committee meeting on leader James Sidlow said he would sit on the panel instead of Osborn after the issue was dealt with internally. The councillor has been contacted for comment. "Councillor Osborn's comments were clumsy and regrettable," Sidlow said."[They] do not reflect or represent those of our local Reform UK group or those of the national party."Osborn told the meeting, covered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, that some children in care were "not just naughty children, they can be downright evil".He said he had heard of cases where youngsters were "smashing cars up", "running away from home" and were "on drugs".He added: "It is not just a case of somebody being a bad boy or a bad girl, it is a case of they have learnt from their bad parents not to react correctly." Other councillors and an executive director have highlighted that children who are taken into care have experienced trauma, which could lead to challenging to Osborn's removal, the county council issued a statement in which it said it "reaffirms its commitment to children in care and people with care experience".Committee chairwoman Edna Murphy said society "too often" did not take the needs of those children into Liberal Democrat said the local authority took its responsibilities "very seriously", adding: "These children are our children and, like any parent, we want to ensure they get the best services and support."The meeting was told the council, which is run by the Lib Dems following May's election, had overspent on care placements by £ executive director for children, education and families, Martin Purbrick, said: "We offer support to all those families who need it."Our low rate of children in care compared to many other areas really demonstrates the success of our services." Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
04-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Cambridgeshire councillor says some children in care are 'evil'
A councillor has told a committee meeting that some children in care are "not just naughty children, they can be downright evil".Reform UK's Andy Osborn made the comment during a Cambridgeshire County Council meeting, which heard that the authority had overspent on care placements by £ director for children, education and families Martin Purbrick said "any child in care is a child that has experienced early childhood trauma" and that had "really changed the way that they are able to manage their own emotions".He added that the overspend at the Liberal Democrat-run council was mainly due to more children than expected going into care. Mr Osborn told the Children and Young People Committee that he had heard of cases where children were "smashing cars up, running away from home, and are on drugs", according to the Local Democracy Reporting said: "It is not just a case of somebody being a bad boy or a bad girl, it is a case of they have learnt from their bad parents not to react correctly."Mr Purbrick said: "Sometimes [trauma] can manifest itself in behaviours like you have described... but I do think it is important that we as a committee also remember that under that behaviour is a child that has experienced something incredibly difficult and something that has really changed the way that they are able to manage their own emotions."Liberal Democrat member Anna Bradnam said children's behaviour could be challenging because they had been through "a very challenging time beforehand".Labour's Bryony Goodliffe said: "They are our children under the corporate parenting legislation. They are very much our responsibility."Despite the overspend, Cambridgeshire had some of the lowest numbers of children going into care in the region, Mr Purbrick said. Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
