Pressure grows on Downing Street to sack controversial adviser Andrew Sabisky
17 February 2020, 11:59
The Prime Minister has been urged to remove a new adviser who went on record to support the "forced sterilisation of people he considers not worthy."
Labour has called on Boris Johnson to fire Andrew Sabisky, who was recruited by Dominic Cummings when he called for "weirdos and misfits with odd skills” to apply for jobs in Downing Street.
Mr Sabisky reportedly suggested that the benefits of a supposed brain-boosting drug, which can prove fatal, was "probably worth a dead kid once a year".
Writing on the website of the PM's chief aide in 2014 he said: "One way to get around the problems of unplanned pregnancies creating a permanent underclass would be to legally enforce universal uptake of long-term contraception at the onset of puberty.
"Vaccination laws give it a precedent, I would argue."
Mr Sabisky also tweeted “women’s sport is more comparable to the Paralympics than it is to men’s”.
Downing Street repeatedly refused to say whether Boris Johnson supported the views expressed by Mr Sabisky.
A Number 10 spokesman said: "I'm not going to be commenting on individual appointments."
Asked whether Mr Johnson agreed with Mr Sabisky's comments on eugenics or the IQ of black people, the spokesman said: "The Prime Minister's views on a range of subjects are well publicised and documented."
Cannot believe No 10 has refused to comment on Andrew Sabisky. I don’t know him from a bar of soap, but don’t think we’d get on ....... must be no place in Government for the views he’s expressed
— Caroline Nokes (@carolinenokes) February 17, 2020
Conservative MP Caroline Nokes criticised Downing Street's refusal to comment on Mr Sabisky's views, writing in a tweet: "Cannot believe No 10 has refused to comment on Andrew Sabisky.
"I don’t know him from a bar of soap, but don’t think we’d get on ....... must be no place in Government for the views he’s expressed."
In an interview with Schools Week in 2016 he said: “Eugenics are about selecting ‘for’ good things. Intelligence is largely inherited and correlates with better outcomes: physical health, income, lower mental illness.”
Labour's shadow Cabinet Office minister Jon Trickett hit out at the appointment, he said: "There are really no words to describe Boris Johnson's appointment as one of his senior advisers a man who is on record as supporting the forced sterilisation of people he considers not worthy.
"He must, of course, be removed from this position immediately."
Buzzfeed's Senior political correspondent Alex Wickham said he understood other special advisers would they boycott meetings where he is present or respond to his emails.
Environment Secretary George Eustice said it was a "matter for Dominic Cummings and Number 10" when asked about the remarks on Sky News.
On Sunday, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps told the BBC: "I don't know the individual but they are particularly not views that I or the Government shares in any way, shape or form."
