LABOUR'S General Election candidate for the Forest has called for Lord Freud to be sacked as welfare minister over comments about disabled people.

Lord Freud found himself at the centre of a storm after suggestions people with disabilities should be paid less than the minimum wage.

He has since apologised for the 'foolish' remarks but Labour candidate for the Forest, Steve Parry-Hearn, said Lord Freud should lose his job.

He said: "This attempt at an apology is not the end of the matter. Lord Freud claims he merely accepted 'the premise of the question' but it was he who said some disabled people are not worth the full wage and it was he who suggested paying people just £2 an hour.

"In fact he said he would go away to look at this issue, suggesting that this government would consider it.

"Someone holding these views shouldn't be in government."

Mr Parry-Hearn said he would be holding an advice surgery on health and welfare benefits at the West Dean Centre in Bream on Saturday, November 15 at 10.30am.

Forest MP Mark Harper, who is minister for disability affairs, said Lord Freud had made a mistake in the language he used but should be allowed to continue with his job.