Tory peer apologies for ‘breeding’ comments

Mr Flight had told London’s Evening Standard newspaper that withdrawing child benefit away from high-end taxpayers would result in them being “discouraged from breeding”.

He added that by contrast, benefit claimants would have “every incentive” to have more children.

The 62-year-old former Arundel and South Downs MP quickly retracted the comments just minutes after Prime Minister David Cameron announced his expectation to do so.

In a statement, Mr Flight said: “I apologise unreservedly for any offence caused and would like to withdraw the remarks,” he said in a statement issued by the party.

Do benefits really boost breeding? Channel 4 News FactCheck investigates. 

Prime Minister David Cameron had said he was sure that Mr Flight “will want to apologise” for his remark.

Downing Street dismissed the remarks of the former vice-party chairman, saying Mr Flight was not representative of the party.

“He is not a member of the Government, he is not a frontbencher, he does not speak for the Government and we do not agree with his comments,” the Prime Minister’s spokeswoman said.

Mr Flight was named just days ago by Mr Cameron as one of several new additions to the Tory ranks in the House of Lords – where he is yet to take his seat.

The ex-MP was forced to resign as vice-chairman after being taped before the 2005 general election suggesting the Tories had secret spending cut plans.

Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Douglas Alexander said: “These shameful but revealing comments cast serious doubt over David Cameron’s judgment in personally appointing Howard Flight to the House of Lords only a few days ago.

“Last week one of the Prime Minister’s senior advisers told us we’d never had it so good and now his latest hand-picked peer comes out with these comments.

“Instead of dithering for hours, as he did with Lord Young, David Cameron should take swift action and make Howard Flight apologise.”

Last month the Government announced significant changes to welfare along with other cuts in the spending review. Chancellor George Osborne sparked debate as it emerged that high-rate taxpayers would see child benefit payments axed from 2013.

Critics say the cut – designed to save the taxpayer £2.5bn a year – is unfair as some single-earner households will lose out while some with two incomes earning far more in total will not. Around 1.5 million families will be affected.