LORD FREUD’S comments (“Welfare Reform Minister: some disabled people ‘not worth’ minimum wage”) have been described in some quarters as a “gaffe”.

Having consulted my dictionary, a gaffe is an unintentional act or remark causing embarrassment to the originator.

While it may have caused some embarrassment not only to its originator, the comments could in no way be described as unintentional.

Freud’s shocking perspective suggests that a disabled person is “worth” less than a non-disabled person and is reflective of the massive social barriers that disabled people encounter in all walks of life.

While an apology is welcome, it is not possible to repair the incalculable damage to the mindset of employers in addressing attitudinal and environmental obstacles in employing disabled people.

As importantly, it inculcates in the minds of some disabled people that they are intrinsically worth less, denying them the dignity of equal opportunity.

Freud has form in making offensive comments – accusing people of choosing a “lifestyle” on benefits among others – so while David Cameron may hide behind the chimera of compassionate conservatism and falsely argue Coalition disability policy cannot be challenged due to his own experience, such political cross-dressing needs exposing for what it is.

Richard Bridge, Holgate Road, York.