Quote:Tory peer Howard Flight apologises over poor people 'breeding' comments

Lord Flight suggested coalition's child benefit cuts would give those on welfare every incentive to breed

Peter Walker guardian.co.uk, Thursday 25 November 2010 15.39 GMT

A newly-appointed Conservative peer apologised today for suggesting that government welfare changes would encourage "breeding" among poor people after being rebuked by David Cameron.

Howard Flight, named by the prime minister last week as one of more than 20 new Tory peers, said sorry just minutes after Cameron told him he expected an apology.

"I apologise unreservedly for any offence caused and would like to withdraw the remarks," Lord Flight said in a statement issued by the Conservatives.

Discussing the coalition's plans to get rid of child benefit payments for higher-rate taxpayers, Flight told the London Evening Standard: "We're going to have a system where the middle classes are discouraged from breeding because it's jolly expensive. But for those on benefits, there is every incentive. Well, that's not very sensible."

The former MP has a prior history of speaking out of turn. Shortly before the 2005 general election he was ejected from the safe Sussex seat he had represented for eight years after suggesting a new Conservative government would make more severe spending cuts than pledged.

Asked at a press conference this afternoon whether he was considering removing the peerage from Flight – who has not yet taken his seat in the Lords – Cameron said: "I don't agree with what he said and I'm sure that he will want to apologise for what he said and I think we should leave it at that."

Labour and the Liberal Democrats rounded on the peer. Lib Dem MP Bob Russell said: "His comments are offensive and unacceptable. They are not appropriate for the 21st century."

Douglas Alexander, the shadow work and pensions secretary, 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 [Lord Young] told us we'd never had it so good, and now his latest handpicked peer comes out with these comments."

Flight was deputy chairman of the Conservative party when he was reported saying that a declared £35bn cuts programme would only "be the start" if the Tories won the 2005 election. The then-Conservative leader, Michael Howard, both sacked him from the party job and barred him from standing again for his Arundel and South Downs seat.

Constituency members protested and Flight briefly considered standing as an independent candidate before deciding against it. A flamboyant figure, the 62-year-old made a fortune in the City before entering parliament in 1997.