Police have confirmed they are looking into the latest statements attributed to a Cornwall councillor who said disabled children should be 'put down'.

The police probe follows a report for specialist publication DNS that said he "repeatedly indicated that he believed there was a good argument for killing some disabled babies with high support needs, because of the cost of providing them with services".

Mr Brewer has yet to comment on the article, and is signed off on long term sick from his council duties.

Despite all the political leaders at Cornwall Council joining to condemn the statements attributed to councillor Colin Brewer, the authority has no power to force him to resign.

Read how Mr Brewer found himself in hot water again.

In a show of unity, Jeremy Rowe, Leader of the Liberal Democrat group, John Wood, Leader of the Independent group, Fiona Ferguson, Leader of the Conservative group, Malcolm Moyle, Leader of the Labour group and Stephanie McWilliam , Leader of UKIP group and Dick Cole, Leader of Mebyon Kernow have said the recently published comments attributed to Councillor Brewer are "completely unacceptable and are contrary to the Council’s policy of supporting all people with disabilities" and that such views have no place in local government. 

Adding: "These remarks represent the personal views of Councillor Brewer who does not speak for the Council or the people of Cornwall.”

Following the Government’s abolition of Standards for England in 2012 and changes to the Code of Conduct regime the options available to the Council when a breach of the Code of Conduct is found have been limited.  There is no longer the ability to suspend Councillors.  

The council has never been able to disqualify Councillors in response to Code of Conduct complaints. 

In regards to the previous comments the council's monitoring officer found that there had been a breach of the Code of Conduct and determined that the only appropriate and proportionate sanction he could impose was to require Councillor Brewer to issue a formal apology. 

Mr Brewer was notified of this in November 2012 and subsequently wrote to the complainant apologising unreservedly for his remarks.

The Packet has asked the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) whether any action against Mr Brewer is possible following the changes.