A Reform UK councillor has accused his council of ‘cancel politics’ after he was reprimanded for saying mental health issues were ‘the 21st-century version of the bad back’.
Oliver Freeston, a 25-year-old North East Lincolnshire councillor, branded the warning email he received from a compliance officer as an ‘attack on free speech’, after making the remarks about ‘sick note culture’ at a meeting.
The former NHS worker claimed anxiety and depression were used by some people as an easy way to claim out of work sickness benefits because they were ‘hard to disprove’.
Mr Freeston was giving his opinions during a health and adult social care scrutiny panel on January 29 and stressed it was ‘my right to say what I said’, even if others didn’t agree with him.
‘This type of cancel politics and getting offended by hurty words is exactly the type of thing I am fighting against,’ he told The Telegraph.
‘This is an attack on free speech. Since going public, I have had an outpouring of support for my thoughts. I am saying what the silent majority think.
‘To be frank, people need to get a grip and start behaving like adults. I will not shy away from saying the things that need to be said.’
As part of his rant on January 29, Mr Freeman said doctors were too quick to prescribe antidepressants to young people, making it easier for them to ‘label themselves as depressed’.
Oliver Freeston (pictured), a 25-year-old councillor for North East Lincolnshire, branded the warning email he received from a compliance officer as an ‘attack on free speech’
Worklessness due to long-term sickness has risen seven-fold in parts of the country since Covid (file image)
After making the comments, the 25-year-old received an email from a member of the council team.
It read: ‘A bit of noise, from quarters both inside and outside the council is reaching me around certain comments made by you at the health and adult social care scrutiny panel on Wednesday evening.
‘Naturally accepting that you’re entitled to your opinion, as is everyone else, you perhaps need to temper your comments somewhat?
‘No formal ‘standards’ issue as yet, but in a bid to avoid that becoming an issue, perhaps moderate your language? Particularly when presiding as chair. There are certain expectations of behaviour, and approach, reasonably expected of an elected member. You know that.’
Worklessness due to long-term sickness has risen seven-fold in parts of the country since Covid.
The Government estimates that around 2.8million people are currently off work with a continuing illness – up by around 700,000 on before the pandemic.
Dire forecasts warn this could exceed 4million by 2030, with much of the explosion down to an increase in benefits for mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety.
In December, an unemployed single mother told filmmakers she is too scared to find a job – and lose her benefits – because it means she might not make enough money to provide for her son.
Due to her limited mobility, Amy claims long-term sickness benefits from the government and she has never worked a full-time job. She would need to earn over £35,000 per year to match the benefits she is getting now – £10,000 more than the average salary in her area
Amy, 30, from Keighley near Bradford, featured in an episode of Britain’s Benefits Scandal: Dispatches on Channel 4.
When she was younger, Amy had hopes of becoming a barrister but joked that her ‘pelvis had other plans’.
While watching her son Alfie, eight, at the playground, the single mother said: ‘Being pregnant basically broke my pelvis so it needed fusion surgery to put it back and keep it in place.
‘I need a walking stick to move or else it’s painful, or I’ll fall over or I can’t go a certain way.
‘I am in pain all day every day so I do suffer with mental health issues as well. CPTSD, anxiety, depression, and things like that.’
Due to her limited mobility, Amy claims long-term sickness benefits from the government and she has never worked a full-time job.
‘It sounds awful that, doesn’t it?’ Amy said. ‘I’d like one but the issue is finding something I would be able to do consistently without making my son suffer and myself suffer and losing money.’
MailOnline have approached Reform UK and North East Lincolnshire for a comment.
