Helston MP speaks about stammer (From This is The West Country)

Helston MP speaks about stammer

1:00pm Wednesday 24th June 2009 in Cornwall

Helston MP Andrew George has spoken out about overcoming a disability in his political career.

Mr George revealed that he has had to cope with a stammer and still has to work on the problem.

He admitted the problem at a meeting yesterday in the House of Commons, during his role as a member of a committee investigating the ways in which parliament and the political parties can make themselves more accessible and relevant to the general public.

Yesterday the committee heard evidence from a range of disability charities and campaign organisations including Leonard Cheshire, Scope, and charities on behalf of the deaf, blind and the British Stammering Association.

Mr George was speaking to Leys Geddes, vice chair of the British Stammering Association and admitted that during his upbringing his stammer had been so pronounced that many people he grew up with were surprised that he eventually chose to go into a career which involved so much public speaking.

He added that it had, occasionally, been a significant impediment but was one he was determined to overcome.