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Norfolk MP in hot water over comments

SHAUN LOWTHORPE

10 August 2006 06:56

A Norfolk MP was in hot water last night after claiming the county's rising trend of diabetes among youngsters was the result of inbreeding.

Health chiefs are set to investigate the increase in children with the type 1 form of the condition after research showed that more than 345 youngsters suffer from it - more than double the 160 predicted cases for the county.

Increasing numbers of youngsters aged under five are also being diagnosed with the condition in Norfolk.

In the past three years there have been 45 new cases in children compared to a national average of 24.

But Dr Ian Gibson, a scientist and former chairman of the Commons science and technology select committee, sparked anger with his views that inbreeding may be to blame.

"I would imagine it is linked to the fact that people in Norfolk are quite in-bred with many not leaving the county," he said. "It is something that needs to be looked at as a priority, especially as many cases are linked to obesity, too."

When asked if people would be offended by his comments, he added: "Probably, but they are inbred. If you look at the names in Norfolk, there's a lot that are the same. There is an inbreeding complex in villages - people inter-marry. That might mean more of them have got the same gene which predisposes them to it."

Dr Ketan Dhatariya, consultant diabetologist at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, condemned the MP's remarks.

"That's disgraceful," he said. "It's an insult to people with type 1 diabetes and their families and it's an insult to people in Norfolk. There's no suggestion that that is the case.

"It's not the way that the genetics works. There is a genetic element but it may be triggered by an environmental factor. Nobody knows why it is rising."

Simon O'Neill, director of care and policy at Diabetes UK, said: "We still don't fully understand the relationship between genetics and diabetes and there is ongoing research into this area.

"However we do suspect that a mixture of genetics, environmental factors and infections all play a role in children developing diabetes."

what an idiot. My surname is fairly common, and my family background is farming, an area similar to Norfolk. But as a family it's a big no-no even if you are interested in someone who's related via a great(x7)-grandparent!! There is no way we are in-bred. I'm unique - I have six fingers to prove it!

He may have a point though. It's commonly joked about round here about the interbreeding etc. Webbed feet and one eye in the middle of the head from people who come from certain places which I shall not name. Obviously that's extreme and a joke but I wouldn't rule it out. No offence would be inteneded but a fact is a fact. People who live in close knit communities and don't move away from them for generations end up being related to everybody else somewhwere down the line.

Sounds like he's done himself no favours. One family is refusing to vote for him at the next election, putting his 16,000 majority under threat

I'd be inclined to believe him if he was referring to inhabitants of the Forest of Dean

Add parts of Lincolnshire to the list

Forest of Dean....lol! quite true tf!

And that's not even thinking about parts of Somerset...

Not referring to Bridgwater by any chance...?