RIBBLE Valley soldier Rick Clement said welfare minister Lord Freud should be sacked after he suggested that some disabled people were not worth “the full wage”.

Freud has since issued an apology for his “foolish comments” after the minister was overheard at the Conservative Party conference discussing plans to introduce a £2 minimum wage just for disabled people.

But that, says Clement – who lost both legs and almost his right arm when he stepped on a booby trap bomb in Afghanistan and is now registered disabled – is not enough to stem the tide of anger.

“What he said about the disabled was absolutely disgraceful and I was shocked over his lack of awareness towards them,” said Clement, from Clitheroe.

He will talk about his life at a special spoken word charity event at the town’s Grand Theatre on October 29.

“When the England football manager Glenn Hoddle made those comments about disabled people he was sacked and Lord Freud should be removed from his post too because they are not the words of anyone who should be in charge of disabled people.

“He doesn’t seem to have any understanding of how hard it is for a disabled person – he is completely out of touch.”

Clement said he has met many disabled people since suffering life-changing injuries in Afghanistan fours years ago, and he added: “The ones I know are very hard working, dedicated and have a tremendous amount to offer society.

“How can he possibly suggest that they are worth less than an able-bodied person?

“His words were insulting towards the disabled and he should go.”

Despite his shocking injuries, Clement has demonstrated incredible determination to overcome his disability, resolutely striving to regain his independence.

He has mastered a wheelchair, learned how to drive again, as well as raising thousands of pounds for his own charity – A Soldier’s Journey.

“My dream is to raise £1million and I think that’s achievable,” added Rick, who served with the First Battalion, Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment.

“I’m only 34 and through people’s incredible kindness and the fund-raising efforts we’ve raised £134,000.”

Meanwhile, Clement who fought the Taliban in Afghanistan and also served in Iraq, has warned that British troops might eventually have to be used against forces from Islamic State (ISIS) in Iraq and Syria.

Clement says air power is not enough to defeat them. He said: “This is a conventional enemy in that it has armour, tanks, artillery, it is quite wealthy, it holds ground, and it is going to fight.”

Rick will be answering questions from the audience after his talk. Rick Clement: My Story in aid of A Soldier’s Journey. 01200 421599. October 29. £8 and £5 concessions.