He may well have apologised and called it an indiscretion in a radio interview – but a councillor in Cornwall has nonetheless been forced to resign over a comment he made way back in 2011.

Politicians often get themselves in hot water with blunders and gaffes. But it’s fairly rare that one makes a comment so shocking that people immediately call for their resignation. This particular situation arose when Colin Brewer told a charity worker at County Hall Truro that disabled children should be “put down” because of the money they cost the local authority.

The charity made a formal complaint, and later a report by the council’s standards committee requested that Brewer write an apology – which he did. However, many felt that this was not enough, and a Facebook page was set up to request that he resign. It soon attracted thousands of supporters.

After previously refusing to do so, and playing his comment down as a “flippant remark”, Brewer finally quit this week, and was quoted on the BBC as saying: “It’s very painful. I didn’t sleep last night. I probably won’t sleep tonight … I’m not eating. I think it will live with me. It’s continual regret.” Powerful words – but unlikely to render much sympathy from the many who were offended by his comment.

People in positions of power, who are more likely than anyone else to be in the media spotlight, do have to take caution when they make comments in public. But frankly, if someone is foolish enough to say something like this, they probably have far bigger problems to worry about than whether or not they’ve been properly media trained.