A GB News guest has hit out at people “gaming the system” after one of Britain’s top theme parks banned visitors with anxiety from using its disability queue-jump pass.
Company Merlin Entertainments, which owns Alton Towers, will no longer hand out disabled “fast lane” passes to those with mental health conditions, ranging from anxiety to ADHD.
The company said demand has surged for the passes – which are designed for those “who may find it difficult, or cannot, stand for long periods of time either due to a physical disability or a learning/emotional impairment”.
Individuals with the conditions used to be eligible for the Ride Access Pass, allowing them with three others to book onto a fast pass queue online.
In defence of the pass, health expert Thorrun Govind argued: “I think queue-jumping is not the right word.
“This is about making a reasonable adjustment to help people feel more comfortable, to allow them to access areas, and also parts of society that they may not otherwise be able to access.
“And I like to think that people I’d like to think that people don’t do this, to lie or to get ahead. I think they genuinely do need it.
“I don’t think we will be questioning this as much, if it was a physical disability that we could see.”
Broadcaster Mike Parry slapped down her argument furiously
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GB NEWS
She added: “There’s been a stigma that has been reduced when it comes to these areas as well.
“So I don’t want people who have these conditions to feel like they should stay at home. We need to make sure that everyone in our society has the ability to go out and enjoy themselves.”
But political commentator and broadcaster Mike Parry slapped down her argument furiously, declaring anxiety to be the modern-day equivalent of a make-up malaise.
He fumed: “You can get signed off with anxiety by just talking to a doctor down a Zoom screen for a few minutes, and you’re off.
Alton Towers will no longer offer Ride Access Passes to those with anxiety or ADHD | PA
“Even though the employment laws in this country say that you have to prove that you’ve suffered for 12 months with anxiety before you can be medically referred.
“Now, 250 people a day in this country are joining those suffering from anxiety, and that is costing the welfare system in this country hundreds of millions of pounds.”
He continued in a rage: “We’ve got to tighten up on this because there’s no definition of where anxiety starts.
“And by the way, if somebody has lost their job and can’t pay their mortgage, if somebody is suddenly told their child has got a terrible illness, that’s anxiety.
“But it’s not anxiety to feel a bit irritable one day because things haven’t gone your way or you’ve broken up with your partner.
“I mean, some people have been signed off with anxiety after reporting that they fidget a lot when they sit down.
“It is a system that’s being gamed. It’s ridiculous.”
Mr Parry argued the bar had been “lowered so low” which has allowed “almost anybody” to say they have anxiety over being “a bit fed up”.
A spokesman from Merlin Entertainments said: “Our guests with additional accessibility needs have increasingly told us that the Ride Access Pass simply isn’t working for them, particularly as demand has grown and queue times for these guests have increased.
“We have listened to this feedback and have been looking at how we can improve the system and find a solution thati s in the best interests of all guests.”