Candidate to be Conservative Party Leader and thus the next Prime Minister, Ester McVey MP, has backed parents protesting about their child’s primary school encouraging pupils to accept LGBT people. The MP, who until November served in the Cabinet as the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, made her comments in interview with Sky News today. In response to protests about a number of primary schools in Birmingham encouraging acceptance of LGBT people, the former Minister urged that ‘parents need to have the final say in what they want their children to know‘.
The comments follow criticism last week of the Birmingham school that has faced the most intense protests, Anderton Park School, from the Labour MP for Birmingham Hall Green, Roger Godsiff. His and Esther McVey’s comments have subsequently been attacked by fellow MPs in both their own parties.
Chair of the Accord Coalition, the Revd Stephen Terry, ‘The schools in question are simply upholding their responsibilities under their Public Sector Equality Duty. It is very worrying that a Cabinet Minister is advocating that schools should not promote acceptance towards LGBT people, contrary to the law.’
‘The comments are all the more concerning that they come from someone who is campaigning to be Prime Minister. They should serve as a warning about the disregard and threats that still exist for LGBT inclusion, and ward off any complacency by those who want schools to be truly inclusive spaces.’
