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Tory leadership hopeful Esther McVey defends parents protesting about ‘gay lessons’ in school
TORY leadership hopeful Esther McVey has sparked a fresh row after she defended parents taking their kids out of sex education classes in school
The ex-Work and Pensions secretary said parents had to have the final say on whether their children were taught about gay relationships - not schools.
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It comes after weeks of protests in schools in Birmingham after some parents from Anderton Park school demanded the curriculum be ripped up.
They are demanding their kids be excluded from LGBT lessons, which will be rolled out as part of a shake-up to the national curriculum later this year.
Pupils will be taught about same-sex families, staying safe online, and developing healthy relationships.
And secondary school children will get at least one compulsory term of sex education before they are 16.
It will also cover sexting, online grooming and domestic violence.
But the Wirral politician told Sky News that "the parents need to have the final say in what they want their children to know".
She distanced herself from the protesters but said her position was "very clear" - that she backed the parents to not let their kids be taught about gay relationships.
"If parents want to take their young children, primary school children, out of certain forms of sex education and relationship education then that is up to them," she said.
The new moves face a backlash from religious groups who oppose the teaching of same-sex and trans issues in schools.
Children have been being taken out of class and parents along with other activists protesting outside schools in Birmingham.
One gay assistant headteacher who helped create the LGBT lessons has got death threats.
Andrew Moffat admitted the intimidation tactics had left him “feeling vulnerable”.
Birmingham primary school closes early as anti-LGBT protesters stage protest outside
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Ms McVey's comments will be seen as a bid to woo over the extreme right wing of the Tory party as part of her bid to become the next PM.
She's already vowed to leave the EU with or without a deal, wants to slash international aid spending and splash out more on police to cut crime.
The issue has provoked a furious row over sex education in schools.
Labour MP Jess Phillips has heated exchange with Birmingham protester over LGBT teaching row
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