“Bridget Phillipson suggests Labour may scrap guidance banning schools from teaching gender ideology. Shadow education secretary repeatedly refuses to confirm if she would keep framework published earlier this year.”
Aticle from the Telegraph today. Also covered by other news outlet.
Bridget Phillipson has suggested she will scrap guidance banning children from being taught that they can change gender.
The shadow education secretary refused to confirm she would keep the schools guidance published by Gillian Keegan earlier this year, which banned the teaching of gender ideology in any form.
She told the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg that any guidance needed to acknowledge that trans people exist, and said Ms Keegan’s version contained “partisan and unnecessary language”.
Asked whether she would keep the guidance, Ms Phillipson repeatedly refused to do so.
The guidance drawn up by the Education Secretary states that schools should not teach gender identity. It is out for consultation at the moment and has not yet come into effect.
On Friday, Kemi Badenoch told The Telegraph that she was “very, very worried” that Labour would “undo the work we have done on gender questioning guidance for children”.
Ms Phillipson told Kuenssberg: “School leaders across the country want clarity on how to manage what is a sensitive and difficult area for them.
“We absolutely do need to see guidance and a Labour government, if we win the trust of the British people, will make sure that happens.
“But let’s make sure that children’s wellbeing is at the heart of this. Let’s stop this being a political football. This is our children’s lives and their wellbeing.
“It’s too important to make this a culture wars issue on the front pages of newspapers. Let’s take a more responsible approach.”
Asked again on the specific issue of gender identity, she said she wanted to listen to responses to the consultation. These have been largely negative on the issue of banning the teaching of gender identity.
“Many aspects of the draft had good and straightforward principles in it,” she said. “Other elements of it, I think, drifted far too much into partisan and unnecessary language.
“That I think makes it harder for schools to navigate this. So if I was Education Secretary, I want to look at all of the responses that we’ve received to the consultation.”
Asked whether she would “ditch the ban on teaching the concept of gender identity”, she replied: “There are trans people within society and their existence should be recognised…
“Many trans people are vulnerable and are deserving of support. Alongside that, we’ve got to make sure that schools have got clear guidance about how best to support children and young people that are experiencing distress and issues around their wellbeing.
“That is not well served by ministers picking fights, seeking headlines. Let’s take a more responsible approach. Let’s take the heat out of it. Let’s do this properly and seriously.”
Ms Kuenssberg then asked Ms Phillipson about author JK Rowling’s comments that she was not sure she could vote Labour any more over the position the party has taken over the balance between the rights of women and transgender people.
Ms Phillipson replied: “I’m genuinely sorry to hear that because I have a real degree of respect for JK Rowling and all the work that she’s done.
“On raising awareness about violence against women and girls, and that’s personal to me, too. I would say, let’s look at the work that Labour has done before in this area and what we’re committed to doing now.
“We will halve violence and violence against women and girls. We will make sure that those responsible face the full consequences of the law.”
She added: “I want to make sure that women get the support and the justice that they deserve, and that we do make sure that we’ve got services that are available for women around rape and sexual violence.
“And there are important provisions already there within the Equality Act that allow for single sex provision. And it’s important those are maintained.
“But let’s alongside that, make sure that trans people get the support that they need. I don’t believe it’s an either/or.”
A Labour spokesman said: “Labour will take forward the draft gender questioning guidance to give schools clarity on how our education system should support all young people.
“If elected, a Labour government will review the responses to the government’s consultation, which are currently unpublished, to ensure guidance provides much needed clarity for children, teachers and parents.
“Labour’s priority is the wellbeing of every child. We will deliver guidance which supports schools to navigate this.”
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/06/23/bridget-phillipson-labour-may-scrap-gender-ideology-ban/