Bridget Phillipson as Education Secretary

[BonfireLady]

It's obviously no surprise that Bridget has been elected. The first MP to be elected has sadly demonstrated on multiple occasions that she doesn't understand the impact of gender identity belief on vulnerable children.

Bridget, I doubt you'll read this. You've won now so MN voters don't matter, right?

If you happen to stumble on this thread, here is the ask:

1. bring the Gender Questioning Children guidance in as a statutory measure, with adjustments to help schools to support children who are specifically vulnerable to body disassociation
2. deliver on the removal of gender identity belief from the curriculum (RHSE and academic subjects)
3. prioritise the safeguarding that has been identified in the KCSIE 2024 guidance for gender questioning children and those who feel that they may be LGB

She comes across as quite hard and dogmatic and criticised the Cass report for some of its tone/language so I’m feeling a bit pessimistic. Still, at least we have Hilary Cass herself in the Lords now!

Yes, I'm pessimistic too.

I haven't yet responded to the RHSE consultation but will do before the deadline. It may feel futile but I'm hoping that pressure will be kept on the new government to prioritise safeguarding in schools and to mitigate the harmful impact of gender identity belief.

Ironically, Dr Cass is a believer but is a safer pair of hands than Bridget Phillipson on this one.

Without decent Gender Questioning Children and RHSE guidance, the pipeline from schools to gender clinics will be maintained. Even the KCSIE guidance that is coming in in September says that the section covering gender identity (belief) is subject to change.

I don't want to go in to details but my own "journey" on the education side of things has taken a frustrating and potentially concerning twist. The headline is that (lack of) safeguarding is the focal point. I think it's navigable but it's not going to be much fun.

Think it’s important that as many women as possible complete the consultation. We can’t risk going backwards on this. We must get this brainwashing out of schools. We can send Labour a strong message via the consultation.

https://consult.education.gov.uk/rshe-team/review-of-the-rshe-statutory-guidance/

Will there perhaps be a big reshuffle?

I think so. I don’t know though whether he’ll move her, or if he thinks the public is happy with someone like Philipson in education. Time for us all to write to our MPs and make our opinions heard, I guess.

I'd previously understood that Phillipson was secretly GC. If she is, she must be a very good Poker player to keep it so hidden.

I'm also watching to see whether they leave Wes Streeting in charge of health. I'll bet there's a lot of lobbying going on right now to move him.

x.com/journalismseen/status/1809226523695579257?s=46&t=A2fpFNgDRyXF2d6ye97wEA

For non twitters

I don't trust her one bit. I had also heard this but if she's secretly "GC", she's hiding it well!

When interviewed by Laura Kuenssberg (who unfortunately muddled up the RHSE and Gender Questioning Children guidance when asking the question), she said that the GQC guidance had language in it that was problematic and partisan.
Most of the document was very dry and factual, so I can only assume that she was referring to the part about the contested belief.
When the legal review of this document got leaked to the press, this part was marked up as something like that. I can't remember the exact words on the mark up but will try and find it.

It's critical that the wording about it being a belief that not everyone holds stays in. It makes it clear that not everyone believes we have a gender identity i.e. it's not factual.

Yes, it'll be interesting to see if he remains in place on health. Given the alternatives, he's probably the best bet for a positive outcome re the Cass Report recommendations. So I hope he does.

I'd heard this too but couldn't believe it after her interview a couple of weeks ago.

Dropping this here. It's a letter from the Education Secretary to schools, sent yesterday:

https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2024/09/03/message-schools-ahead-start-term-secretary-of-state-bridget-phillipson/

In particular, this sentence is interesting (my bold)....

These events are a deeply powerful reminder of the importance of education – to help people tell truth from lies, encounter and understand those from different backgrounds, and grow strong and inclusive values.

... given the context that:

1. Becky Francis, a Social Justice advocate, is currently reworking the school curriculum
2. The Freedom of Speech Act for universities was stopped from going in to law
3. Bridget Phillipson has stated that some of the language in the draft Gender Questioning Children guidance is "partisan"

In short, how can we teach children to identify "lies" if we can't have open discussion about whether the idea that we all have a gender identity is fact or belief?

Also, it's interesting that Islamaphobia is specifically mentioned whereas anti-Semitism is not. Yes, there were people who peddled misinformation about the Southport killer being Muslim (he isn't) and there were many who sadly used this as an excuse to attack Mosques. But we've also recently had anti-Semitic rhetoric from angry groups on the street e.g. pro-Palestinian marches with chants of "from the river to the sea" (a reference to the end of Israel as a state).