"Do not use this to indoctrinate our children" warns Ashfield MP

The Reform UK Member of Parliament for Ashfield has written to the Education Secretary to seek assurances that recent proposals to make Citizenship Education compulsory in Primary Schools will not be used by teachers to indoctrinate our children.

Lee Anderson's letter to Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson

It comes following the revelation that lesson materials being used by a set of academies in London and Kent showed Reform UK's logo presented to students as a fascist symbol along with the BNP and the Nazi flag.

The letter reads:

"Dear Secretary of State,

Re: Curriculum and Assessment Review and the Government Response

I am writing to you following yesterday’s statement on the Government’s response to the

Curriculum and Assessment Review.

I want to share my concern around the proposed introduction of compulsory Citizenship

education in primary schools. It is my understanding that this is set to include tips on how to

spot disinformation and misinformation online and in the media, and content on the law,

rights, democracy, Government and climate education.

First and foremost, I want assurance this is not going to lead to the politicisation of the

classroom. We've seen many examples of activist teachers telling young school children that

Reform UK is an extremist, far-right political party. Nigel, our MPs and supporters are being

described as hateful racists in classrooms across the country. It’s hardly surprising when the

largest teaching union, the National Education Union, has openly shared its opposition to

Reform UK.

Just this week, leaked lesson materials used by a set of academies in London and Kent

showed that our party's logo had been presented to students as a fascist symbol along with the BNP and the Nazi flag. Another presentation slide focused on extremism included a picture of our deputy leader, Richard Tice MP.

I know a lot of teachers are decent, hard-working people who just want to teach their students

how to read and write, but I am very concerned about the select few who want to push their

political ideologies onto our young people. I have received emails from parents who share

these concerns. Parents put their children in the care of teachers and do so in the hope that

their kids will learn key skills which will set them up for life. They don’t want them to be

brainwashed.

Teachers have a responsibility to remain politically neutral and balanced in the classroom

under sections 406 and 407 of the Education Act 1996. The government’s own guidance on

political impartiality says that teachers must not promote “partisan political views”. It also

says all political content needs to be balanced with opposing views. Why then are so many

teachers getting away with indoctrinating our kids?

Can you confirm you will ensure any presentation of Reform UK in schools is fair and

objective, in line with the law and government guidance? Will you ensure any changes or

additions to the curriculum are politically neutral and balanced?

Parents want guarantees that students will be taught how to think for themselves, not what to

think. We should be focused on educating Britain’s young people and preparing them for

work, rather than political indoctrination and shutting down legitimate debate. It’s about time

the government got a grip of this.

I look forward to your response.

Yours sincerely,

Lee Anderson

Member of Parliament for Ashfield"