Controversial columnist is ‘not welcome in Rhondda’
CONTROVERSIAL Daily Mail columnist Katie Hopkins is “not welcome in Rhondda Cynon Taff”, the leader of the council has said, after news of her upcoming appearances in Welsh schools emerged.
The controversial writer and TV personality is taking part in a series of events called the Stand Strong School Tour, which begins in November, and has been promoting the talks on her Twitter page.
Hopkins, who lost her job as a presenter on the LBC radio station after making controversial comments about the Manchester Arena bombing, will visit schools to deliver Q&A sessions to 11 to 16-year-olds.
She will tackle a list of controversial topics including Brexit, US President Donald Trump and the Black Lives Matter movement.
An email from Hopkins’ manager Mark Cross to a school who expressed interest in the tour and posted on Twitter said the divisive media personality was “confirmed” to appear at venues in Wales and Scotland.
A further reply from Hopkins’ manager said she had had “a number of tentative and confirmed invitations from South Wales”.
The tour has been criticised by teachers, and on Saturday, RCT Council leader Andrew Morgan had his say on the matter, tweeting a story about Hopkins along with the message: “Not welcome in RCT sorry!”
David Evans, Welsh Secretary at the National Education Union said: “I would not give her the time of day. Some of the views she has expressed leave little to be desired.
“She is clearly driven by self promotion.
“I would seriously doubt many classes would take up this offer and if they have, I would urge them great caution.
“In this day and age schools need to be very careful in regards to ideas they expose pupils to.
“They need to understand what is going on in the world but extreme views and certain things you need to be careful about exposing them to.”
Education secretary Kirsty Williams has also urged schools not to book Hopkins, calling the outspoken writer “unelected” and “unpleasant”.
Ms Williams said: “Orwell said that sometimes the restatement of the obvious is the first duty of the intelligent.
“Katie Hopkins is unelected, unpleasant and needs PR and reaction to thrive.
“No proof that she will speak in Welsh schools.
“When they go low, we should go high.”
The media personality hit back at Kirsty Williams on Twitter.
She wrote: “Thanks to the Welsh Education Secretary for her warm welcome. In Wales school speakers must be elected. Apparently.”
The Leader has reached out to both Katie Hopkin’s representatives and Rhondda Cynon Taf council for further comment.