Compulsory lessons could stigmatise marriage

SIR – Parents and guardians must retain the fundamental freedom to bring up their children in accordance with their beliefs and values. The role of the state in the nurture of children is strictly ancillary to that of the parents or guardians.

The Government’s decision to impose relationships education on every child in England from the age of five undermines that freedom.

Not only will parents be denied the right to withdraw children from relationships education, but Justine Greening, the Education Secretary, has already spoken in favour of introducing very young children to concepts, such as homosexuality and transgenderism, at an age where these cannot be critically assessed.

We note that the Education Secretary has made no mention of ensuring that children are taught about the well-established benefits associated with being brought up by married natural parents.

Relationships education was voted through Parliament on the grounds that it would help to protect children from exploitative relationships and internet predators. Instead, will it be used to stigmatise traditional marriage and promote to children alternative lifestyles against parents’ wishes?

This would be a coercive and unnecessary measure, damaging the position of all parents in England. We demand that the forthcoming consultation on relationships education puts the rights of parents ahead of the power of the state. Philip Davies MP (Con)

Rt Rev Michael Nazir-ali Ed Costelloe

Chairman, Conservative Grassroots Professor Philip Booth

St Mary’s University, Twickenham Professor David Paton Nottingham University Business School Judith Nemeth

Director, National Association of Jewish Orthodox Schools Kathy Gyngell

Co-editor, The Conservative Woman Rod Liddle

Thomas Pascoe

Coalition for Marriage Norman Wells

Director, Family Education Trust and 14 others; see telegraph.co.uk