Katie Hopkins’ plans to give speech at Scots schools roundly rejected by parents
Parents reacted angrily yesterday after it emerged that the controversial television presenter Katie Hopkins has secured bookings to address pupils at Scottish state schools as part of a nationwide speaking tour.
Concerned parents joined campaigners, politicians and union officials urging schools not to accept any booking by Hopkins, a former LBC host and right-wing columnist.
Jake Newman, wrote on Twitter: “Katie Hopkins is going to lecture in schools? I’m sure every parent has the right to exclude their children from contact with this hate filled fascist.”
Phillip Priestley agreed, adding: “I think if Katie Hopkins was coming to my kid’s school they would be staying at home that day. No question.”
Dozens of parents echoed the sentiment that they would be tempted to refuse to send their children to school if the former Apprentice contestant was booked to deliver her one-hour speech, following by a Q&A session.
Some even floated the idea that they might consider changing schools entirely if Ms Hopkins was scheduled to appear.
Nick Saunders tweeted: “If Katie Hopkins came to my kids school I’d find another school as quick as I could.”
Andrew Stephen wrote: “If Katie Hopkins is even suggested as a speaker at any school my children attend. I will pull them out of school, give up work and home school them.”
Many parents expressing outrage at the booking of the Stand Strong tour urged concerted action by large groups of concerned parents to put pressure on schools that recruited Hopkins.
Amanda Stevens wrote on Facebook: “She disgusts me. Hopefully all parents will send complaints to the schools prior to this event taking place.”
Brian Alan commented: “I know if she had spoken to kids at my school, they’d would’ve slagged her rotten for being an utter idiot.”
An online poll, run by The Scotsman, which attracted more than 9,000 participants, was overwhelmingly opposed to the idea of Hopkins visiting their children’s high school. Last night 81 per cent of those who voted were opposed to the talks, with 19 per cent of respondents saying they supported such a presentation in their child’s school.
Hopkinsattemptedtochange the direction of the poll by urging her Twitter followers tovote in favour of her plans.
Hopkins, who claims her school visits will focus on the “political and media landscape” of the country, left LBC after making distasteful comments in the wake of the Manchester bombing.
ross.mccafferty@scotsman.com