Labour backs idea of teaching children about white privilege

Sign up for the View from Westminster electronic mail for knowledgeable evaluation straight to your inbox

Get our free View from Westminster electronic mail

Labour has backed the idea of teaching children about white privilege with a shadow minister saying it’s “a good idea”.

Shadow tradition secretary Thangam Debbonaire stated children want “the opportunity to ask difficult questions sometimes of our nation’s history”, insisting it could not be “undermining” Britain.

She was requested about children’s charity Barnado’s, which was criticised for publishing a “guide for parents” about white privilege.

The time period refers to inherent benefits possessed by white individuals over non-white individuals on the idea of their race, with examples together with a decrease probability of being stopped and searched by police.

The Barnado’s information inspired dad and mom to “start the conversation with others who are interested and willing to learn” and to “teach your white friends, family and colleagues about their privilege”.

Ms Debonnaire was requested whether or not she supported the information, and informed BBC Radio 4’s World at One programme: “We want training that permits children the chance to query, to ask troublesome questions typically of our nation’s historical past.

“That’s a strong country that’s able to look at itself and its history and say ‘are there things we could have done differently? Are there things we regret? Are there even things that we’re sorry about?

“But also are there things we can learn so that we make a stronger, better country for the future?”

Ms Debbonaire went on to say that “encouraging children to be questioning is a good idea” and is “part of any really good education”.

And she added: “Questioning our symbols thinking about what they mean doesn’t mean that you’re undermining them.

“It means that you’re looking at them and thinking, how can I appreciate these symbols and what their meaning is?”

Her comments stand in stark contrast with culture secretary Lucy Frazer, who has said the idea of white privilege is a “debate” and not a fact.

While education secretary, Ms Frazer told LBC radio: “We’ve basically said: ‘Look, here’s what we should be teaching, we should have balanced debate’.

“There is a lot of debate in the country, we should be able to have those debates. We should be able to have those open discussions, but you shouldn’t be teaching things as fact that are debates.”

Outspoken backbench Tory MP Jonathan Gullis went further, saying anyone using the term should be reported to the Home Office as an extremist.

The Independent in 2021 obtained a leaked recording in which Mr Gullis said anti-racism campaigners using the term should be referred to the government’s Prevent programme – which is meant to track down potential terrorists.

Ms Debbonaire’s embrace of the sometimes controversial term came as Labour attacked the Tories for participating in fixed tradition wars in a bid to stoke division forward of this yr’s normal election.

Labour chief Sir Keir Starmer used a speech to set out his opposition to years of the Conservatives “waging war” on establishments such because the National Trust and tjhe Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).

He condemned the Tories’ “McCarthyite” anti-woke assaults on British establishments as he promised to finish years of “divisive” tradition wars ought to he win the subsequent election.

Ms Debbonaire was requested whether or not it marked a change of footing for Labour, however insisted the occasion “has always wanted to defend our national institutions… whether that is the National Trust or the BBC”.