Schools to tackle misogyny with lessons about consent

Sir Keir Starmer’s government is to tackle misogynistic, toxic influencers like Andrew Tate head-on with compulsory lessons on healthy relationships for all secondary school pupils.

- DAVID MADDOX

The flagship £36m strategy will finally be unveiled today, 18 months after Labour was elected on a manifesto promise to halve violence against women and girls (VAWG) within a decade. The strategy will see secondary school teachers given specialist training to talk to boys and girls about issues such as consent, and children who show harmful behaviour towards their parents, siblings or while in relationships will be signed up to special programmes. The much-anticipated plans will focus on tackling the root causes of abuse, and come as the latest statistics show that nearly 40 per cent of teenagers in relationships are victims of abuse, while more than 40 per cent of young men hold a positive view of Tate.

Sir Keir said: “Every parent should be able to trust that their daughter is safe at school, online and in her relationships. But too often, toxic ideas are taking hold early and going unchallenged. This government is stepping in sooner - backing teachers, calling out misogyny, and intervening when warning signs appear - to stop harm before it starts.

“This is about protecting girls and driving forward education and conversation with boys and young men, which is a responsibility we owe to the next generation, and one this government will deliver.”

It follows repeated calls by The Independent for a strategy to tackle these issues, as well as our Brick by Brick campaign, which was backed by the prime minister, to build two safe houses for women who have been victims of domestic abuse. Sir Keir said at the time: “I am so pleased to back