Tories must follow Welsh govt in gender neutral school uniforms move
Welcoming the decision by the Welsh government to make school uniforms accessible and gender neutral, Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson Layla Moran MP said:
It is great news that children in Wales will be able to wear affordable, gender neutral school uniforms. I am proud of the role my colleague Liberal Democrat Welsh Education Minister Kirsty Williams has played in securing this progressive change.
The Conservative government must now take this step into the twenty-first century. Dictating what children wear because of their gender is outdated and harmful.
It is time to support all children to wear what they are happy, confident and comfortable in. The Conservatives must act to roll out gender neutral school uniforms and help facilitate a culture of acceptance in all our schools.
The UK deserves a PM who is willing to stand up to bullies
Responding to the resignation of UK ambassador to the US, Sir Kim Darroch, Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader and Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Jo Swinson said:
Sir Kim Darroch should never have been put in this position. His resignation is a true loss to our diplomatic service, and we must have a full and urgent investigation into where these leaks came from.
It is regrettable that President Trump has such sway over our foreign policy. Boris Johnson’s failure to stand up for one of our most senior civil servants has once again proved that he will always put his own interests ahead of the country’s.
The UK deserves a Prime Minister who is willing to stand up to bullies and fight for what is best for our country.
Lib Dems secure top jobs in Brussels
Today, Liberal Democrat MEPs have overtaken Labour and the Conservatives by securing major positions in the European Parliament.
Chris Davies MEP has been elected as chair of the European Parliament’s fisheries committee (PECH) whilst Lucy Nethsingha MEP was elected to chair the European Parliament’s Committee on Legal Affairs (JURI).
Following his appointment, Chris Davies MEP said:
I am looking forward to being a strong Liberal Democrat voice on the EU Fisheries Committee. It is essential that we promote sustainable fishing policies and work cross-border to do so.
When Nigel Farage was on the Fisheries Committee he bothered to turn up just once in over three years. It is clear that those like Farage who promote crashing out of the EU do not have our fishing communities or the environment at the heart of their motivations.
Our fishing industry deserves better. I will continue to fight to stop Brexit and ensure we work long-term with our EU partners to build up stocks and give our fishing industry a secure long-term future.
Follow @LibDemVoice on Twitter
Like us on Facebook
Subscribe to our feed
Sign-up for our daily email digest
The 9th Annual Favourite TV Show Episode Blogathon
My tweets
Oak trees on Bromfield Road get protection - we need to save and plant trees
So that's why I have so many potholes to report
Labour threaten local bus services
Getting things done - Victoria Park #dundeewestend
Johnson on Planet Z?
Nonconformistradical
Mel Borthwaite
11 Comments
Welcoming the decision by the Welsh government to make school uniforms accessible and gender neutral
Does this decision also apply to private/independent schools?
I would assume this would be the case given Layla’s statement (my emphasis) “It is time to support all children to wear what they are happy, confident and comfortable in. The Conservatives must act to roll out gender neutral school uniforms and help facilitate a culture of acceptance in all our schools.”
I thought being a liberal was all about choice and here we are proscribing skirts. Doesn’t seem particlately liberal if I’m honest.
Better still, SCRAP ALL school uniforms! I taught in Canada and Germany. No uniforms there except jeans and T shirt. As the father of boys I can tell you that the worst thing to wear is a blazer. It’s uncomfortable, restrictive and often looks like a dog’s breakfast after a few months!
If we MUST have a ‘uniform, how about trousers and a swear shirt? After all, it’s surely what’s going into the mind that is more important than what’s going on the body!
Government telling people what clothes they are allowed to wear?
Not liberal. Not acceptable. A really bad idea.
@David Pocock “here we are proscribing skirts.”
The BBC article on the subject says New policies are also expected to be gender neutral, meaning that items like trousers would not be described as “for boys”.
so I expect that the change here is that the uniform will say something like “Grey, navy or black skirt or trousers” rather than “Boys: Grey, navy or black trousers, Girls: Grey, navy or black skirt”
My own high school made such a change when I was there around 1990, primarily because the girls wanted to be allowed trousers rather than the boys wanted to wear skirts, but that was allowed too. It caused no issues that I remember.
David Pocock / Tristan Ward: What we are proposing is the exact opposite of what you are suggesting it means.
The whole point of Uniforms is telling people what to wear & thus Illiberal unless necessary.
We should be making all School Uniforms voluntary.
@Alex Macfie
The press release says the government must act to roll out gender neutral uniforms. Unless I missing something this means children may not wear any other kind of clothes.
If the aim of the policy that gender neutral uniforms are permitted (rather than mandatory) then that of course is a good thing. And of course boys may wear skirts and girls may wear trousers.
Optional not mandatory is really key here. And affordable. And private schools should be included. We are far too tolerant of the segregation of our schools, and therefore society on a financial/class basis.
In Cyprus all school uniform is similar in all state schools or black or grey trousers or skirt and a white polo shirt. Simple, practical, and inexpensive. I used to like the idea of no uniform at all but I can see it would lead to division. Some parents would buy their children outfits with designer labels, while poorer kids would wear Primark and Matelan.
If Schools are going to make Uniforms compulsory then they should pay for them. If they can’t afford that then the Uniform, if any, should be voluntary.
Its about control, any other reason given is fake.