Nicky Morgan: Homophobic bullying in schools is ‘intolerable and we will stamp it out’
Equalities Minister Nicky Morgan, who voted against same-sex marriage, has spoken at the Tory Conference to say homophobic bullying in schools is “intolerable”, and that the Government will do more to “stamp it out”.
After being introduced to the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham by Olympic medallist Victoria Pendleton, Mrs Morgan, the Education Secretary and Minister for Women and Equalities spoke about bullying in schools, in particular against gay people.
She said: “It’s why we’ve restored discipline in schools… And why we are giving schools extra support to tackle the blight of bullying that not only makes young peoples school lives miserable, but keeps young people from learning and achieving their best.
“In the next few months we’ll do more on this, tackling one of the most pernicious kinds of victimisation – homophobic bullying. It is too widespread in Britain’s schools.
“It’s not acceptable. It’s intolerable, and we will stamp it out.”
Many questioned her appointment as Minister for Women and Equalities, earlier this year as Mrs Morgan, elected to Parliament in 2010, voted against the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act at second and third reading, stating that “marriage is between a man and a woman.”
But she recently said it was now “great” that same-sex couples in England and Wales can marry.
Junior Conservative minister Nick Boles was also given specific responsibilities for same-sex marriage, as part of the reshuffle in which Mrs Morgan was promoted.
