Conservative leadership candidate Esther McVey has stood by her comments on children learning about LGBT relationships, despite a backlash.

The former work and pensions secretary, who is one of 13 candidates to succeed Theresa May, was criticised for telling Sky News that "parents should have the final say on what they want their children to know".

She made the comments when asked about protests against the No Outsiders lessons teaching children about LGBTQ+ relationships, race, religion, adoption and disability.

Mediation between parents and staff at one primary school where the lessons are taught has stalled, as the row worsens.

Protesters have promised to continue their demonstrations, despite a High Court injunction banning protests within an exclusion zone around Anderton Park Primary School in Birmingham.


They said the court action was "unjust" and "irresponsible".

Asked about her comments during an appearance on the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme, Ms McVey said: "These were very young children in primary schools and I said the people who should know whether it is age-relevant are the parents not the state.

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"I believe that parents with very young children ... four and five-year-olds and I would say that is a young child ... their parents know for their child what is age-relevant.

"And by the way, this is not controversial.

"This is the same policy that Justine Greening oversaw. It is the same policy that Labour oversaw."

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She added: "For young children in this multicultural, diverse, modern society that we live in, I would say for very young children, as you say four and five, parents have the say over sex education.

"But I happily agree and I welcome that LGBT rights are taught within sex education."

Image: Former minister Justine Greening was one of a number of Tories to criticise Ms McVey

After Ms McVey made the remarks last week, Tory MPs accused her of backpedalling on advancements in equality.

Justine Greening, the UK's first openly gay female cabinet minister and a former equalities minister, said: "You can't pick and choose on human rights and equality.

"Children should understand a modern and diverse Britain they're growing up in.

"Matters for social mobility too - you can't be your best if you can't be yourself."

Nicky Morgan, another Tory MP and former equalities minister, told Sky News that learning about relationships in an age appropriate and sensitive way is "an essential part of life in modern Britain".

"We aren't going to build a cohesive country if we have a two tier PSHE [Personal, Social, Health and Economic] system," she added.

Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd said: "A modern Tory Party should not just be proud of our LGBT achievements, but champion them."