Roger Godsiff had told parents they were right to demonstrate against LGBT lessons

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

A Labour MP will be rebuked by the party’s chief whip for telling campaigners they are right to protest against LGBT teaching at a Birmingham primary school.

Roger Godsiff, the MP for the city’s Hall Green constituency, which includes Anderton Park Primary school, also told protesters they had a “just cause” and criticised the headteacher.

The shadow education secretary, Angela Rayner, said she had reported the “discriminatory and irresponsible” comments to the chief whip, Nick Brown, as Godsiff was criticised by a number of Labour MPs.

A Labour spokesman said the party had long supported and campaigned for LGBT-inclusive education in schools and there was “no justifiable reason” to stop teaching about such topics.

“Roger Godsiff will be spoken to by the chief whip and reminded of his responsibilities as an MP,” he said.

Parents have staged weeks of protests outside the school against the teaching of LGBT rights, claiming the lessons were “overemphasising a gay ethos” and contradicting Islam.

The demonstrations, which were described last week as “homophobic” by the West Midlands mayor, Andy Street, led the council to apply for a high court interim injunction, which banned rallies outside the gates from Friday.

Godsiff, who has previously said the equality lessons were not “age appropriate”, was seen telling protesters they were right in a video that emerged this weekend.

The veteran MP, who is seen with Shakeel Afsar, the lead organiser of the protests, said: “I think you have a just cause and I regret the fact that it hasn’t been reciprocated by the headteacher.”

He asked demonstrators toconsider calling off the protest as he said they had made their point, but added that it would be their choice to do so. He then said: “I will continue to try and fight your corner, because you’re right. Nothing more, nothing less. You’re right.”

Wes Streeting, the Labour MP for Ilford North, said he would be tabling a formal complaint to the party about Godsiff. “This made me feel sick to my stomach. One of my own Labour colleagues stood with people who have peddled hatred and bigotry on school gates, intimidating pupils, teachers and parents,” he said.

The Labour LGBT group also called for the whip to be removed and condemned Godsiff’s remarks “unreservedly and unequivocally”.