Councils fail to protect children in care from gender ideology as local authority ties to Stonewall sparks ‘deep concern’
Councils are failing to protect children in care from gender ideology as a shocking report exposes the lack of care.
The report from Policy Exchange revealed that 81 out of 129 local authorities with care responsibilities could not provide a policy on their safeguarding processes for gender questioning children in care.
The report said that some 63 per cent of councils did not track or collect information on the number of gender questioning children in their care
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PA
The report revealed that children in care were significantly over-represented in referrals to the Gender Identity Development Service by 700 per cent.
Some 63 per cent of councils did not track or collect information on the number of gender questioning children in their care.
Only two councils mentioned the Cass Review, despite its significance to policy for children and young people.
Councils have been paying thousands of pounds to activist organisations to run training sessions on sex and gender identity, with some children as young as 13 secretly being offered chest binders.
Rebecca Paul, MP for Reigate and member of the Women and Equalities Select Committee, has endorsed the report and called for “immediate reform”.
She said: “Children in care are alarmingly overrepresented in referrals to specialist gender identity services, yet too many local authorities have failed to implement safeguarding policies that reflect their duties.
“I urge policymakers and care professionals alike to take these findings seriously, and to act swiftly on the report’s recommendations. We owe it to these vulnerable children to ensure that safeguarding practices are consistent, evidence-based, not activist-led, and fully aligned with the child’s best interests.
“Immediate reform is essential to provide the protection and guidance that gender questioning children in care so urgently need.”
Rebecca Paul endorsed the report
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Policy Exchange has pushed the Government to publish statutory guidance for local authorities on supporting gender questioning children in the care system.
It stated local authorities need to appoint at least one person who would be consulted in the event a child expresses the desire to socially transition.
It also pushed for local authorities to uphold the verdict from the Supreme Court’s definition of a woman, saying there needs to be certain activities and facilities that are single sex.
Former Government Minister at the Department for Levelling Up, Baroness Maclean of Redditch, backed the report, saying: “Too often, vulnerable children in our care system are being failed by those meant to protect them. Policy Exchange’s latest report shows how many local authorities rely on activist groups to guide policies or allow children to transition without proper consultation.
“The report calls for an urgent, thorough review and reform of current policies to ensure these young people get the protection and support they need.”
