A Welsh MP has quit his role as a ministerial aid so that he could vote against changes to sex education in Northern Ireland. Robin Millar , who is the Member of Parliament for Aberconwy said he “could not in good conscience” vote to introduce the changes.
The changes to the curriculum would see pupils past primary school taught about access to abortion services and prevention of early pregnancy. Mr Millar said he could not support the update while helping Welsh parents with similar issues.
The MP had been serving as Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to the Welsh Secretary, David TC Davies. He was amongst 20 Conservative MPs who voted against the measures. He quit before he voted against the government.
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In the vote in the House of Commons on Thursday, June 29, 237 Conservative MPs, including the Prime Minister and the Welsh Secretary, voted for the new regulations and, as a PPS, Mr Millar would have been obliged to do the same.
Explaining his decision, Mr Millar told ITV Wales that "Parents across the UK are becoming more concerned about the RSE their children are being taught in schools.“I share those concerns - I have also been contacted by parents in Aberconwy worried by what is happening in Wales.
"I am pleased the UK government responded quickly with a review of RSE in England and I would urge the government in Cardiff to do the same and listen to what parents in Wales are saying.
“But I could not in good conscience represent parents and at the same time ignore the conclusion of the House of Lords Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee that more time was needed to consult with parents in NI before enacting this Statutory Instrument."
Until now, schools in Northern Ireland have decided how to teach sex education. But a report of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women said relationship and sex education in Northern Ireland should be compulsory and comprehensive. The regulations will not mirror the approach in other UK countries.
