Debate contribution: Relationships and Sexuality Education

Debate contribution by Mr Jon Burrows on 2 November 2026.

MLA

Mr Jon Burrows

Party at the time

Ulster Unionist Party

Date

2 November 2026

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Committee Business

Heading

Relationships and Sexuality Education

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5807121

Read the official Assembly record

Text

There are some things in the report that are admirable. There is broad consensus that people want age-appropriate, factual and accurate guidance and teaching on relationships and sexuality education. I know the dangers that young people face. My RE and sexual education teacher, Dr Brown, was a paedophile who abused many of my friends, so I do know the risks. There is abuse in homes across the land, where, sadly, the greatest danger to young people comes not from strangers but from family and friend connections. There are some things in the report that I cannot endorse, however. Some of the issues that we talk about are, in fact, highly contested. Gender ideology, for example, is a highly contested space. I have always been on record as saying that we should be respectful to everyone and that nobody should be discriminated against, harassed, made fun of or bullied because of their particular gender ideology. It is, however, perfectly legitimate to hold the view that there are only two biological sexes: male and female. For example, in the interests of fairness and safety, it would be unfair for biological men ever to take part in sport against women. A biological man should never be housed in a women's prison. That is a contested issue. We cannot simply say that there is a correct answer, because there are differing views. It is therefore important that ideology is not brought into the classroom when discussing such matters. That brings me on to recommendation 7 in the report, which is about withdrawing the rights of parents to take their children out of RSE. That is not acceptable, and it flies in the face of the movement of many of the same people who want parents to have the right to withdraw their children from religious education or collective worship but not from RSE. I distinguish that very clearly from, I think, recommendation 18, which is that no child should be withdrawn from any safeguarding lessons about child exploitation or abuse. It is vital that we make that compulsory. It would be wrong to hand agency to a parent or guardian to take their child out of education on how to protect themselves when they could theoretically be the perpetrator, so I support that recommendation. For me, however, one of the things that flies in the face of rationality is that much of the poison that our young people are getting, particularly if it is causing extreme misogyny, comes from their devices and screens. Often, those who are the biggest proponents of RSE and the contents of this report are the least supportive of any attempts to take away or supervise devices that are in the hands of our young people.

In a moment, Mr Baker. They are also the least supportive of any attempts to take tough action against those pupils who engage in misogynistic behaviour towards teachers. I have listened to teachers who have told me that they get called all the misogynistic names of the day and that there is a lack of support when it comes to disciplining or excluding pupils. In fact, many on the Benches opposite wanted to raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility, which would have allowed the indecent assault of a teacher by anyone up to the age of 14. That is where there is irrationality and illogicality in all of this. In summary, I support high-quality, clear, accurate and factual relationships and sexuality education that equips young people and gives them facts instead of myths.

However, I cannot support restricting the rights of parents to decide what their children hear. I cannot support gender ideology being forced on children in what is a very contested space, but I do support no child being allowed to be withdrawn from education on their risk of exploitation. The whole issue of violence against women and girls should be taught at a very early stage, as should respect for women, which is waning in society generally. For the reasons that I have outlined, however, I cannot support the motion in its entirety.

683 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Flagged Gender, sexuality, abortion and related social issues

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 4 November 2026 at 04:41 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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